The Sunday morning injury updates are out, and most of it is stuff we heard yesterday. But just in case: Ben Roethlisberger (COVID) is out, and Rhamondre Stevenson (concussion) has been cleared to play today for New England.
If you look around the site there are some questions and answers involving these players. Summary: going from Roethlisberger to Rudolph isn't necessarily a dramatic decline for the Steelers passing game. Veteran savvy and experience is most of what the 39-year-old version of Roethlisberger has going for him these days. I think it's a hit to Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth just because of the uncertainty. But they're still facing a bad Lions defense, and Rudolph has been in the offense for years. He can target those guys as often as Roethlisberger could have. I'm not benching a really good player for a much lesser option since we're not talking about a Rodgers-to-Love type downgrade. But if I was agonizing over Diontae or Freiermuth versus a similarly ranked player already, I would be fine making the switch.
Stevenson will be active. But will he start? He didn't practice, and New England was probably prepping to be without him all week. Brandon Bolden was going to be the passing downs back anyway. And Cleveland is really tough to run on. There's upside with Stevenson, but there would have been a lot more if they were facing Houston or something. I am wary of using Stevenson, but opinions can vary on this one.
Chris Godwin (foot) is expected to play. I would use him, while acknowledging there's some risk. Wide receiver with a foot injury is worrisome to me. But the upside as Brady's No. 2 is significant, and seems riskier to sit him and miss out on a big game than to just use him and cross your fingers.
Neither Kyler Murray nor DeAndre Hopkins is expected to play for Arizona. Rondale Moore is. Should be Colt McCoy at quarterback, with Christian Kirk, A.J. Green and Zach Ertz the top 3 receivers. Chase Edmonds (ankle) was placed on IR yesterday, as expected, so big role coming for James Conner.
Keenan Allen (ankle) is expected to play.
James Robinson (heel) is a gametime decision for the Jaguars. Seems risky to use, some chance he's limited. But if he's active, Carlos Hyde is way less appealing.
--Andy Richardson