2022-23 NFL

 Less than a week away from the Nov. 2 NFL trade deadline, general managers must assess the status of their teams. Is it time to buy in an attempt at a playoff run or sell for 2022 draft capital?  While the phone lines heat up over the next few days, some players should prepare to suit up elsewhere. Others may receive the news as a surprise. Either way, expect some movement as front offices make moves for the short- and long-term future.  Before last year's deadline, three notable pass-rushers, Yannick Ngakoue, Carlos Dunlap and Everson Griffen, had to clear out their lockers and report to new teams, though we didn't see any blockbuster deals. For a more lively discussion about trades, let's go through some bold predictions for the 2021 deadline. What high-profile names should we keep an eye on, and where's the next stop for them? Bears Deal WR Allen Robinson to the Patriots Justin Fields hasn't clicked with Allen Robinson. Since the rookie quarterback took over the...

 The 32 things we learned from Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season: 1. Another valiant effort by the Detroit Lions, who hung tough against the Los Angeles Rams and ex-Lions QB Matthew Stafford before succumbing 28-19. Detroit led after three quarters, recovering an onside kick and successfully executing a pair of fake punts. But it was all for naught, Stafford (334 yards, 3 TDs passing) continuing to resemble an MVP in his new threads, while former Rams QB Jared Goff threw a killer interception to ex-teammate Jalen Ramsey in the end. 2. Goff (2 INTs, sacked twice Sunday) still hasn't won a game when not wearing a Rams uniform – he's also winless in his past 10 starts – nor without Sean McVay as his coach. 2a. The Lions still haven't won a game sans Stafford since 2010. 2b. Detroit, the first team to go 0-16 – a 2008 "effort" that led to the drafting of Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 – is 0-7 for the fourth time in franchise history and the only team still in danger o...

 Thursday Night Football Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns, 5:20 p.m., Fox, NFL Network, Amazon The Browns are hurting as injuries have plagued the team. We think they still have enough talent to get past a struggling Broncos team. Prediction: Browns 21, Broncos 17 Sunday early games Carolina Panthers at New York Giants, 10 a.m., Fox The Panthers have not looked good over the past few weeks, but the Giants have looked really bad.  Prediction: Panthers 27, Giants 16 New York Jets at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., CBS Both Zach Wilson and Mac Jones are going through some growing pains and both have shown glimpses of potential greatness. The Patriots are the better team. Prediction: Patriots 24, Jets 14 Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans, 10 a.m., CBS The Chiefs appeared to get back on track in their Week 6 win. The Titans seem to always play them tough, but Kansas City will keep its momentum rolling. Prediction: Chiefs 34, Titans 26 Washington Football Team at Green Bay Pac...

Joe Thomas : Though some might not expect it, it's a low-scoring affair between the Browns and Cardinals on Sunday. Baker Mayfield has modest numbers, but authors that signature come-from-behind moment. Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Mayfield leads the Browns down the field for the winning score as time expires. James Jones: The Detroit Lions have been thisclose to winning two games this season. They would already be in the win column if not for a pair of last-second field goals: a record-setting boot from Baltimore's Justin Tucker in Week 3 and a 54-yarder from Minnesota's Greg Joseph in Week 5. Detroit won't have to wait any longer for its first victory of the season, as the Lions take down the 3-2 Bengals in Ford Field. DeAngelo Hall : Until now, the Buffalo Bills' defense has suffocated opposing rushers. The unit has not allowed 50 or more ground yards to a running back this season -- the most it allowed was 61 to QB Patrick Mahomes last week. But against...

 When is the 2021 NFL trade deadline? The 2021 trade deadline is set ahead of Week 9 at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 2. When do trade discussions begin ahead of the trade deadline? Trade discussions, a key part of roster-building that I wrote about in August, happen year-round. They can even linger after the trade deadline -- discussions that went dormant over the latter portion of the regular season can pick up again in January or February, whether between the same teams, a new partner or with a partner who is now working for a new team. That said, once rosters have been constructed prior to Week 1, most teams are focused on the regular season. At most (if not all) of my stops as a general manager, we always listened to potential trade opportunities but didn't let ourselves get distracted from the task at hand. And while we believed in in-season player acquisitions, they tended to come through the waiver wire, not necessarily via trades. There aren't a ton of players made availa...

 Tom Brady wasn't slowed by a thumb injury suffered early in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 45-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and won't be restricted on a short week. Post Credit - NFL.COM NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Brady should be good to go for Thursday night's bout with the Philadelphia Eagles, per a source informed of the situation. Brady threw for 411 yards and five passing TDs in Sunday's win. It was the first time in his 22-year career he's thrown for 400-plus yards and 5 TDs. During the game, TB12 was seen icing his hand on the sideline. After the win, Brady showed up to his press conference with a wrap on his hand.

