Who’s starting, who’s hurt, and who’s on the move?
NFL news is nonstop, and we’re breaking it all down week by week this season.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league entering Week 3:
Washington homecoming
The Commanders signed veteran defensive end Preston Smith, according to NFL Media. Smith spent the first four seasons of his career with Washington (2015-18), who selected him with the No. 38 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In his 2015 rookie campaign, Smith tallied eight sacks and three forced fumbles, while posting eight sacks again in 2017. Smith signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2019, totaling a career-high 12 sacks in said year and with whom he played through 2024 before being acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released by Pittsburgh in February.
Vikings place top RB on IR
The Minnesota Vikings placed running back Aaron Jones on the injured reserve on Tuesday due to his hamstring injury. Jones will now miss a minimum of four weeks. Running back Jordan Mason will have an increased role in Jones’ absence, and the Vikings signed Cam Akers to increase their depth.
Minnesota signed quarterback Desmond Ridder to its active roster, NFL Media reported. Ridder, who has made 18 starts over his NFL career, joins Minnesota in the wake of starter J.J. McCarthy suffering a high-ankle sprain in the team’s Week 2 loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons and likely to miss multiple weeks.
Pittsburgh is benching rookie running back and third-round draft pick Kaleb Johnson from kick-returning duties in the “short term” following him not pursuing a live ball on a kickoff that resulted in a touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed. Johnson has taken just two handoffs through Pittsburgh’s first two games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman has a torn pectoral muscle, which will require season-ending surgery, according to NFL Media. Kancey, who totaled 7.5 sacks last season and was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, suffered the injury during Tampa Bay’s Week 2 win on the road against the Houston Texans.
Bengals add two quarterbacks
Cincinnati signed quarterbacks Mike White and Sean Clifford to its practice squad, according to NFL Media. These moves come after star quarterback Joe Burrow suffered turf toe and will subsequently miss at least three months. White has made seven career starts since 2021, while Clifford was a backup for the Green Bay Packers from 2023-24. That said, Jake Browning will start in Burrow’s place. The former helped Cincinnati squeak out a Week 2 win at home over the Jacksonville Jaguars to improve to 2-0 and made seven starts in 2023 after Burrow suffered a season-ending elbow injury.
Justin Fields in concussion protocol
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields remained in the concussion protocol Monday and his availability for the team’s next game is uncertain. Coach Aaron Glenn said Fields will continue to be evaluated after the quarterback was hurt late in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
If Fields is unable to play next Sunday at Tampa Bay, veteran backup Tyrod Taylor would start for New York.
Fields fell backward when he was sacked by Joey Bosa in the fourth quarter and the back of his helmet hit off the turf. He was down for a few moments before he was able to get up and walk off under his own power.
The Jets’ next practice is Wednesday and Glenn acknowledged Fields would need to be cleared from the concussion protocol and get in some time on the field if he’s going to play against the Buccaneers.
Jayden Daniels’ Week 3 status “in doubt”
Commanders’ quarterback and 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels sprained his left knee on Thursday, and his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders is “in doubt,” per ESPN.
An MRI scan performed after the injury, suffered against the Packers in Week 2, revealed no structural damage, per ESPN. If Daniels is not ready to go against Las Vegas, backup Marcus Mariota would fill in at QB – it would be the first game in Daniels’ career that he’s missed, as he started all 17 games for Washington as a rookie and both games in 2025 so far.
Josh Allen gives nose update
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was referring to himself in updating the condition of his swollen, bloodied nose by saying, “We can breathe, so it’s good,” after coasting to a win over the New York Jets.
A week after throwing for 251 yards in the fourth quarter, and rallying Buffalo from a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes over the Ravens, Allen could have sat this one out once he bolted to the sideline with blood gushing from his nose in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter. He was hurt when his helmet was shoved down while being stopped for no gain.
Rams lose starting cornerback to IR
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has been placed on injured reserve with a broken collarbone. Witherspoon was injured in the second quarter, with coach Sean McVay calling it “a big loss” for the Rams.
The nine-year NFL veteran was expected to play a major role on the Rams’ defense, but his absence is likely to create playing time for fellow veteran Darious Williams, who was beaten out for the other starting cornerback job by Emmanuel Forbes in training camp. Williams played 26 snaps in Tennessee after not getting on the field at all during the Rams’ season-opening win over Houston.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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