It's Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, and we're under two weeks away from the trade deadline. Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been calling sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.

Which teams are most likely to bring in help before the Nov. 10 deadline? Which players are likeliest to end up in a new city? And will the Colts continue dealing players? Jeremy and Dan have updates on the trade market. Plus, we look into what's happening with the struggling Jets and what's going on in the chaotic AFC North, where the Browns are in first and the Ravens are in last.

It's all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions, hand out useful fantasy football nuggets and empty their reporting notebooks heading into Week 8.

Jump to:
Aggressive teams at the deadline
Players likely to move | Colts dealing
Jets changes | AFC North chaos
Fantasy advice | More intel

Which team is most likely to be aggressive in acquiring help at the deadline?

Fowler: The Chiefs appear poised to do something at wide receiver. Injuries to Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton have created holes in the passing game that running back Kenneth Walker III can't mask alone. The Chiefs have managed to win games despite those injuries, but Sunday night in Seattle was a reminder of how ugly things can look without adequate downfield playmakers.

Enough receivers will be available in the coming weeks, so the Chiefs can get good value trading for the high-impact players or lower-cost options. The Colts' Josh Downs would be a fit for the Chiefs. The Browns' Jerry Jeudy would also fit, though Cleveland is not inclined to deal him now barring a significant offer.

Graziano: The Chiefs always seem to do something at wide receiver at the deadline. Usually it's a smaller move such as Kadarius Toney or late-career DeAndre Hopkins, but the team has a history of targeted trade-deadline additions at the position. I expect Kansas City to be active in trying to add a player or two to boost the offense, be that another pass catcher, an offensive lineman or both.

The teams that are most interesting to me are the surprises. Would the first-place Giants believe they're in position to trade a draft pick or two for a win-now player? Would the AFC North-leading Browns feel compelled to reward their current roster for its surprising first-half success by adding a player who can help take them to the next level? We saw the Colts do this last year with the big swing for Sauce Gardner.

Of course, last year's Colts are proof that this approach doesn't always work, but what do you think? Would the Browns veer from their long-term building plans to try to make a 2026 run with Deshaun Watson at QB?

Fowler: Cleveland is a low-key team to watch at the deadline. The Browns are 5-2 and like to make deals. Defensive line help will be available if they tap into it. And adding a versatile blocker, either at tight end or H-back, would be timely, perhaps providing a player similar to what Todd Monken had in Baltimore with Patrick Ricard.

Seattle has already made a move with the deal for Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson. Edge rusher and running back are positions Seahawks GM John Schneider could monitor, as well.

Graziano: Yeah, Tuesday was a big day in the NFC West arms race. It makes me wonder what the Rams are thinking. They obviously made their big moves in the offseason, but things haven't worked, and everyone's favorite superteam has fallen behind the 49ers and Seahawks in the division. I wonder whether there's another move for the Rams to make -- they could use a speedy wide receiver if one is available -- and whether they still have the draft picks and/or desire to add more to a roster that was already supposed to be loaded.

I'm also very curious to see what the Jaguars do. They see themselves as a top AFC contender. I agree with them, but they could use one more piece up front on defense. Remember, the Jags were kind of a surprise at last year's deadline with their move for Jakobi Meyers, who helped fuel their second-half run.

Which player are you most confident will get traded somewhere before the deadline?

Fowler: Let's go with Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Several execs I've spoken to believe Thomas' days in Jacksonville are numbered due to his diminished role in Year 3. He has trade value, and the Jaguars would be smart to explore that option. One potential deterrent: Jacksonville is in a winning window and needs all hands on deck for the stretch run. Thomas, at worst, still commands defensive coverage, but he hasn't caught a pass in the past two games and was essentially benched in London in Week 6.

None of the top trade options around the league is a slam dunk to happen, but place Thomas in the Marvin Harrison Jr. category of a receiver badly needing a fresh start. The safer bet might end up being Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who isn't a primary option in that offense and is also a trade candidate.

Graziano: Thomas is my answer, too. He clearly hasn't been a big part of Jacksonville's offense since coach Liam Coen arrived last season. Thomas would surely prefer to either be a bigger part of the Jaguars' offense or go to a team where he can have a sizable role. And there are plenty of teams around the league that still view him as a high-end talent at a premium position and would give up something of value to get him.

