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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

CeeDee Lamb's Future with Cowboys Uncertain Amid George Pickens' Emergence and Cap Constraints

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's long-term future with the team is under scrutiny, particularly after owner Jerry Jones's effusive praise for fellow receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys face significant cap commitments to Lamb and Dak Prescott, leading to speculation about whether they can afford both Lamb and Pickens, whose rookie contract expires soon. While a pre-June 1 trade of Lamb would incur a $42.8 million cap charge, an automatic restructure option could reduce his cap number by approximately $18 million for next season. An "either-or" decision between Lamb and Pickens might arise in 2027 or 2028, with Jones's unprecedented comments about Pickens suggesting a potential shift in prioritization. Lamb, along with Pickens, was benched at the start of Monday night's game, reportedly for missing a meeting or practice, though Jones expressed pride in their subsequent performance.

Kenneth Gainwell Poised for Increased Role if Jaylen Warren is Limited in Week 12

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is positioned as the No. 2 option behind Jaylen Warren. Gainwell demonstrated his potential in Sunday's game against the Bengals when Warren was briefly sidelined with an ankle injury, breaking out with 9 rushes for 24 yards and an impressive 7 receptions on 7 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns. With Warren expected to be limited in practice and potentially cautious in Sunday's game against the Bears, Gainwell could see additional work, particularly in the receiving game. While Warren's anticipated availability reduces Gainwell's immediate waiver wire appeal, he remains a recommended addition to fantasy benches, especially in PPR formats, given his demonstrated ability to produce when given opportunities.

Ashton Jeanty's Workload Shrinks Drastically in Raiders' Loss to Cowboys

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Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, the sixth overall pick, saw a significant reduction in his workload during the Las Vegas Raiders' 33-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, carrying the ball just six times for seven yards. This contrasts sharply with his 60 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries the previous week. Head coach Pete Carroll took responsibility for the unbalanced offensive game plan, which prioritized passing early. Jeanty expressed his inability to control his usage, stating, "I just take whatever I can get." Despite an 11-yard run, he received limited touches, and the team's offensive line struggles, including injuries to Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson, further hampered the run game. Jeanty was even swarmed for a safety in the fourth quarter, highlighting the team's struggles.

Jordan Love's Advanced Stats Outshine Box Score in Recent Packers Performances

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love's recent performances, despite modest box score numbers (207.7 passing yards, 0.6 touchdowns, 0.6 interceptions, 60.8% completion rate over three games, 1-2 record), are highlighted as brilliant by advanced metrics. He is tied atop the NFL in EPA/play alongside Drake Maye, reinforcing the belief that he is among the league's best quarterbacks. Love is described as a "microcosm of counting stats versus advanced stats," with his incompletions sometimes more impressive than other quarterbacks' completions. He is considered a major reason the Packers are still winning games, with observers encouraged to "watch the game, not the box score" to appreciate his impact.

Sam Darnold's Meltdown Tendencies Resurface in Four-Turnover Performance

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, known as the "king of meltdown games," experienced another catastrophic performance, committing four turnovers against the Rams. This marks his third career four-interception game and sixth three-interception game. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula exploited Darnold's aversion to sacks, forcing him to process complex coverage without blitzing. Rams safety Kam Kinchens observed Darnold "flinching up" and trying to get rid of the ball quickly to avoid sacks, which led to opportunities for turnovers. Ironically, taking the sacks might have been a better outcome for the Seahawks, as all four turnovers were his fault and resulted in poor field position. Darnold and Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak must now adapt to counter future defensive strategies.

Jared Goff's Career-Low Performance Under Pressure Plagues Lions Offense

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is facing a significant "pressure problem," which proved catastrophic in a recent game where he completed only 1 of 14 passes for a 40-yard touchdown against pressure, resulting in a -33.6% completion percentage over expected. This issue is a recurring theme, but 2025 marks career lows for Goff against pressure, with a 45.8% completion rate, -5.1% completion percentage over expected, -.48 EPA per dropback, and 31.1% success rate. Compounding the problem, the Lions' offensive line is allowing pressure on 35.5% of his dropbacks, the second-highest rate of his tenure. Head coach Dan Campbell must address both pressure prevention and Goff's comfort under duress, as this is identified as the offense's single biggest challenge.

