The Patriots, sitting 5-3, prepare to host the Green Bay Packers Sunday at 4:25 PM ET while gearing up for Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction this weekend. A new Athletic piece recounts Gronk’s quirky pre‑draft meeting with Bill Belichick—who, now coaching at North Carolina, declined to comment—sparking fans’ disappointment. Gronk says he’ll be emotional, expecting family, former teammates, and nostalgic memories. Despite the coach’s silence, the former tight end is set for a warm reception as New England honors his legendary tenure.
The Canucks preview tonight’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, noting Leevi Meriläinen will take over in goal after Kevin Lankinen’s struggles, while Tom Willander remains a game‑time decision and Luke Schenn likely replaces Victor Mancini on the penalty kill. The Jets, fresh off a dramatic 5‑4 win over Montreal that snapped a nine‑game skid, will start Stuart Skinner, who made 18 saves. The piece also announces a new WHL franchise in Chilliwack for the 2027‑28 season, owned by former Abbotsford Canucks coach Jeremy Colliton and ex‑Canuck Mason Raymond, with Colliton serving as governor, GM and head coach, sparking uncertainty for the BCHL Chiefs.
The Minnesota Vikings will have a different quarterback on Monday.
With starter Deshaun Watson sidelined by concussion protocol, rookie Shedeur Sanders steps in for the Cleveland Browns in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Sanders, who has thrown three passes for two yards this season, sparks debate after Skip Bayless claims his fifth‑round slide was the biggest draft injustice, even suggesting he deserved the No. 1 pick. Browns head coach Todd Monken praises Sanders' preparation and leadership, saying he’s ready to compete. The Browns sit 5‑3, third in the AFC North behind the Steelers (6‑2) and Bengals (5‑3), making Sanders’ debut a key storyline.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy praised tight end Darnell Washington as a rare, pure Y‑tight end who’s reshaping the offense. Washington logged a career day in the 27‑6 win over Cleveland, hauling five catches for 94 yards—including a 58‑yard play, his longest ever—that set up a Jaylen Warren TD. Through eight games he’s at 19 receptions, 254 yards and three touchdowns, on pace for his best season yet. The 6‑ft‑7, 300‑lb rookie, drafted in the third round in 2023, recently signed a four‑year, $42 million contract, securing $21 million guaranteed.
The Browns head into Week 9 against the Saints with key injury updates. Deshaun Watson remains in concussion protocol, pushing backup Shedeur Sanders into the starting QB role. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins stays out, while offensive tackle Austin Barber and linebacker Quincy Williams return to practice, offering a boost to the line. Meanwhile, the Saints see WR Jordyn Tyson and OT Kelvin Banks Jr. back from IR. The final practice reports on Friday will likely reveal whether Collins can suit up, a pivotal factor for Cleveland’s defense.
The New York Giants, sitting 4-2-1 atop the NFC East entering Week 9, are weighing running back upgrades before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. While they’re in the mix for a Jonathan Taylor deal that could cost a second‑round pick, a newer report suggests a Derrick Henry trade is more realistic, potentially requiring only a 2027 third‑round pick (or a higher pick to sweeten the offer). Baltimore’s GM Eric DeCosta appears open to moving the five‑time Pro Bowler to relieve cap pressure, and the Giants have the draft capital to meet that price. Securing Henry would give New York a proven back at a lower cost than Taylor, boosting their push for the division title.
After Micah Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15 of the 2025 season, the Packers’ defense plummeted from a top‑10 DVOA unit to 25th. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon stepped in for 2026 and, without an elite pass‑rusher, has propelled Green Bay back into the top‑5, ranking fourth in Defensive DVOA. Gannon relies on a 31.9% blitz rate, creative simulated pressures and smart scheming, yielding a 38.7% overall pressure rate. Edge‑rusher Lukas Van Ness leads with five sacks, rookie Dani Dennis‑Sutton adds four, and Ty’Ron Hopper emerges as a standout linebacker. The article details how Gannon’s deceptive tactics compensate for Parsons’ loss and keep opponents guessing.
49ers pass‑rusher Nick Bosa tells reporters he feels great and is ready to play after a calf injury that sidelined him earlier this season. Bosa explained the strain came from compensating for his other leg and clarified it’s unrelated to his previous Achilles issue. General manager John Lynch confirmed the team chose to wait through the Atlanta game and use the bye week for a full recovery, emphasizing a careful, data‑driven return. With Bosa back, San Francisco regains a dominant defensive presence that eases pressure on teammates like DeForest Buckner and Keion White.
Key running backs Tony Pollard and Jaylen Warren are on a bye, so many fantasy managers will need to pivot. […]
With the NFL trade deadline looming, former Steelers guard Willie Colon says Pittsburgh should zero in on a specific position to bolster its 6‑2 record. On the team’s bye week, he outlines the roster gap that could be filled before the deadline, explaining why this upgrade is crucial for a playoff push.
