News And Notes From Around The League

[Go PRO](=) | [View Online](=) [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign Up]() [Footballguys.com](=)Daily Email Update • Vol. 22, #263 • Jan. 5th, 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks To Our Sponsor, [The 2020 Footballguys Playoff Challenge]( Howdy {NAME}, It's Wild Card Week and not a minute too soon. We've got the News and Notes you need. And don't forget your Footballguys Playoff Challenge Team. Just $35 per team for your shot at Post Season Fantasy Football Glory. Let's go. J --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by [The 2020 Footballguys Playoff Challenge]( For just $35 per team, take your shot at Playoff Fantasy Football Glory with a $100,000 Grand Prize. No salary caps, no weekly roster submissions, and no free agency to deal with. Just build your 12-player team once and watch it perform throughout the postseason. Players on your team are only eliminated when their NFL team loses, so target the high scorers who advance deep into the postseason. It’s THE way to play playoff Fantasy Football backed by the people you know at Footballguys and the FFPC. But hurry as it's closing soon. [Sign Up Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [CLE - Kevin Stefanski tests positive](#1) 2. [WAS - Antonio Gibson sits out Tuesday](#2) 3. [NYJ - RB Frank Gore open to playing](#3) 4. [IND - Indy signs two to future deals](#4) 5. [TB - DNP for WR Mike Evans on Tuesday](#5) 6. [PIT - Joshua Dobbs could see some time](#6) 7. [WAS - DNP for WR Terry McLaurin on Tuesday](#7) 8. [JAX - Eric Bieniemy to interview with JAX](#8) 9. [WAS - Washington may play two QBs vs. Tampa Bay](#9) 10. [DEN - QB Drew Lock receives tepid endorsement](#10) 11. [MIA - Tua Tagovailoa locked in as 2021 starter](#11) 12. [BUF - WR Stefon Diggs dealing with oblique injury](#12) 13. [LAR - WR Cooper Kupp expected to return Wednesday](#13) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [CLE - Kevin Stefanski tests positive]() Source: ClevelandBrowns.com Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, two other coaches and two players tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Browns play on Sunday against the Steelers. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would serve as head coach if Stefanski is forced to miss the playoff game. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [WAS - Antonio Gibson sits out Tuesday]( Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Josh Alper Washington Football Team RB [Antonio Gibson](=) (toe) did not participate in the team's walk-through Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Toe injuries linger and Gibson didn't look like himself in Week 17. Washington will be wise and limit him during the week of practice. Gibson has a tough matchup against the Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [NYJ - RB Frank Gore open to playing]() Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter New York Jets impending free-agent RB [Frank Gore](=) said he's open to playing in 2021 in the right situation. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We hope to see Gore back in the NFL next season. He can still play and still produce as a battering ram who plays running back. It would be cool to see Gore play long enough for his son, Frank Gore Jr., make it to the NFL in a couple of years. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [IND - Indy signs two to future deals](=) Source: Colts.com Free-agent S Nick Nelson (Raiders) and TE [Jordan Thomas](=) (Patriots) were signed to Reserve/Future contracts by the Indianapolis Colts Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Thomas is a player we'll still monitor in crazy deep dynasty formats. He's a converted wide receiver and a huge target. He's bounced around the league a little bit but that skill set makes him intriguing. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [TB - DNP for WR Mike Evans on Tuesday](=) Source: 1 No Source Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR [Mike Evans](=) (knee) was spotted on the field but did not officially practice Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Evans has what is being called a hyper-extended knee. The Buccaneers are in a Super Bowl window and might risk holding Evans out of action for the Wild Card Round in order to get him closer to full strength. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [PIT - Joshua Dobbs could see some time]() Source: NFL Network - Aditi Kinkhabwala Pittsburgh Steelers QB [Joshua Dobbs](=) could be activated for the AFC Wild Card game this week, according to comments made by head coach Mike Tomlin, who insinuated Dobbs could serve as the backup quarterback against the Cleveland Browns instead of [Mason Rudolph](=). [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Steelers don't have a great backup in Rudolph. It's no surprise they would be considering a move to Dobbs as the no.2 behind Ben Roethlisberger. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [WAS - DNP for WR Terry McLaurin on Tuesday]( Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Josh Alper Washington Football Team WR [Terry McLaurin](=) (ankle) did not participate in the team's walk-through Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] McLaurin was able to play in Week 17, so the team will take it easy on him during the week of practice. He should be ready for the Wild Card Round and we'll know more about his status later in the week. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [JAX - Eric Bieniemy to interview with JAX](=) Source: JosinaMedia.com - Josina Anderson Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is working on scheduling an interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bieniemy may be the hottest head-coaching candidate out there. The Jaguars may be the hottest destination this offseason as they have the no.1 overall pick (hello Trevor Lawrence!) and $100 million in cap space. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [WAS - Washington may play two QBs vs. Tampa Bay]() Source: The Washington Post - Sam Fortier Washington Football Team QBs [Alex Smith](=) and [Taylor Heinicke](=) could rotate in some form or fashion in the NFC Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend, according to head coach Ron Rivera. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Heinicke was thrust into action in Week 16 and looked good in relief of Dwayne Haskins. Smith started and played in Week 17 going for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Going with two quarterbacks would be an interesting strategy, especially against a ferocious front seven like the Buccaneers have. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [DEN - QB Drew Lock receives tepid endorsement]( Source: DNVR Sports - Andrew Mason Denver Broncos QB [Drew Lock](=) 'can be' the team's starting quarterback in 2021, according to head coach Vic Fangio, who noted Lock will 'have to improve.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Lock improved slightly as the year went on but he regularly was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, so even average play was an upgrade. A new general manager will have to decide what caliber of competition to bring in this offseason. John Elway stepped away as the GM and he was Lock's biggest supporter. There's a reason why Fangio is rather lukewarm when talking about the young QB. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [MIA - Tua Tagovailoa locked in as 2021 starter]() Source: ESPN.com - Cameron Wolfe Miami Dolphins QB [Tua Tagovailoa](=) will remain the team's starting quarterback, according to general manager Chris Greer, who reiterated Tuesday, Jan. 5, that the organization is 'happy with his development.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Tagovailoa had an up-and-down rookie season. He certainly showed flashes of a franchise quarterback and looks to have tremendous upside. The Dolphins dealt with a lot of injuries this year to the players around Tagovailoa and that caused some of his struggles. We're excited to see what his future holds in the NFL. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [BUF - WR Stefon Diggs dealing with oblique injury](=) Source: Buffalo Bills PR Buffalo Bills WR [Stefon Diggs](=) (oblique) was limited in practice Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Diggs is going to be limited in practice this week so he can be as close to 100 percent as possible before the Wild Card Round. The Bills won't have Cole Beasley this weekend, so having Diggs out there is priority number one. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [LAR - WR Cooper Kupp expected to return Wednesday]( Source: TheRams.com Los Angeles Rams WR [Cooper Kupp](=) is expected to return from the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Jan. 6, according to head coach Sean McVay Tuesday, Jan. 5. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Kupp missed Week 17 on the COVID list but he'll be out there in the Wild Card Round. The Rams need all the help they can get on offense, especially if QB Jared Goff has to miss another game. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J = = Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =