Broncos' Russell Wilson says he's 'ready to roll' in London

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson proclaimed himself “ready to roll” despite a lingering hamstring injury Wednesday ahead of Denver’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.

Wilson was a limited participant in practice at the Harrow School outside London and coach Nathaniel Hackett was noncommittal, but the veteran quarterback was optimistic.

“I feel great, ready to roll,” Wilson said. “I'm super locked in and ready to hopefully get a big win in London.”

Wilson, who was held out of Sunday’s 16-9 loss to the New York Jets by Hackett because of a strained hamstring, estimated he stayed on his feet for half of the eight-hour flight to Britain.

“I was walking up and down the aisles,” Wilson said. “Everybody was knocked out. I was doing high-knees, working on my legs and everything else, making sure I'm ready to rock.”

Wilson took part in stretching and throwing drills but didn't roll out and throw during the portion of practice that was open to the media at the private school once attended by Winston Churchill.

“I always want to be out on the field,” he said. “That obviously was tough not being out there. I wanted to help us win and get on a hot streak and just get us rolling.”

Hackett echoed his comments from earlier in the week, saying Wednesday that Wilson “is trending in the right way.”

The rookie coach said Wilson did “quite a bit” in practice. Asked what Wilson needs to show him, Hackett said “that he can protect himself, just want to be sure that as he gets out there, he's able to escape, he's able to move and so forth.”

“We want to be smart with him,” Hackett said of Wilson's limited practice. “We don't want any setbacks.”

Backup Brett Rypien threw for 225 yards and one interception against the Jets his second career start. The third-year player out of Boise State completed 24 of 46 passes with no touchdowns.

The Broncos (2-5) lost their fourth straight despite another outstanding defensive performance, and Hackett has faced more scrutiny than any rookie coach in the league because of his team's offensive woes and his debatable in-game decision-making.

“I always feel pressure on myself, from the standpoint of me personally,” Hackett said. “We are who we are and we've got to dig ourselves out of this.”

Wilson, new contract in hand, is off to the worst start of his 11-year career, completing 58.6% of his passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has missed just four games as a pro.

With the Seahawks in 2018, Wilson threw three touchdown passes in Seattle's 27-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders at Wembley.

Second-year safety Caden Sterns (hip) did not practice Wednesday.

“It’s been something that he’s been dealing with for quite a while right now, and so we want to make sure that he’s going to be OK long-term,” Hackett said.

CB Essang Bassey (hamstring), OLB Baron Browning (hip), WR Tyrie Cleveland (groin), T Cam Fleming (quad) and DL Mike Purcell (knee) also did not practice. ILB Josey Jewell (knee) was limited.

Also Wednesday, the Broncos designated veteran offensive lineman Tom Compton for return from the physically unable to perform list, though he's not yet been activated. Left tackle Garett Bolles sustained a season-ending leg injury earlier this month and Fleming is expected to miss time.

New addition Marlon Mack could be an immediate help. The running back was signed off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad after an injury to Mike Boone.

“We want to get him up top speed as fast as we can,” Hackett said of Mack.

Bills rule out CB Tre’Davious White from facing Packers

Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Tre’Davious White’s return from a left knee injury will have to wait at least one more week.

Coach Sean McDermott on Wednesday ruled out White from playing against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. White opened the season on the physically unable to perform list before being cleared to begin practicing two weeks ago after missing 11 months with a torn ligament.

Under NFL rules, the Bills have until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 2. to add White to the active roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve. The delay in activating the sixth-year player allows White an additional week of practice, especially after missing last week when the Bills were off on their bye.

“Keep taking it one day at a time. He’ll play when he’s ready. He’s progressing,” McDermott said.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was optimistic about White’s return, when asked about the player on Monday.

“He’s champing at the bit to get going,” Frazier said. “We’re looking forward to when he can go out there with our normal players and play in a game. It doesn’t seem like we’re that far away from that, but we’ll see how this week goes. But so far, so good.”

White was hurt during a 31-6 win at New Orleans on Nov. 25 and had surgery for a torn ACL a few weeks later. He was still spotted walking with a slight limp while spending training camp working out individually on the sideline.

He’s has been a starter since the Bills selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft and was selected to the All-Pro team in 2019.

The AFC-leading Bills (5-1) come out of their bye week at the healthiest they’ve been since the start of the season. Right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle) was the team’s only regular who did not practice, while receiver Jake Kumerow returned to practice after missing three games with an ankle injury.

The week off also provided starting safety Jordan Poyer additional time to recover from an injury to his ribs which prevented him from flying to play in a 24-20 win at Kansas City on Oct. 16. The Bills instead hired a van and had Poyer make the 14-hour drive to Kansas City.

