NFC West

The NFL denied Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf's appeal of a $30,000 fine he received for allegedly arguing with a referee during a Week 10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

According to that report, "Metcalf was said to ask the official if a play was pass interference, and the official was said to respond, 'Did I throw a flag?'"

During the game, cameras caught Metcalf speaking with a ref and then pointing at him before running away. As he ran off, he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and later fined by the NFL.

"You've gotta ask the $30,000 ref that got it said to him," Metcalf told reporters last week when asked what he said to incur the penalty and fine. "I don't think it was that big of a deal in my opinion."

"I mean, it's the NFL, so I'm not tripping," he added of the fine.

Cameras then showed Metcalf and head coach Pete Carroll having a conversation after the situation.

"I know he's got my back, and he's always gonna have my best interests at heart," Metcalf said of Carroll. "And you know, he's looking to win. So just for him to come over there and talk to me so I can calm down and he could get the full story on my end and from the official, that really just shows the trust and the relationship that we have."

Metcalf, 24, has had a solid season, catching 59 passes for 671 yards and four touchdowns. The one-time Pro Bowler has never dipped below 900 receiving yards for a season and has posted double-digit touchdowns in each of his last two campaigns.

While he's on pace for his second-ever 1,000-yard receiving season, he would need a strong close to the year to hit double-digit scores.

The 6-5 Seahawks, one of the biggest surprises in football behind the impressive and resurgent performance of quarterback Geno Smith, will be hoping to see Metcalf find the end zone with more consistency as they seek a potential division title and playoff berth.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo called out New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Malcolm Roach for a low hit in Sunday's 13-0 victory.

“It is football but, we've got to be smart as players, look out for one another,” Garoppolo told reporters after the game. “There’s no place for that. I’m alright. A little sore, but nothing bad. As players, we need to be smart for one another.”

Roach was called for roughing the passer for hitting a defenseless quarterback at his knee. Garoppolo laid on the field in pain and was seemingly about to be taken out of the game for backup Brock Purdy, but he was able to remain in the game. He finished with 222 yards and a touchdown in the defensive slugfest.

“I was staying in the game,” Garoppolo said. “I knew what type of game it was. That’s what it was all day. That wasn’t the only hit that was questionable like that. Throughout the whole game it was like that, but that’s football. It was a gritty game.”

Garoppolo previously tore the ACL in the same knee Roach hit during the 2018 season.

Garoppolo initially began the 2022 campaign as Trey Lance's backup, but the second-year signal-caller suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, allowing Garoppolo to resume the starting role.

The 31-year-old underwent surgery on his right shoulder in March and, after rehabbing, passed his physical with the 49ers in July. They had hoped to trade him over the summer, but teams became less interested in making a trade due to his shoulder surgery.

San Francisco committed to 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance as its starting quarterback before training camp began and made Garoppolo available for trade again.

Garoppolo has been with the 49ers since October 2017, when the New England Patriots traded him to San Francisco in exchange for a 2018 second-round draft pick.

His best season came in 2019, when he completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 16 games. He led the team to a 13-3 finish and a Super Bowl berth.

Garoppolo's only other full season came in 2021, when he completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,810 yards and 20 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 15 games. He went 9-6 in those games and eventually led the team to a place in the NFC Championship Game, where they fell to the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2017, 2018 and 2020, Garoppolo didn't appear in more than six games as he struggled with injuries.

Through 10 games this season. Garoppolo has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 2,381 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions. The 49ers are leading the NFC West at 7-4.

The injury problems continue for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters wide receiver Allen Robinson II will miss the rest of the season because he needs foot surgery. Robinson was inactive for Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Los Angeles is already without star wide receiver Cooper Kupp after he underwent ankle surgery, and quarterback Matthew Stafford was inactive for Sunday's loss as well.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the NFC West team remains "uncertain" if Stafford will return this year. He suffered a strained neck and missed the latest game following two trips to the concussion protocol.

Considering the Rams are now 3-8 on the season, there may not be any reason to bring him back as they play out the string of what is shaping up to be a lost campaign.

As for Robinson, he signed a three-year, $46.5 million deal with Los Angeles this offseason as the team looked to replace the departed Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. He was fairly unspectacular in his first season with the team, finishing with 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.

It was a far cry from when he led the league with 14 touchdown receptions in 2015 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Robinson played four years for Jacksonville and four years for the Chicago Bears prior to joining the Rams. His resume includes three seasons of more than 1,100 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl selection, and he figured to be a key piece for a contender in 2022.

Instead, his season is coming to an early end, and the Rams look nothing close to a playoff team after winning a Lombardi Trophy just last season.

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell left Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints with a knee injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after his team's 13-0 win that Mitchell may have a sprained MCL.

The 24-year-old was forced to exit San Francisco's season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears because of the same injury to his right knee, and he returned in Week 10. In his first three games, he ran for 189 yards on 33 carries.

Mitchell had reasonably high expectations into 2021 after a productive rookie campaign. He ran for 963 yards and five touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 137 yards and one score in 11 games.

Losing the Louisiana product was a tough blow for the Niners because depth at running back was already a problem coming into the year.

"There's not just like a store where you can go get quarterbacks anytime...or running backs."

Kyle Shanahan speaking truths on his conference call.

