FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a bone bruise in his left knee last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers and might not start in the tomorrow's game against the Miami Dolphins.

The Falcons (3-3) are set to host the Dolphins (1-6) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

ESPN ...Read more

BALTIMORE — A day after Lamar Jackson practiced fully for the first time since injuring his hamstring last month, the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday ruled the quarterback out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

“There has been an update to Lamar Jackson’s Friday practice and game status,” the Ravens posted on social media. “...Read more

NEW YORK — After a week of trying to fool the media, the New York Jets will keep the same starting quarterback this week.

Tyrod Taylor, who was expected to start against the Cincinnati Bengals, has been ruled out due to a knee injury he suffered last week in the loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. He is not expected to ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ozzie Newsome grew up in Muscle Shoals near the birthplace of the civil rights movement in Alabama. He remembers the days of “colored fountains” and as a sixth grader being the only African American in a newly desegregated school.

When the Cleveland NFL franchise first moved to Baltimore for the start of the 1996 season, ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For a variety of reasons the last few seasons, Patrick Mahomes at times appeared off-kilter and tentative. On occasions, he even seemed skittish in an often-precarious pocket.

Because of his transcendent talent and uncanny find-a-way mindset, he still was pivotal — along with some top-notch defense — in leading the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nearly eight years ago, the Chiefs welcomed a playoff crowd to Arrowhead Stadium on a Saturday in early January. Back then, the place had a little different feel for those games.

The noise and energy were just as ever-present. But the nerves — the feeling of bracing for the worst — had grown as steady as the rationale ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) has been ruled out for the Eagles’ rematch against the New York Giants on Sunday, according to the team’s final injury report released Friday afternoon.

Brandon Graham (not injury related), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (pectoral/injured reserve), center Cam Jurgens (knee), cornerback Adoree’...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fully practiced for the first time this week Friday in Owings Mills. Whether he’ll start Sunday against the Chicago Bears, however, remains up in the air.

“We’ll see where we’re at going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson (hamstring), who was listed as questionable on the final...Read more

NEW YORK — The NFL is fining the Giants, Brian Daboll and Cam Skattebo a combined $315,000 for violating the league’s concussion protocol during the team’s Week 6 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL and NFL players’ association announced jointly that they are assessing a $200,000 fine to the Giants, a $100,000 fine to Daboll and a...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Two of the NFL's flagship franchises take the field Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. Fittingly, both lead their divisions.

The Green Bay Packers have won more championships (13) and games (814) than any team in NFL history. The Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins (six) and conference titles (11) and own the fourth-...Read more

SEATTLE — Typically, the high road offers a more peaceful journey.

It doesn't drag your emotions into the mud. It doesn't flood your mind with thoughts of comebacks or one-ups.

But sometimes — even if it defies your nature — sometimes, you gotta fight back.

For three years former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson stayed quiet while ex...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you see a Dolphins player drive up to Hard Rock Stadium in the cab of a yellow 18-wheeler, rest assured it’s fifth-year defensive tackle Benito Jones.

The 27-year-old Jones is a wide load at 6-foot-1 and a run-stuffing 335 pounds. But more importantly, you should know that Jones owns a trucking and logging company ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In four days, the Chargers defense went from rattled to relentless.

The Minnesota Vikings were the victims, unable to move the ball Thursday night against a unit that looked shaky and unsure of itself in a humbling loss to Indianapolis the prior Sunday.

That, along with the consistently excellent play of quarterback ...Read more

MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa has had a rough couple of weeks.

He created a media firestorm after calling out his teammates’ lateness to player-led meetings. He has thrown six interceptions in two games. And, most recently, he got benched during the Miami Dolphins’ 31-6 lopsided loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Despite the criticism that ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Despite a bone bruise in his left knee, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. plans to start against the Dolphins at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Obviously, at the end of the game, you saw I did get up a little bit slow, but I’ve been feeling good,” Penix said. “Just continuing to get better each and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants coach Brian Daboll, who is under investigation for violating the NFL’s concussion protocol on the sideline of the Giants’ Week 6 win over the Eagles, was asked Thursday if center John Michael Schmitz is going to a neurologist Friday to get cleared.

“You have to ask the doctors about the concussion protocol,” Daboll ...Read more

Eureka! Do people still shout that word as an exclamation of triumph? Well, I’m bringin’ it back, Jack, after our best all-round week in what’s been a challenging season for picks thus far. I’ll take twin double digits every time, and so 11-4 straight-up is good and 10-5 vs. the betting line is better. Our bounty included Indy’s ...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 7’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 7 RECAP

Bengals 33, Steelers 31: Joe Flacco finished as Week 7’s QB6 with 342 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Pittsburgh. The veteran gunslinger is a solid streaming option the next two games against the Jets and Bears, who are allowing the ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 8 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 10-5 (.667) record. Through the first seven weeks of the season, he is 71-37 (.657).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more

MIAMI — We are not officially past the point of no return, but we’re speed walking toward it.

The Miami Dolphins are a poorly built football team that is injury depleted, error-prone, lacking leadership, and most importantly, toughness.

These problems, which many of us suspected were issues coming into this season, can’t be argued based ...Read more