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Praised by Sean McVay for Leadership and "Spark" Ahead of Rams Reunion

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to face his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, on Sunday night. Rams head coach Sean McVay reflected on Mayfield's impactful 2022 stint with the team, praising his resilience, natural leadership, and "impressive mental stamina" to quickly absorb and execute information. McVay noted Mayfield "brought a spark" and possesses "great charisma and presence," comparing his leadership qualities to Matthew Stafford's. Mayfield was claimed off waivers by the Rams in December 2022 and, just two days later, led an improbable 98-yard comeback drive to beat the Raiders. He started the final four games of that season, completing 64% of his passes for 850 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in five games. This season (2025) with the Buccaneers, Mayfield has completed 64% of his throws for 2,365 yards, 17 touchdowns, and three interceptions, a performance McVay believes is "more on par" with expectations for him.

Tatum Bethune Suffers High-Ankle Sprain, Expected to Miss Multiple Weeks

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune sustained a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's victory over the Cardinals and is expected to miss multiple weeks, according to Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. The team anticipates he will avoid being placed on injured reserve due to the upcoming Week 14 bye. In Bethune's absence, Curtis Robinson is slated to step into his lineup spot, having recorded 12 tackles in 54 snaps after the injury. Dee Winters, who holds the other full-time linebacker role, is also projected to see increased tackle opportunities. The team's Week 12 opponent, Carolina, presents a historically challenging matchup for linebackers but has allowed several 10+ tackle performances this season.

Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. Embraces Underdog Status as 8-2 Team Faces Chiefs

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. expressed his preference for the team to be underestimated, believing it provides an "edge" for the 8-2 and well-rested Colts. Despite their strong record coming off a bye week, the Colts are not favored in their Week 12 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, with DraftKings listing the Chiefs as three-point favorites. Pittman recalled preseason predictions that projected the Colts to win only three games, highlighting how the team has already outperformed expectations. He emphasized that "our work isn’t done" and views the upcoming game at Arrowhead Stadium as a crucial test for the Colts to maintain their strong finish to the season.

Giants Rookie RB Cam Skattebo, Recovering from Season-Ending Ankle Injury, Involved in WWE Raw Altercation

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New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo, who is out for the season with a severe ankle injury, made headlines by getting physically involved with WWE wrestlers during "Monday Night Raw" at Madison Square Garden. Skattebo, who suffered a dislocated ankle, fractured fibula, and deltoid ligament rupture in an October 26th game against the Eagles, confronted wrestler Dominik Mysterio after Mysterio shoved comedian Andrew Schulz. Skattebo then shoved JD McDonagh, initiating a "fracas" that included other Giants players. His participation in the event, while wearing a New York Rangers jersey and also attending a UFC event, raises concerns given the severity of his injury, which General Manager Joe Schoen would not want aggravated. This incident follows a previous team issue where wide receiver Malik Nabers attended a concert while in concussion protocol.

Cardinals' Trey Benson's Continued Absence Impacts Running Back Rotation

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Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson's status remains a factor influencing the team's backfield distribution. His continued absence is noted as a condition for Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight to maintain their respective roles against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Following Emari Demercado's high-ankle sprain in Week 11, Michael Carter stepped into the change-of-pace, pass-catching role, while Zonovan Knight handled most of the early-down work. The expectation is that this arrangement will persist, underscoring the impact of Benson's availability on the Cardinals' running back corps.

Cardinals RB Zonovan Knight Takes Over Early-Down Work Following Demercado Injury

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Arizona Cardinals running back Zonovan Knight handled the majority of the early-down rushing work in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers, stepping into a more prominent role after Emari Demercado suffered a high-ankle sprain. With Demercado expected to miss Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and potentially more time, Knight is anticipated to continue as the primary early-down back. This workload distribution, with Michael Carter taking on pass-catching duties, is expected to remain in place, particularly if Trey Benson continues to be out.

Cardinals' Michael Carter Steps Up in Pass-Catching Role Amidst RB Injuries

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter assumed the change-of-pace and pass-catching responsibilities in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers, following Emari Demercado's high-ankle sprain. With Demercado expected to miss significant time, Carter is projected to continue in this role for the upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This arrangement is anticipated to persist, with Zonovan Knight handling early-down work, especially if fellow running back Trey Benson remains sidelined. Carter's increased workload highlights his importance in the Cardinals' backfield rotation moving forward.

Cardinals RB Emari Demercado Diagnosed with High-Ankle Sprain, Expected to Miss Jaguars Game

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Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after leaving Sunday's loss to the 49ers. As a result, he is expected to miss this week's game against the Jaguars. This injury further depletes the Cardinals' backfield, as James Conner and Trey Benson are already on injured reserve, leaving Bam Knight and Michael Carter as the primary options, with Jermar Jefferson on the practice squad. This season, Demercado has accumulated 241 rushing yards on 31 carries, along with eight catches for 64 yards and one touchdown. He also had a long rushing touchdown against the Titans in Week 5 controversially overturned to a touchback due to a fumble out of bounds.

Giants Rookie Abdul Carter Denies Sleeping Through Practice, Cites "Honest Mistake"

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New York Giants rookie first-round pick Abdul Carter vehemently denied reports that he slept through a walk-through practice last week, stating he was receiving treatment at the time. Carter, who was benched for the opening series of Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers, attributed his missed practice to an "honest mistake" caused by new head coach Mike Kafka changing the normal practice schedule without his realization. He spoke with Kafka via FaceTime and emphasized it was not a trend. Carter, who was expected to start in place of the injured Kayvon Thibodeaux, felt compelled to speak out against anonymous sources he believes are unfairly tarnishing his reputation.

Javonte Williams Contributes to Cowboys' Balanced Attack in Raiders Victory

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Javonte Williams was noted as contributing to the Dallas Cowboys' balanced offensive attack during their 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 11. Alongside Dak Prescott and George Pickens, Williams helped power the offense, which saw the Cowboys convert five red-zone trips into three touchdowns. The statistical review highlighted the team's overall offensive success, with the Cowboys dominating throughout the game.

Cowboys Honor Marshawn Kneeland with Emotional Win After Tragic Death

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, was tragically found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase on November 6, three days after scoring his first career touchdown on a blocked punt recovery against the Cardinals. A 2024 second-round pick in his second season, Kneeland was honored by the Cowboys with "94" helmet decals and warm-up shirts during their emotional 33-16 win over the Raiders. Quarterback Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones expressed profound grief, stating the team played with Kneeland's characteristic intensity and effort. Coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the team's perseverance through mourning, dedicating the victory to Kneeland's legacy.

George Kittle Reclaims Elite TE1 Status with Brock Purdy's Return

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San Francisco 49ers veteran tight end George Kittle re-established himself as an elite, every-down TE1 in Week 11, delivering his best performance since Week 5. With quarterback Brock Purdy back in the lineup, Kittle secured six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, totaling 24.7 PPR points. He commanded a significant 26.1% target share and played 46 of 47 offensive snaps, demonstrating his crucial role and strong connection with Purdy, who was "locked onto Kittle from the start."

Quinshon Judkins' Fantasy Value Limited by Quarterback Change and Lack of Receiving Work

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Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins' Week 11 performance was hampered by a mid-game quarterback change. Initially gashing the Ravens' defensive line, his momentum shifted when Dillon Gabriel exited with a concussion and Shedeur Sanders entered, leading to a pass-heavy offensive script. The Ravens adjusted, limiting Judkins to short gains on his 17 attempts for 59 yards (3.5 YPC). His lack of involvement in the passing game resulted in only 5.9 fantasy points, underscoring his touchdown-dependent fantasy value and categorizing him as a "pick-your-spot RB2."

Brock Purdy's Return Elevates George Kittle to Elite TE1 Status for 49ers

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's return to the lineup in Week 11 significantly impacted tight end George Kittle's performance. Purdy played 47 offensive snaps and was "locked onto Kittle from the start," leading to Kittle's best outing since Week 5 with six receptions, 67 yards, and two touchdowns, accumulating 24.7 PPR points. Kittle commanded a 26.1% target share, solidifying his status as an elite, every-down TE1 with Purdy back at quarterback.