The Green Bay Packers are weighing a bold move before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10, with analysts suggesting a bid for future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack. Mack, 35, has posted 21 tackles, three sacks and 11 pressures in seven games for the 0-7 Chargers and is on a one‑year contract that could expire after the season. Packers coach Matt LaFleur could use Mack’s pass‑rushing talent to cover Micah Parsons’ absence and strengthen a defense eyeing a Super Bowl run. The trade, if completed before Green Bay’s bye week, would give Mack time to learn the system ahead of a pivotal Thanksgiving Eve clash with the Los Angeles Rams.
Entering Week 9, NFL viewership rebounds, up 3% year‑over‑year with an average of 18.4 million viewers through Week 8. The surge ties to Nielsen’s new co‑viewing metrics and a slate of close games—71 decided by eight points or fewer and 38 decided in the final minutes, both season‑highs. CBS leads with a 5% rise to 19.6 million viewers, while Thursday Night Football on Prime Video averages 17.6 million and Monday Night Football on ESPN jumps 22% from last year. The most‑watched games feature the Chiefs on CBS, drawing over 28 million viewers, followed by Fox’s Commanders‑Cowboys and 49ers‑Seahawks matchups.
Ben Johnson acknowledges the Bears running game remains inconsistent despite three straight wins and a convincing victory over Seattle.
The San Francisco 49ers need help at edge rusher and Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh could help them out by trading Jermaine Johnson.
Linebackers coach Alex Whittingham says Michigan’s new roster is soaking up the intensity of the Paul Bunyan Trophy clash. He credits former Michigan lineman Jon Jansen for briefing the staff, and highlights graduate transfer Aisea Moa’s insider view from his recent stint at MSU. Whittingham also draws on his own rivalry pedigree—from beating BYU in Utah’s “Holy War” to NFL showdowns between the Chiefs and Raiders—while noting a chaotic 2018 Raiders‑Chiefs game where a busted restroom flooded the locker room. Fired up for Saturday night, he says the preparation is shaping the team’s excitement for the rivalry game.
Micah Parsons, the Packers' four‑time All‑Pro pass rusher, returned to practice on Wednesday and kept training Thursday, marking a key milestone in his recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered last season. While Green Bay isn’t expected to activate him for the upcoming game against the New England Patriots, the team is using the full 21‑day window to get him game‑ready, eyeing a possible debut in Week 12 versus the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 25. At 5‑3 and still in the NFC playoff hunt, Parsons’ return could boost Green Bay’s defense for the stretch run.
The New York Jets, sitting 2-6 and eyeing a top-10 draft pick, could get a boost in Week 9 as key injuries improve. ESPN's Rich Cimini reports that running back Breece Hall, sidelined since Week 3 with a quad injury, participated in Thursday practice, while rookie Braelon Allen also sees increased duty. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson remains out after a concussion in Week 8, making a return unlikely before the Jets face the Chiefs on Nov. 8. Coach Aaron Glenn hints both Hall and Allen will play, and trade rumors swirl as the deadline approaches.
The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away, and questions about the New York Jets’ plans are emerging. While it seems unlikely that the team will move stars like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, anything can happen on trade deadline day. Just think back to last year; who would have told you they ...
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FOR MORE AT JETS X-FACTOR, VISIT What is the right price for the NY Jets to trade these 3 key players? | Jets X-Factor
Ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, insiders speculate the 6‑1 San Francisco 49ers could target another All‑Pro running back—Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor. After swapping a fourth‑round pick for DE DeForest Buckner, the 49ers might still pursue a high‑priced RB, echoing the 2022 deal that sent Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco for multiple draft picks. Mike Florio and former QB Chris Simps discuss league chatter about a possible Taylor trade, noting the Colts’ asking price could mirror the Panthers’ offer for McCaffrey, making any move both costly and ‘shocking.’
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is reportedly motivated to acquire Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Indianapolis Colts are fielding “plenty of calls” on several trade‑eligible players—most notably RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Josh Downs, and NT Grover Stewart—according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Despite the interest, the team plans to wait until after its Week 9 home game against the Dallas Cowboys on November 5 before making any moves, aiming for a “Christian McCaffrey‑level” return or at least a first‑round pick for Taylor. Recent trades of veterans Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner have sparked talk that Indy may have undervalued those deals, prompting a more cautious approach ahead of the November 10 deadline.
Several unbeaten teams face their toughest tests yet on Friday night, with state tournament spots on the line in the Minnesota high school football section finals.
Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders declines to explain his recent agent hire as the Browns prepare for a possible Week 9 start against the Saints. Sanders pivots the conversation to football, saying the move “doesn’t matter” for the upcoming game. While the timing fuels speculation about his long‑term future in Cleveland—mirroring Marvin Harrison Jr.’s pre‑trade agent signing—a trade before the deadline seems unlikely. Sanders, who finished last season with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 picks, has thrown just three passes this year. A strong showing Sunday could boost his standing in Cleveland’s quarterback plans.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles hints at a new strategy behind Tampa Bay’s revitalized rushing attack, which dazzled against Atlanta with a vintage Red Grange‑style performance. The piece highlights rookie running back Kenny Gainwell’s breakout emergence as the focal point of the surge, detailing his key carries, explosive runs, and the impact on the Bucs’ offensive balance. Bowles’ comments and game statistics suggest a lasting shift in the team’s run game philosophy.