Like you said, this closely mirrors the Harrison situation. Thomas is two months younger than Harrison, was also drafted in the first round in 2024 and showed enough promise as a rookie that there's reason to believe a change of scenery could bring out the best in him. Thomas hasn't made any public noise about wanting out, but neither did Harrison. Still, Harrison and his agents were able to work with the Cardinals behind the scenes to find a solution that made everyone happy. I expect the same thing to happen for Thomas.

Going back to your Jennings mention, I agree that the most likely guys to be traded are the slightly lower-profile names if simply because they won't cost as much to add. But I also imagine Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat will be of interest to teams needing defensive help over the next couple of weeks.

Fowler: Yeah, Dan, Sweat certainly fits the profile of a prime trade candidate, and some around the league have linked the Cowboys to his services.

What about the Colts? Are more moves coming after they dealt Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner?

Graziano: With the Colts tearing things down, veteran wideouts such as Keenan Allen and Laquon Treadwell might have appeal as depth players on contenders that need help at receiver. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart and wide receiver Josh Downs are also on expiring contracts and didn't get extensions this offseason.

The guy who did get an extension, running back Jonathan Taylor, might be the most interesting of the bunch. Even after his recent extension, Taylor has a tradeable contract. The Colts would have to absorb $10 million in dead money next year, and the acquiring team would have to take on whatever prorated portion of Taylor's $8 million salary plus bonus compensation is left for this season. He's scheduled to make $16.02 million next year, and right now that's not guaranteed, though it converts to a full guarantee five days after the Super Bowl.

So technically, you could acquire Taylor without any commitment beyond this season, but you'd also retain the ability to keep him past 2026 if you are comfortable with that price. I believe Tennessee's Tony Pollard is the more likely running back to be dealt, ahead of Taylor or Saquon Barkley, but if the Colts are in full rebuilding mode, you can't rule anything out.

Fowler: Talks are heating up quickly. Nelson had interest from several suitors before going to the Seahawks, including the Packers, thus expediting his market. Assistant GM Ed Dodds' phone will be lighting up this week. Buckner was also a player people were watching before he was dealt to the 49ers on Tuesday.

Downs has emerged as a hot name this week because multiple teams looking for receiver help have shown interest. But the Colts are thin at receiver already, so trading Downs would severely limit the offense, though my sense is he would not be against a change of scenery. (Update: Downs requested a trade on Wednesday morning.) And as multiple people around the league pointed out Tuesday, trading Taylor isn't a slam dunk because unlike Buckner and Nelson, he is not an impending free agent. He will also be a boon for whoever is coaching the Colts in 2027, be it current head man Shane Steichen or an outside hire.

play

Marcus Spears: DeForest Buckner trade a win-win for 49ers, Colts

How long until we see changes for the Jets?

Graziano: Most people I talk to think Aaron Glenn will get to coach through the end of this season before the team evaluates the two-year sample and decides whether to bring him back for a third. The caveats are that owners are unpredictable and that this particular owner fired his last head coach relatively early in the 2024 season. Glenn has some things going for him that Robert Saleh didn't, mainly his connection with the franchise from his time as a Jets player. Ownership likes Glenn and wants to be proved right about him being a good head coach.

That said, he has struggled with a few tasks specific to head coaches, most prominently end-of-half clock management. And his choice of Frank Reich as offensive coordinator after one year of Tanner Engstrand is coming under criticism as the offense struggles to score points. A defensive head coach is often done in by his inability to find the right offensive coordinator, so unless the Jets get things turned around on offense by the end of this season, that could be a detrimental data point for Glenn's chances to stick around.

Fowler: My sense after asking around to those in the industry who closely follow such things is that Glenn likely will get some time to attempt to right the ship, but the hot seat conversation is real, and this job is on the radar for potential change at some point. It's important to note that the Jets were not viewed as a playoff-caliber team in the offseason or preseason. They're a young team in transition, and they're right to expect modest progress. On that front, they look more competitive and more capable, but they're still 2-5, which sort of offsets those first two points.

Glenn can lift his standing in two areas: better game management/situational football and maximizing the playmakers on offense with improved overall play. This stat from ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini is shocking: The Jets have been outscored 107-6 in the final two minutes of the second quarter under Glenn. Glenn must prove that he can manage the clock better at the end of halves. And this offense should rank better than 27th in the NFL given its talent level. Garrett Wilson is already frustrated -- again.

Graziano: And that's not good. One reason the Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers after the 2024 season was concern over his relationship with Wilson and their belief that they had to make sure the wideout was happy and wanted to be there long term.

So here's the way I see it with the Jets. Glenn doesn't have to make the playoffs this season to keep his job and never did. But this is a team with three first-round picks in April and a plan to somehow, some way, finally find its long-term franchise quarterback. What the Jets want to have established by the end of this season is at least a foundation of a winning culture and an environment in which a young quarterback would be in position to quickly thrive and be happy. It's hard to look at the Jets right now and think they're on either one of those tracks. There is time to turn it around, but if it keeps going the way it has so far, this is absolutely a situation we'll be watching for a potential change.

Fowler: I also suspect that any major changes would be limited to the coaching staff. General manager Darren Mougey is ascending and has acquitted himself well through the past two years. His trades have New York positioned for three top-12 picks in April's draft as it currently stands. The roster is improved. Whoever the head coach is in 2027 will be in a good situation ... on paper. Ownership is viewed as a hurdle in some league circles, though it sounds like Woody Johnson wants to change that narrative and could be patient with Glenn as a result.

Browns in first? Ravens in last? What are you hearing on the upside-down AFC North?

Fowler: That the Browns are no fluke. I'm not ready to crown them the division winners, but they are well-stocked with young talent. Deshaun Watson has rediscovered (at least some of) his old form, and the schedule is soft. Cleveland has faced three teams with losing records, and three of its next four opponents are also below .500. It's at least a good enough schedule to keep things interesting.

The Steelers aren't lighting it up offensively but are creating an identity with star running back Jaylen Warren and heavy personnel (two tight ends or six offensive linemen). Pittsburgh seems to be in a similar spot to where it was in recent seasons -- good enough to win nine or 10 games and sneak into the playoffs but lacking juice beyond that. But what it's doing with heavier packages, including two-tight-end sets, has me intrigued. And don't discount the Steelers improving their roster at the deadline. Either way, this is shaping up to be the most balanced division in football.

Graziano: I don't believe the Browns or Steelers are as good as their records indicate. I mean, Watson is 27th in the league in QBR, and Cleveland has allowed 13 more points than it has scored. This is a mirage, along with some really good coaching by Todd Monken. And the Steelers just keep eking out these grueling wins against mediocre competition and looking a lot like they did for the past half-decade of the Mike Tomlin era.

But in Cincinnati, the Bengals have the one clearly elite unit in the AFC North, and it's the offense that hung 35 points on the Ravens in the second half Sunday. Cincinnati's defense is also playing at a higher level than we're used to watching. Based on what we've seen (and yes, I watched the Bengals lose in Pittsburgh with my own eyes thanks to two horrible mistakes on punt plays), I have Cincinnati as the class of this division, and I believe that's how it will play out in the end. Sunday was a statement game for the Bengals, and the statement is, "We are better than you are."

Fowler: The Bengals might be the most dangerous. We knew going into the season that they needed just passable defense; Joe Burrow and his side of the ball could handle the rest. That lopsided win in Baltimore on Sunday was a statement on both accounts. Cincinnati is convincing as a whole, but its ground game remains concerning. Last season's rushing attack ranked 29th in the league, and after hoping for improvement, this season's group ranks ... 30th. Teams that rank near the bottom in rushing typically don't make the playoffs. Burrow can overcome this issue at times, but that's hard to do over 17 games.

So while I mostly agree with you on Cincinnati's interdivision potential, I'm taking Baltimore for the division if Lamar Jackson is back this week and for the duration of the season. Here's to expecting Baltimore to tighten up and prove the Cincinnati game was an aberration.

play

Stephen A. calls out Dan Orlovsky for his take during this Ravens debate

Where are you at with the Ravens, Dan? History tells us that a hobbled Jackson equates to eight- or nine-win seasons for Baltimore. But the team's ceiling remains high.

Graziano: That seems to be the consensus opinion and has been since the offseason -- that Baltimore has a strong roster and should be a top AFC contender when everyone's healthy. But I have concerns.

The Ravens definitely need Jackson back as soon and as healthy as possible. This isn't graduate-level NFL analysis. He is as big a difference-maker as there is in the league. The Ravens can get by without him, but they cannot excel in that state -- and excel is what they're going to have to do to win this division (even if I'm not with you yet on the level of good play being displayed by the two teams atop the AFC North right now). The big problem the Ravens have is that the two games they've lost without Jackson are to the Browns and Bengals, both of whom are ahead of them in the division and now have a tiebreaker edge as well.