Though Poyer was cleared to play, the team’s medical staff prevented him from flying because the change in air pressure could have affected a punctured lung, which was caused by the rib injury.

Poyer said he’s now been cleared to fly, with Buffalo preparing to play at the New York Jets after hosting Green Bay.

Starting safety Micah Hyde also rejoined the team, though in what can best be described as a quasi-coaching role after sustaining a season-ending neck injury in Week 2.

“Ask me in a couple of weeks because I don’t even know yet,” Hyde said, when asked to describe his role. “I’m just in the building, I’m trying to help out the younger guys.”

A defensive captain and a 10-year veteran who is in his sixth season with the Bills, Hyde’s presence should benefit a young secondary which currently features second-year player Damar Hamlin starting at safety, and two rookie cornerbacks.

The backups have mostly held up with Buffalo leading the NFL in allowing the fewest yards and points, while leading the league with 10 interceptions.

Without describing the exact nature of the injury, Hyde said it was a lingering issue that built up over several years and deemed to require surgery. He expects to be healthy to return to play next season.

This is the first significant injury for Hyde, who had previously missed just three games over his first nine NFL seasons. He said he experienced feelings of loneliness while recuperating at home in San Diego, upon deciding to bring his wife and kids and return to Buffalo.

The hardest part, Hyde joked, will be having the training staff hold him back from attempting to return this year.

If he can’t be a part of the team on the field, the 32-year felt the next-best thing is to at least help out in practice and on the sideline.

“I want to be part of what’s going on,” he said.

“After all these years, to finally be in the position that we’re in, to know that we have a shot to win the Super Bowl, that I might not be a part of it, but then I thought again and I’m like, I am a part of it,” Hyde said. “I’m here. I’m helping the guys out. It’s a new role for me, but I’m excited.”

Eagles acquire three-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears

The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles already have one of the NFL's best defenses.

Now, they're adding another pass rusher to the mix.

The Eagles acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears for a 2023 fourth-round pick on Wednesday.

The teams said the trade was pending a physical.

Quinn goes from a rebuilding franchise to a Super Bowl contender. The Eagles (6-0) are the lone undefeated team. Philadelphia, coming off a bye, hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday.

“I think it's another great player on this team,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “He has a history of being a great defensive end and edge rusher. I think he'll help us out in a number of ways. Adds a lot of depth, and I'm excited to meet him. I'm excited to meet him (Thursday) when he comes.”

The 32-year-old Quinn is off to a slow start with just one sack and three quarterback hits after opting not participate in offseason workouts. But he broke Hall of Famer Richard Dent's franchise record with 18 1/2 sacks last year in a resurgent season.

“I value — I think I’ve talked about that a lot — the locker room and what it means and the culture and it (stinks) to mess with that, to be completely honest with you,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said.

“But again, my job is to do what’s best for this organization not only now, but in the future. I felt like that was the best move for us to make.”

With Quinn, an Eagles defensive line that already has Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Jordan Davis becomes that much more daunting. He replaces defensive end Derek Barnett, who tore an ACL in the opener at Detroit.

The Eagles are holding opponents to 297.8 yards per game, which is fourth in the NFL. They're fifth against the pass at 188 yards and rank second in interceptions with nine. When it comes to sacks, they're tied for 10th with 17. And that's an area where Quinn could help.

He has 102 sacks over 12 seasons with the Rams, Miami, Dallas and Chicago. Quinn was an All-Pro with St. Louis in 2013 when he had a career-high 19 sacks and made his second straight Pro Bowl the following year. He went from 11 1/2 sacks with Dallas in 2019 to just two for Chicago in 2020.

Quinn bounced back in a huge way last year and seemed a likely candidate to be traded in the offseason considering the Bears were essentially starting over. They hired Poles and coach Matt Eberflus to replace the fired Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy after missing the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years.

But Poles said trading Quinn in the offseason was not his intention.

“I know I wanted Robert on this team in the beginning," he said. "There weren’t many conversations at all. I was transparent with them — him and his crewー about that. I knew the way he played this game, the motor and all that.”

He said the Bears “needed that” to “kickstart” how the defense would perform under Eberflus and new coordinator Alan Williams.

Quinn, meanwhile, had said several times he would rather remain with the Bears than be traded. Poles said he wasn't sure how his play this season impacted his market value.

When the deal materialized, it caught star linebacker Roquan Smith off guard. He was at the dais addressing reporters when the news surfaced and he became emotional.

“Man. Yeah, man. (Stinks),” he said, wiping his eyes with his shirt.

He was asked how so.

“Let me take a second for a second, if you don’t mind,” Smith responded. After about 10 seconds, he continued: “You know, I have a great deal of respect for that guy, you know. Damn. Crazy.”

