Raiders Place CB Damon Arnette On IR
After aggravating a previous thumb injury in Week 3, Damon Arnette will see his rookie season paused for a while. The Raiders placed the first-round cornerback on IR.
Arnette initially broke his thumb during training camp but landed on it awkwardly against the Patriots last week. As a result, the Raiders will be without a key defensive piece for a while. Arnette underwent thumb surgery this week and will be out at least six weeks.
The suddenly potent Bills passing offense will face a Raiders team ranking 31st in defensive DVOA, though the unit sits 18th in DVOA against the pass through three weeks. The Raiders may also be down rookie cornerback Amik Robertson, who is questionable with a non-coronavirus illness. Arnette has started each of the Raiders’ games this season.
Las Vegas looks also set to be without its other 2020 first-rounder against Buffalo. The Raiders listed Henry Ruggs as doubtful to face the Bills. Ruggs is battling knee and hamstring injuries.
Additionally, the Raiders promoted safety Dallin Leavitt from their practice squad and placed defensive tackle Daniel Ross on IR.
Latest On Vikings, Danielle Hunter
Eligible to be activated off the Vikings’ IR list this week, Danielle Hunter does not look to be on the verge of making his 2020 debut. And the injured Pro Bowler’s season could be in jeopardy.
Hunter traveled to New York for a second opinion on his injured neck, according to Mike Zimmer. This visit produced a recommendation Hunter not play this season, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The sixth-year defensive end is dealing with cervical spine disc herniation, per ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin (on Twitter).
While the Vikings classified Hunter’s injury as a tweak in August, Cronin adds they were expecting a six- to eight-week hiatus for the talented pass rusher when they placed him on IR in September (Twitter link). The early end of that timetable has not yet arrived, and the Vikings have yet to feature their new-look Hunter-Yannick Ngakoue tandem.
Minnesota is 0-3 and ranks 31st in points allowed. None of Zimmer’s Vikings defenses have finished outside the top 11. While DVOA places the Vikings’ defense 19th through three games, Hunter’s absence — on a defense that is much younger than the past few Minnesota units — has certainly shown up.
Eagles Place OT Jason Peters On IR
The Eagles offensive line has taken another hit. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that left tackle Jason Peters is being placed on IR with a toe injury. The ailment is expected to sideline the veteran for several weeks.
Peters missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week, but Rapoport says that was due to an illness. The lineman started feeling foot discomfort when he returned to practice on Friday, and an MRI revealed the severity of his injury. It’s always tough to lose depth, especially when it’s a player of Peters’ caliber. While it’s been a few years since the 38-year-old earned any accolades, the nine-time Pro Bowler’s savviness and leadership have still earned him an important spot on the team.
Among the Eagles projected starters on the offensive line, only Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson are still healthy. Guards Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo are out, while Andre Dillard is done for the season with a biceps injury. The depleted depth means that former Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata will likely get the start this weekend, while Nate Herbig and Matt Pryor had previously been thrust into the starting lineup.
The offensive line isn’t the only part of the Eagles offense that’s dealing with injuries. DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Jalen Reagor, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside likely won’t play this weekend.
NFL Postpones Chiefs-Patriots; Game Expected To Be Played Monday Or Tuesday
11:30am: The NFL is moving tomorrow’s Colts-Bears game to 4:25 p.m. ET to fill the previous Patriots-Chiefs spot, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).
11:07am: That didn’t take long. Less than an hour after news broke of Cam Newton testing positive for COVID-19, we’re now learning (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter) that tomorrow’s game between the Patriots and Chiefs has been postponed. Schefter notes that the game is expected to be played Monday or Tuesday.
“The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams,” the league said in a statement.
“In consultations with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
As the statement alludes to, Newton wasn’t the only player to test positive. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has also tested positive and has been added to the reserve list. Along with practice squad QB Matt Moore, Ta’amu was the de facto third-string quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is skeptical the game will be played Monday considering the incubation period. Schefter somewhat echoes that sentiment, as a source told him that the game is “more likely” to be played on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, the NFL postponed Sunday’s contest between the Titans and Steelers after several members of the Titans organization tested positive for COVID-19. That number has since ballooned to 16, forcing the NFL to postpone the game indefinitely.
Patriots QB Cam Newton Tests Positive For COVID-19, Out Sunday
UPDATE, 10:50 am: ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots/Chiefs are not expected to play tomorrow at 4:25 pm ET. Rapoport adds that one option is moving the game to Monday night. Schefter tweets that in that scenario, the Patriots would leave for Kansas City tomorrow.
10:11 am: Cam Newton‘s out for Week 4. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots quarterback has tested positive for COVID-19, has been added to the COVID-19/reserve list, and is out Sunday against the Chiefs.
This is an isolated case, and no other Patriots players have tested positive, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter. Schefter adds that the organization has been doing “mass testing and re-testing.” However, Schefter also tweets that the team will no longer be traveling to Kansas City at 1:00 pm today as originally planned; instead, they’re “on standby as they await more test results and guidance from the NFL.”
“Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19.
“We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs. The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority.”
After inking a one-year deal with New England this past offseason, Newton has led the team to a 2-1 start to the 2020 campaign. The 31-year-old has completed 68.1-percent of his pass attempts for 714 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s been an even bigger threat running the ball, compiling 149 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries.
The Patriots will now enter this weekend’s matchup against the defending Super Bowl champs with either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer under center. The 24-year-old Stidham was once expected to take over the starting gig following Tom Brady‘s defection, but the signing of Newton naturally changed things. The former fourth-round hasn’t seen the field yet in 2020, and he completed two of four passes for 14 yards and a pick during his three appearances in 2019.
Hoyer has had multiple stints with New England dating back to 2009. The 34-year-old got into four contests last season (one start) with the Colts, connecting on 53.8-percent of his passes for 372 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Three More Members Of Titans Organization Test Positive For COVID-19
Three more individuals in the Titans organization have tested positive for COVID-19, including one player and two staff members, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). That brings the organization’s number of positive cases to 16 (eight players, eight other team members).
Earlier this week, the NFL postponed this weekend’s Titans’ game against the Steelers indefinitely, but the NFL might have to start considering contingency plans for Week 5, as well. Schefter notes on Twitter that the continued positive tests will increase “questions about the viability of next weekend’s Titans-Bills game.” The NFL was fortunate that they could accommodate this weekend’s postponement; it’s uncertain what they’ll do if the Titans are forced to sit out another week. Sam Farmer of the LA Times tweets that it’s an inevitability “that the NFL would tack an extra week onto the regular season for make-up games”
We do know that the NFL won’t open Titans facilities until they’re confident the “transmission event” has come to an end.
“We don’t want to reopen the Titans’ facility until we’re convinced that we’ve reached the end of the transmission event that occurred earlier this week and that we have put in place all the measures to keep everyone safe there,” NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills said (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post on Twitter).
Fortunately, there’s some good news out of Minnesota after the Titans played the Vikings last weekend. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that the Vikings “received no positive Covid-19 testing results in today’s report.”
Broncos Add DLs Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo To Practice Squad
The Broncos are adding two familiar faces to their practice squad. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that Denver has signed defensive tackles Sylvester Williams and Darius Kilgo. The two players auditioned for the Broncos earlier this week alongside Timmy Jernigan (who ultimately signed with the team), David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott.
Williams was a first-round pick by the Broncos back in 2013, and while he never really lived up to his potential, he still managed to play a role for those competitive Denver squads. The lineman ultimately spend four seasons with the Broncos, starting a pair of Super Bowls (and winning one).
He signed a three-year deal with the Titans prior to the 2017 campaign, but he lasted less than a year in Tennessee. He’s since had stints with the Lions, Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers, and he had five tackles in five games with Los Angeles in 2019.
A 2015 sixth-round pick by Denver, Kilgo was also a member of that Broncos Super Bowl-winning squad. The 28-year-old hasn’t done a whole lot since getting released by Denver during the 2016 campaign; he compiled five tackles in 11 games for the Titans in 2018, but that’s been it. He’s also had stints with the Patriots (where he earned a second Super Bowl ring), Jaguars, Titans, and Lions.
Bears Sign Lamar Miller To Practice Squad
The Bears are expected to add running back Lamar Miller to the practice squad, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Miller will provide Chicago with some much-needed depth in the wake of Tarik Cohen‘s season-ending injury.
[RELATED: Nick Foles Named Bears Starter]
Miller signed a one-year deal with the Patriots earlier this summer, roughly one year after he tore his ACL during the Texans’ preseason. He wasn’t able to stick in New England, but he’s reportedly healthy and ready to go.
Miller earned Pro Bowl nod during his last healthy season in 2018, rushing for five scores and 973 yards on 210 carries (4.6 yards per carry) with the Texans. He also added 25 receptions for 163 receiving yards and one touchdown during that season.
The Bears deal reunites Miller with Charles London, his former RBs coach in Houston, and Bill Lazor, his old offensive coordinator in Miami. Both coaches know what Miller is capable of, as he notched 1,000-yard seasons for both the Texans and Dolphins.
Saints’ Michael Thomas Out Vs. Lions
Wide receiver Michael Thomas has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Lions, per a club announcement. Thomas has been chomping at the bit to return, but the Saints are taking the cautious approach to protect his long-term availability. 
Doctors told Thomas that he’d be out for several weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain in mid-September, but he pushed back when the Saints considered placing him on injured reserve, which would have ruled him out for a minimum of three weeks. The 27-year-old has missed only one game since entering the league in 2016.
Drew Brees has struggled thus far in 2020, and Thomas’ return would go a long way towards firing up the offense. Over the last five years, Thomas has racked up 473 catches for 5,529 yards and 32 touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the league’s very best offensive weapons. Last year, he led the NFL with 149 catches and 1,725 yards while matching his previous career-high of nine scores.
Unfortunately for the Saints, Thomas won’t be the only starter out of action this weekend. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins, tight end Jared Cook, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and guard Andrus Peat have also been officially ruled out for Sunday.
Cardinals Sign Justin Murray To Extension
The Cardinals have signed Justin Murray to a two-year contract extension, per a club announcement. The offensive lineman can earn up to $9MM over the course of deal, which will keep him under contract through the 2022 season. 
As OverTheCap.com details, the extension is worth $5.5MM in new money. That includes a $1MM signing bonus, a $1.75MM salary in 2021, and a $2.25MM salary in 2022. The 2021-22 seasons also include up to $250K in per-game active roster bonuses. So presumably the $3.5MM difference between the $5.5MM new money value and the $9MM maximum are comprised of other incentives.
Murray, a Cincinnati product, has bounced around quite a bit since he first entered the league with the Broncos in 2016. After stops with the Broncos, Buccaneers, Saints, Bengals, and Raiders, he landed with the Cardinals in 2019 and was quickly thrust into the starting lineup. Murray started in 12 of his 14 games with Arizona, where he has found a real NFL home. Thanks in part to Murray, the Cardinals averaged over five yards per carry in 2019.
The Cardinals re-upped Murray on his low-cost exclusive rights free agent tender earlier this year, and they’ve rewarded him with a fresh deal midway through the 2020 season. No longer serving as the Cardinals’ starting right tackle, Murray now backstops Kelvin Beachum at RT while also supporting J.R. Sweezy at right guard.
This week, the Cardinals will look to advance to 3-1 when they face the Panthers in Carolina.