Jackson's health isn't the only issue. Derrick Henry looks a step slow for the first time and is getting stuffed at a high rate in short-yardage situations. The defense's disappearance in the second half Sunday must sound some alarm bells, doesn't it? Wasn't this supposed to be the Trey Hendrickson revenge game? The new coaching staff is unproven and hasn't had to manage a team through the inevitable ups and downs of a season. I believe Jesse Minter is a good coach who can do it, but we have not seen whether he can or will. We don't really know what the current, post-Harbaugh version of the Ravens is or how it will hold up as the season goes along.

What is your best piece of fantasy football advice for this week?

Graziano: After the week I just had in fantasy, my best advice is to not ask me for advice. But since you're insisting ... try to trade for Seahawks RB Jadarian Price. He's back at practice this week after missing the past four games while on injured reserve with a chest injury. I have no idea whether he'll play this week or how much, but he'll be back at some point soon. He was their first-round pick this year, and they just traded for Nelson, a move that will help their run game immensely.

Yes, Zach Charbonnet is close to returning, but he's also Zach Charbonnet, not Bijan Robinson. At best, the Seahawks will use Charbonnet the way they always have, which leaves room for someone else to produce at a high level. Price has had fumble issues and rookie growing pains, but the Seahawks drafted him because they saw him as a ready-made prospect who could help this season. Given how much Nelson can improve the run game, that Seattle's remaining schedule is friendly for fantasy running backs and that Price is probably sitting in someone's IR spot in your league, you might be able to get a steal.

Fowler: Grab insurance plays at RB such as the Colts' Seth McGowan. This is the time of year when RB depth thins due to injury. The Colts' trade plans could result in a deal for Jonathan Taylor, which would open up the backfield for McGowan. Even if they don't trade Taylor, McGowan is probably worth the roster spot if you have one to spare. The Titans' Tyjae Spears is also tempting if Tennessee gets a great offer for Tony Pollard.

What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano: On the day the Giants told Jameis Winston that he was being benched for J.J. McCarthy, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was leaving the team facility when he walked past a room where two Giants players sat talking. The two players were Winston and McCarthy, and they were reviewing the work the team had done that day, which was focused on third downs. Winston, who has been working in this offense since the spring, was trying to reinforce some key concepts for McCarthy, who has been there for a month and was just about to have his first week of practice with the starters. Neither player noticed Nagy, and he didn't interrupt their conversation, but he couldn't help but smile as he walked to his car.

The vibes are really good around the Giants right now. They were strong even before Sunday's upset victory over the Texans in Houston. Giants coaches were ecstatic about the way running back Cam Skattebo had handled the situation that saw his role in the offense greatly reduced for Week 6 after a costly fumble in Week 5. I spoke to Skattebo after Sunday's game, in which he rushed for 124 yards including the 42-yard overtime scamper that set up Devin Singletary's game-winning touchdown. He told me he felt the coaches had handled the situation "respectfully" and hadn't put him in a position where he felt embarrassed, and that he'd received and agreed with the message.

For his part, McCarthy did what the Giants' coaches were hoping he'd do on Sunday. He managed the operation of the offense cleanly, led the group with confidence and stayed within the game plan. Head coach John Harbaugh pointed out after the game that there were no procedural penalties with the offense, remarkable considering how new to it the starting quarterback was. Harbaugh also used the word "joy" multiple times to describe the feeling around the Giants right now, and he practically bounced out of his postgame news conference when it was done.

Look, it's only one game (and one quarter the week before against the Saints), and it's far too soon to fully trust what this team can be with McCarthy leading it. But they've clearly come together as a group in Harbaugh's first year. They're identifying their leaders -- Abdul Carter gave the fiery halftime speech that asked his teammates to leave everything out on the field in the second half -- and drawing top-level performances out of players at every level of the roster. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson put cornerback Deonte Banks on star Texans receiver Nico Collins for large parts of the game Sunday, and Banks shut Collins down.

The Giants head into their bye week in first place, and knowing they'll still be there when they come out of the bye with two division games in five days. But they go on bye encouraged by the idea of what they can be with McCarthy running the offense, and they believe the break gives banged-up players like left tackle Andrew Thomas time to heal up and come back healthier for the second half of the season. It's hard to know if they can capitalize on this feel-good start, but it sure is easy to see where all the good feelings are coming from.

