News
10/31/22
23 min read
NFL Week 8 News and Notes
Monday, Oct. 31
Keenan Allen Continues to Miss Practice
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen did not practice today, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Allen has missed all but two games this season due to a lingering hamstring injury. He played in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, when he suffered the injury. He missed the next five games before returning to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. Allen and the Chargers are coming off their bye week.
The Chargers currently sit at 4-3 and are second in the AFC West. They travel east to face the Atlanta Falcons this week before heading back to the West Coast for another road game against the San Francisco 49ers next week. Four of their next five games are on the road.
Ravens Give Injury Updates
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh held his weekly press conference on Monday and provided reporters with a number of injury updates. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman will miss a couple of weeks with a foot injury that turned out to be more serious than Baltimore thought.
However, tight end Mark Andrews (shoulder) and running back Gus Edwards (hamstring) injuries are minor, meaning they could play this week. Baltimore also activated defense ends Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo off of injured reserve after they recovered from Achilles injuries.
Cooper Kupp Day-to-Day With Sprained Ankle
Los Angeles Rams superstar receiver Cooper Kupp suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers and is reportedly day-to-day, according to NFL Media. The severity of the injury, and thus the number of weeks Kupp could miss, is still indeterminate, however, it appears Kupp has avoided any kind of worst-case scenario.
Rams coach Sean McVay faced a great deal of scrutiny following the ill-fated decision to leave Kupp in the game Sunday when the outcome of the contest was all but determined.
The 3-4 Rams will need the reigning Super Bowl MVP back and healthy if they plan to make a push toward the top of the NFC standings. They'll take on the Buccaneers in Week 9, looking to get back to .500 on the year.
P.J. Walker Will Start Week 9
Carolina Panthers coach Steve Wilks announced on Monday that quarterback P.J. Walker will make his fourth consecutive start for the team when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals next week. The team confirmed that Walker will be the starter going forward and that Baker Mayfield has accepted his role as the team's backup.
Walker was a breakout star of Week 8 following an incredible desperation pass to D.J. Moore with seconds remaining that would have sent the Panthers home winners had kicker Eddy Pineiro converted the extra point. The kick was, however, extended due to an unsportsmanlike call on D.J. Moore.
The Panthers went on to lose in overtime on a game-winning kick by Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo.
Tyquan Lewis Out for the Year
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis will miss the remainder of the 2022 NFL season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, according to NFL Media.
Lewis was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts and has spent his entire career with the team. Now, for the second consecutive season, Lewis will see his campaign end at midseason. Exactly one year to the day of his most recent injury, Halloween day in 2021, Lewis suffered a patellar injury to his right knee.
Lions Fire DBs Coach Aubrey Pleasant
The Detroit Lions and head coach Dan Campbell made the decision Monday to part ways with defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant, according to Dave Birkett.
The Lions are off to an abysmal 1-6 start, losing their fifth straight game Sunday to the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa torched the Detroit secondary, completing 29 of his 36 attempts for 382 yards passing and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, the performance was more of the same for a Lions defense that was bottom ten in yards passing allowed through Week 8.
Pleasant served as DBs coach for Detroit in each of the last two seasons after spending the four previous seasons with the Los Angeles Rams as cornerbacks coach.
His departure might not be the last for a Lions coaching staff struggling to find answers.
Irv Smith Jr. Will Miss Time
The Minnesota Vikings could be without starting tight end Irv Smith Jr. for a few weeks, according to ESPN. There's a belief he may have suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. If this is indeed the case, it's likely that Smith Jr. could miss an extended period of time.
The Vikings are off to a scorching hot 6-1 start. They'll head to Washington in Week 9 for a matchup against the 4-4 Commanders — fresh off their thrilling victory over the Colts on Sunday.
Ingram Out for Three-to-Four Weeks
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram will likely miss the next three-to-four weeks with a knee injury, according to NFL Media. Ingram suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain, a less severe injury than some feared he had suffered. There was speculation that Ingram's season might have been at an end. Luckily for the Saints, he will return in the coming weeks.
The 3-5 New Orleans Saints shut out the Las Vegas Raiders 24-0 Sunday and now look toward a matchup against the Ravens in Week 9. Should Ingram return in three weeks' time, he'll join the Saints as they prepare for a showdown with the 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
Barrett Officially on IR
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed edge rusher Shaquil Barrett (Achilles) on injured reserve Monday, according to NFL Media. Barrett will miss the remainder of the 2022 NFL season as a result of the injury.
The 2019 second-team All-Pro suffered a torn Achilles during the team's Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. The defeat dropped Tampa to 3-5 on the season with a Week 9 matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on the horizon.
Despite their record, the Buccaneers' playoff hopes are still within reach. They sit only one game behind the Atlanta Falcons, who took over first place with a chaotic win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Parker Likely To Miss One Game
The New England Patriots are likely to be without wide receiver Devante Parker for just one game, according to NFL Media. Although there were fears the knee injury he suffered in the team's Week 8 win was more serious, Parker was diagnosed with a knee sprain. As a result, he will likely avoid an extended absence.
After beating the Jets on Sunday afternoon, the Patriots are preparing for a Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts — a game Parker is likely to miss. Fortunately, New England's bye is scheduled for Week 10 putting Parker in line to return on Nov. 20 when the Patriots take on the New York Jets in Foxboro.
Thus far, the former Miami Dolphins receiver has started seven games, compiling 15 catches for 321 yards receiving and a touchdown.
