The Sunday morning injury updates are coming out, and there's not that much of note. But a few brief updates.
Brock Bowers is the big name, and it's still uncertain whether he's playing. Ian Rapoport says he's "trending toward not playing." The Raiders have ruled out Michael Mayer and elevated Albert Okwuegbunam. Bowers has been playing through a knee injury. Sounds like a good week to make other plans (Okwuegbunam is only a desperation Hail Mary if Bowers is definitely inactive.)
Saints have activated Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill off the PUP list. These developments are negatives for Juwan Johnson, who could be less of a featured receiver. And it's possible the Saints will use Hill some as a runner around the goal line, hurting the chances of Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller or even Spencer Rattler from scoring those touchdowns. To be clear, if I was planning on using either running back, I wouldn't bench them on this news. It's a new coaching staff and Hill's first game back, not a given he'll have a role down there. But possible.
With Lamar Jackson out, the Ravens have brought up Tyler Huntley from the practice squad to back up Cooper Rush. This is interesting only in the sense that if Rush were to struggle and Lamar were to miss additional time, I could see Huntley, whose game is more similar to the starter's, being a factor here down the road.
There was a report that the Cardinals could use a "hot-hand" backfield to see who's best at running back, with Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and even Bam Knight possibilities. I personally am starting Demercado in a league. He should be the back of choice in passing situations, as he was prior to this week, while the others were not even on the active roster at the start of the season, with others healthy. Carter and Demercado are the guys to consider, as ranked. But I will be gambling on Demercado, hoping he catches 3-5 passes and maybe scores at some point.
Dallas won't have KaVontae Turpin available. Known on Friday and updated in the rankings, but I didn't mention it in yesterday's column. That's a plus for Jalen Tolbert, and a negative for Dallas' chances of returning a kick of a score.
Browns-Vikings kicks off in England in a few minutes. A note, Rapoport has a story out about Shedeur Sanders and what his future holds. I understand Sanders is a bigger name and stuff. But he was drafted two rounds after Dillon Gabriel and didn't do anything noteworthy in the preseason, so it is not surprising he's behind him. Gabriel will likely get a few weeks to succeed or fail before anyone else gets a chance in the lineup.
If I see any significant updates before the early games start, I will post in the comments below.
--Andy Richardson