Fowler: Trading a franchise staple is not easy. But three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson garnered real value on the trade market, and the Colts decided to open the floodgates. Here's how it went down: The Colts were transparent with Nelson during the process, reaching out Monday to stress that the team wanted to send him to a good situation. Through those talks, the Colts knew that Seattle was an appealing option for the player. Green Bay was also on the radar as an attractive option. So Nelson didn't have control of the trade, but his input was accounted for. Several teams had shown interest, including the Packers, Bears and Eagles.

The Seahawks put together a compelling package including third- and fifth-round picks. On Tuesday, interim GM Ed Dodds called Nelson into his office to deliver the news about the Seattle trade, about which Nelson was fired up. He slides immediately into the left guard spot and improves an offense that ranks 17th in rushing and would like to improve there. The addition of Nelson -- plus the impending return of running backs Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet -- should fuel the running game.

play

Why Jeff Saturday is not surprised about Colts trading Nelson and Buckner

Nelson is slated to be a 2027 free agent but both sides plan to work through that once he gets to Seattle as early as today. The Seahawks typically are comfortable trading for future free agents and letting them play it out. That was the case last year with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who was moved at the deadline but didn't re-sign with the team until around free agency. The Colts got an early jump, but more deals are coming. The Chargers have resisted thus far, but teams believe that could change over the next week. The Cardinals remain a team to watch. The team is still in transition and needs roster improvements. Is it finally time for Budda Baker to find a new home after 10 seasons in the desert? We explored that in our top 25 trade candidates list.

Graziano: The Raiders did not have any serious discussions this week about sitting veteran starting QB Kirk Cousins for rookie Fernando Mendoza, whom they think is coming along very well but still isn't as ready as they'd like him to be when they make him their starter. The plan all along has been to sit Mendoza as long as possible, and I personally would be surprised to see him start any of the Raiders' next five games at least. They have a bye in Week 13, and I think after that is the earliest they'd start to seriously consider it. Remember, this isn't just a Klint Kubiak decision. The entire organization, including their very active part-owner Tom Brady, is invested in making sure Mendoza is a success, and Brady has been vocal about his belief that rookie quarterbacks need to develop from the sideline.

Cousins has deficiencies at this point in his career, and the Raiders believe that ultimately -- when he's ready -- Mendoza's mobility and arm strength will benefit their offense. But Cousins is also leading the league in touchdown passes and is third in passing yards through seven weeks, and the Raiders don't see him as their biggest problem at the moment. They'd like to get their anemic running game going, as only the Packers are averaging fewer rushing yards per game. And they need to be better up front in the middle of their defense to keep other teams from putting games away in second halves.

At 3-4, the Raiders are a game and a half out of an AFC playoff spot at this point ahead of this week's cross-country trip to play the struggling Jets. They aren't ready to give up on their season. And while swapping Mendoza in for Cousins may not constitute a give-up per se, the point here is for the situation to be as good around Mendoza as possible once they make that move. They don't believe they're there yet.

Fowler: Mystery surrounds the Eagles' plans. It's unclear at this point whether GM Howie Roseman conducts a fire sale. But some rival teams are expecting at least mild unloading. Perhaps the most interesting team is the Tampa Bay Bucs, who typically are not subtractors by nature. Normally, this would be a natural time for a roster mini-reset. But despite the 2-5 record, the Bucs are alive in the NFC South, which they've won four of the past five years. Win enough divisional games and the overall record doesn't matter as much. I do believe, had the Bucs lost last week to fall to 1-6, they would be actively discussing dealing players.

Graziano: We didn't really address the Eagles in our trade-deadline portion of this column, but my sense is that things could go either way -- or a little bit of both -- for them ahead of the trade deadline. They have veterans on expiring contracts (cornerback Riq Woolen, receiver Hollywood Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert) who could be of interest to contending teams and help Philly out with draft-pick compensation. But the Eagles are loaded with picks already thanks to previous trades. They dealt their 2027 third-rounder for Jonathan Greenard but are projected to get a third-round compensatory pick due to the free agent loss of Jaelan Phillips. And they have extra first- and second-round picks in the 2028 draft due to the trades of A.J. Brown and Cam Jurgens. The Eagles aren't desperate to refill their coffers.