Smith got up and walked away, ending a brief session. A team spokesman told reporters, “We’ll get you tomorrow.”

The Bears (3-4) visit the Dallas Cowboys (5-2) on Sunday. Chicago is coming off a surprising win at New England on Monday night.

Though they've struggled against the run, the Bears have been one of the best at defending the pass. But now, they're without one of their most important players.

49ers count on bigger impact in game two with McCaffrey

For his debut with the San Francisco 49ers, Christian McCaffrey just wanted to make sure he knew his limited plays well enough to line up in the correct spot and run them properly.

McCaffrey will be a much bigger part of the game plan this week now that he has a full week to learn the offense and prepare for a key game against the NFC rival Los Angeles Rams.

“When you have someone like Christian, it’s always a lot more fun,” coach Kyle Shanahan said about putting together a game plan for the first time with his new star.

McCaffrey practiced for the first time with the 49ers on Wednesday. He was acquired late last week in a trade from Carolina and only got on the practice field to meet his new teammates at the end of Friday's session.

His presence has taken on added importance with versatile receiver Deebo Samuel missing practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury. Shanahan said Samuel has made progress but his status for the game Sunday remains in question.

But if Samuel can't go, McCaffrey will be much more involved than he was last week when he had a 48-hour crash course on the offense and knew about 20 plays he could run against Kansas City.

McCaffrey played 22 snaps in that game, running eight times for 38 yards and catching two passes for 24 yards.

“He was here for a day and a half before he put our uniform on. That says a lot about who he is as a pro, it says a lot about who he is as a competitor,” tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “Obviously, he’s a huge talent. He’s had a lot of success his whole career and hopefully we can help bring him to even more heights.”

When McCaffrey was on the trading block last week, it seemed likely he would be playing in this 49ers-Rams game but it was uncertain which uniform he would be wearing.

The two NFC West rivals were the top bidders for McCaffrey, with the Niners winning the sweepstakes by sending Carolina draft picks in the second, third and fourth rounds in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

Now they hope the move pays off to spark an offense that is 20th in the league in scoring and has scored more than 24 points just twice in seven games.

“He plays our style, our offensive style — yards after catch — and really hits it when he’s running the ball,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “Kyle showed a few plays of him in the team meeting today and he looks like he’s part of our team.”

Titans QB Tannehill's ankle 'headed in right direction'

Ryan Tannehill walked out wearing sneakers Wednesday to talk to reporters with no hint of a limp.

Then the Tennessee Titans quarterback spent the next few minutes sidestepping questions about his sprained right ankle just as he dodges pass rushers trying to take down Tannehill on the field.

Yes, Tannehill's right ankle feels better than after the Titans' 19-10 win over Indianapolis when he left the stadium wearing a walking boot.

No, he isn't at a point where he could dance at his daughter's wedding. Not because of his ankle, but she's 4 and a couple of decades from that moment.

“I am headed in the right direction,” Tannehill said. “I have got a little ways to go, but I have been better and I have been worse. Headed in the right direction.”

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said before practice he thought Tannehill might be listed as limited on the team's injury report after practice.

Tannehill wound up among four who did not practice as the Titans (4-2) prepare for Sunday's game in Houston (1-4-1).

Tannehill has not missed a start since moving into the starting lineup in mid-October 2019, and he is set for his 50th consecutive start in the regular season against Houston.

That's the most by a quarterback in franchise history, easily topping the 43 consecutive regular-season starts by Steve McNair between 2001 and 2003.

That's why Tannehill said he is doing everything possible both in the training room at the Titans' headquarters and at home with all types of treatments to “give my body the best chance to heal.”

Asked if his biggest issue is pain tolerance or damage in the ankle, Tannehill said “we will see.”

The 11-year veteran said he wasn't sure how his ankle would feel Wednesday.

“I didn’t plan to feel too good after the game, and I didn’t feel too good,” Tannehill said. “We are heading in the right direction.”

Tannehill's current backup is rookie Malik Willis, the Titans' third-round draft pick at No. 80 overall. Willis has appeared in two games so far, the first in mop-up duty with Tennessee being routed in Buffalo in Week 2. He got on the field for three snaps last week, one at quarterback when Tannehill went to the sideline hurt.

Vrabel said Willis is expected — like everyone else — to prepare as if he will start. Tennessee also tried to use the rookie's legs in a couple of other plays last week.

“We’ve got a multitude of plays that we can run,” Vrabel said. “The ones that we have in that we feel like can help us win against Houston, then there are other plays that we could go to if another quarterback had to be in there.”

The Titans have leaned heavily on two-time NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 536 yards rushing. Tannehill has thrown for 1,097 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions this season and hasn't been picked off in three straight games.