The Cincinnati Bengals may have their lead running back versus Green Bay after all. Post credit - NFL.COM Joe Mixon (ankle) was put through a workout this morning and is trending toward playing "in some capacity" on Sunday against the Packers, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Good Morning Football Weekend on Saturday. Officially listed as questionable, the Bengals RB did not practice all week due to his ankle injury. Zac Taylor announced on Friday that Mixon's availability would be determined on how Saturday's practice went. Mixon sustained the injury in last Thursday night's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mixon has 353 rushing yards and two touchdowns through four games this season, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Veteran backup Samaje Perine and third-string rookie Chris Evans could see more action should Mixon be limited or unavailable for Week 5.

 The Tennessee Titans will get one of their two big-name wide receivers back for their Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Post Credit - NFL.COM Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that A.J. Brown would play Sunday, but Julio Jones remains out. Both wideouts missed the Titans' Week 4 overtime loss to the New York Jets due to hamstring injuries. Jones hasn't practiced or played since Week 3, when he participated in just 50 percent of the snaps due to the hamstring injury. The 32-year-old sat out seven games in 2020 and is already set to miss his second straight contest this season after missing the bulk of practice time this offseason.

John McClain makes his picks for the NFL's Week 5 games beginning Thursday night. Post credit - houstonchronicle.com Thursday's game L.A. Rams (minus-2½) at Seattle: Seahawks 28-27 Sunday's games New England (minus-9) at Houston: Patriots 24-16 Atlanta (minus-3) vs. N.Y. Jets: Falcons 29-27 Miami (plus-10) at Tampa Bay: Bucs 31-17 Philadelphia (plus-3½) at Carolina: Panthers 24-20  New Orleans (minus-2) at Washington: Washington 23-21 Tennessee (minus-4) at Jacksonville: Titans 28-23 Detroit (plus-9) at Minnesota: Vikings 26-21 Denver (plus-1) at Pittsburgh: Steelers 23-20 Green Bay (minus-3) at Cincinnati: Packers 31-27 Chicago (plus-5½) at Las Vegas: Raiders 28-21 Cleveland (plus-1½) at L.A. Chargers: Chargers 21-19 N.Y. Giants (plus-7) at Dallas: Cowboys 30-24 San Francisco (plus-5½) at Arizona: Cardinals 31-27 Buffalo (plus-3) at Kansas City: Chiefs 30-28 Monday's game Indianapolis (plus-7) at Baltimore: Ravens 24-20

 As an ankle injury lingers, Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook did not practice on Wednesday, but he has every intention of playing on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Post credit - NFL.COM The goal for Cook is to battle through the injury but still heal up and get back to being the best version of himself in the process. "That's the plan," Cook said Wednesday when asked if he could keep playing through it and return to prime form. "I don't feel like I'm getting worse. I don't feel like I'm headed in the wrong direction. I feel like I'm headed in the right direction to get myself back to where I need to be at. You have those days, but we just played a game. Just trying to work myself back to being 100 percent so I can help us win games." After missing a Week 3 win against the Seahawks, Cook returned in Week 4's loss to the Browns. Clearly limited by his injury, he had just nine carries for 34 yards. Being able to get ...

1. Trevon Diggs (Dallas) has an interception in each of the first 4 games this season. 2. Through four games, Taylor Heinicke has 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, going 2-2. The two losses are to the Chargers and Bills (two solid teams). 3. Jared Goff and Justin Fields combined for four total fumbles in their game this weekend. Goff has almost as many fumbles through four games (4 total) as he did all of last year (5). 4. The Jets won Sunday, and also had their first lead of the season. 5. Arizona Cardinals were top 5 in the league in sacks coming into today but got zero against the Rams. PFF had Los Angeles as the eighth best offensive line to begin the year. 6. Alvin Kamara, Chase Edmonds, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Nick Chubb all rushed for at least 100 yards without a rushing touchdown in Week 4. 7. Darnell Mooney, DeVonta Smith, Tyler Boyd, Kenny Golladay and Stefon Diggs all had 100 receiving yards with no touchdowns in Week 4.. 8. A list of quarterbacks with 4+ touchdowns...

 The Indianapolis Colts will be without their All-Pro guard for at least three weeks. Quenton Nelson (ankle/knee) is being placed on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. Nelson will miss a minimum of three weeks while on IR.