But they'll always listen, in both directions. If they get a good enough offer for a player who isn't part of their future plans, as was the case with Jurgens a couple of weeks ago, they'll be open to it. And if they see a chance to add a player who might be more than a two-month rental, as the Texans did with Marvin Harrison Jr., they'll be open to that as well.

The big name that everyone will want to know about is Saquon Barkley, but (A) he's clearly injured right now, even though he tried playing through it Monday night and (B) he's a running back who turns 30 in February and is due to make $16 million in 2027 and $19.2 million in 2028. As of now, the only guarantee of that future money is $2.5 million in 2027. If Barkley shows he's healthy in the next couple of weeks, it's possible a team would take a shot on him as the potential answer to its run game issues. But it's never a guarantee with running backs that the team trading them gets enough in return to justify the deal. In this year's NFC East, the Eagles can surely convince themselves they still have a shot to compete in spite of their current five-game losing streak and injury problems. So they're not trying to give Barkley away.

Fowler: The Lions' plan for Jahmyr Gibbs is simple: Give him the ball a ton. For good reason: Gibbs has waited years to be the primary back and is built for it. Opposing coaches have noted he's stronger than he was when entering the league in 2023. He can handle the carries. But it's worth noting that Gibbs has 166 touches through seven games, which equates to 470 touches over 17 games. That would be the most since James Wilder's 492 in 1984, and it doesn't feel sustainable; Gibbs' previous career high is 320 last season. Backup Sione Vaki has 16 carries on the season, several of which came in garbage time against Arizona.

Eventually, Detroit could add an RB2. The Lions have been in contact with former rushing champion Kareem Hunt, a free agent who visited the team in the preseason. The Lions' thinking is simple: Giving Gibbs the ball is better than just about any alternative, and the Lions are trying to win games. But his durability over the course of a long 17-game season is something to watch.

Fowler: Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed last week's officiating issues in the loss to the Detroit Lions with his team, hoping to turn the page with a quick-turnaround Thursday night game vs. Carolina looming. LaFleur told his team at the beginning of this week that the Lions game is "over," and Green Bay can't dictate how games are officiated, per safety Javon Bullard.

The Packers were flagged for two roughing the passer penalties late, along with an unnecessary roughness call on a play that did not appear blown dead. The Packers are toeing the line between physicality and discipline (they have eight roughing the passer penalties this season) but know they will need both to overcome the Panthers on Thursday night. The last time Green Bay lined up on a weekday game, Atlanta embarrassed the Packers 35-14. The Packers plan to avoid a repeat at all costs.

Graziano: Aaron Rodgers' odd claim that the idea of an "international week" of games was discussed during the 2019-20 CBA discussions created a lot of confusion around the league Monday, in particular among people who were there and remember nothing of the sort ever coming up. Rodgers' concept of a week in which every team in the league plays an international game in exchange for an extra bye week during the regular season makes no logistical or common sense, and multiple people who were involved in the CBA talks said it was never a point of discussion among players and owners. One person said they vaguely remembered Rodgers himself bringing up the idea in a meeting of just player leaders (not in a negotiating session with the league) and it being ignored or dismissed by the rest of the people in the conversation.

This was at a point in time, remember, when union representatives were gathering in Carmel, Indiana, during the scouting combine to hammer out the final details of a deal that would be voted on a week or so later, and when Rodgers was trying to scuttle that deal because he thought players shouldn't agree to it unless owners offered to make all offseason workouts voluntary in exchange for a 17th regular-season game. So if you're wondering whether this "international week" was ever treated as a viable idea, you can move on to other things in your life and remember that a large portion of what Aaron Rodgers has said publicly over the past six or seven years is utter nonsense.

Fowler: Injury updates ... The Lions are optimistic about wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown playing despite an ankle tweak from last week. Detroit knows St. Brown is one of the toughest players in the league and is able to play through various issues. Last year, he played on a high-ankle sprain on three days' rest to dominate on a Thursday night.

Bears running back Kyle Monangai (turf toe) has missed the past three weeks, but his chances are better of playing this week.

Denver defensive backs Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, both nursing ankle injuries, have a chance to return. Hufanga is projected to be out two to three weeks, and this is the third week of that timeline. Surtain enters Week 4 of his rehab, which could be the ideal time to return. After all, it's Kansas City week. Their returns would be timely.