— Jennifer Lee Chan - also bluesky @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) September 19, 2022

Trey Lance's season-ending injury took away what was another dimension to the rushing attack as well.

All of the injuries led the 49ers to acquire Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers.

Mitchell's return allowed the Niners to lessen the burden on McCaffrey, but the 2019 All-Pro will once again have to become the lead option on the ground.

After missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is set to return on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers following a solid week of practice.

Murray went through his normal practice routine on Friday, and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters he "looked sharp."

Kingsbury added there was talk about holding Murray out until after the team's Week 13 bye, but he said the veteran signal-caller was "anxious to get back and he feels great."

"I mean, he feels 100 percent. If there was anything less than that we would have maybe waited but he feels full go so we're gonna get him out there," Kingsbury added.

Murray suffered the hamstring injury in a Week 8 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He played through the ailment in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks before missing a Week 10 win against the Los Angeles Rams and a Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cardinals enter Sunday's game against the Chargers third in the NFC West with a 4-7 record. They are far from competing for a playoff spot and are on pace to miss the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years.

That said, it's not impossible for Kingsbury's squad to make the postseason, and Murray's performance will be key in whether the team turns things around to compete for a playoff spot.

In nine games this season, Murray has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,168 yards and 12 touchdowns against six interceptions. He has also rushed for 359 yards and two scores.

In addition to Murray, Kingsbury expects wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to return on Sunday from a foot injury that has sidelined him since a Week 6 loss to the Seahawks.

The Los Angeles Rams waived veteran running back Darrell Henderson Jr. on Tuesday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Henderson appeared to react to the news of his release on Twitter:

😎🙌🏽

— Darrell Henderson Jr (@DarrellH8) November 22, 2022

It's somewhat of a surprising move as Henderson had started 28 games for the Rams over the past three seasons, including seven of 10 games this year while filling in for Cam Akers, who spent time away from the team earlier this year after reportedly butting heads with head coach Sean McVay.

Henderson rushed for 283 yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries this season, in addition to catching 17 passes for 102 yards.

The 25-year-old spent most of the 2021 season as L.A.'s top running back after Akers suffered a torn Achilles during a July training session. He totaled 864 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 12 games before going on injured reserve with an MCL injury.

The Rams selected Henderson in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Memphis. In 50 total games across four season, he rushed for 1,742 yards and 13 touchdowns on 396 carries, in addition to catching 66 passes for 474 yards and and four scores.

With Henderson out of the picture, the only running backs on the Rams roster are Akers and Kyren Williams. Akers has rushed for 237 yards and one touchdown on 76 carries in eight games.

Williams, who was selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft, has eight carries for 45 yards in three games.

The Rams are last in the NFC West with a 3-7 record and are far from competing for a Super Bowl title this season. It's unclear if they have plans to add another running back.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will miss his second straight game because of the hamstring injury that has limited him all week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Colt McCoy will reportedly start for Arizona in Monday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Colt McCoy will definitively start tonight vs the #49ers, per league source.

It's been known since last week that Kyler Murray (hamstring) was not going to be scheduled to play today. The team was protecting its preparation vs San Francisco. #Cardinals.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) November 21, 2022

Murray also missed Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams as the Cardinals earned a 27-17 win.

The 25-year-old has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns (six interceptions) and 2,168 yards through nine games. He's also rushed for 359 yards and two scores.

Murray is in his fourth NFL season, all with the Cardinals, who selected the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

He's proved to be an exciting dual-threat quarterback capable of breaking a game open at any time and making sensational plays on the run.

Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and led the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 with an 11-6 campaign in 2021.

The former University of Oklahoma star and the Cardinals have fallen on tough times in 2022, though, with the team 3-6 through nine games. The defense has been troublesome (No. 29 in points allowed), but the team has been up-and-down overall.

After head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters that Murray would be a game-time decision for the Rams game because of the hamstring injury, he will miss a second game with the same injury.

Murray's backup is McCoy, a 36-year-old who has played 13 NFL seasons.

The Texas product stepped in for Murray for three games last season after the Cardinals starter suffered an ankle injury. He led the team to a 2-1 record while completing 75.6 percent of his passes for three touchdowns (one interception) and 684 yards.

The veteran tallied 238 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Rams last week.

Trace McSorley, a former dual-threat star at Penn State, rounds out the Cardinals' quarterback depth chart.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford potentially suffered a concussion during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints, though head coach Sean McVay couldn't confirm whether he was in the concussion protocol after the contest.

Sean McVay says he does not know yet whether Matthew Stafford is in the concussion protocol. He also said “we will make the decision that is best for Matthew.”

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 20, 2022

Matthew Stafford will undergo further testing Monday when back in Los Angeles to determine whether he will enter concussion protocol, per team.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 20, 2022

The Rams announced during the game that Stafford was being evaluated for a concussion. He left the game in the third quarter and didn't return.

Stafford was listed as questionable for a Nov. 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after entering concussion protocol and was eventually ruled out.

The 34-year-old has been pretty durable over his 14-year career and that was the first game he had missed since being dealt to the Rams from the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2021 season.

Stafford is in the middle of a tough campaign for the 3-7 Rams, completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,087 yards and 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions in nine games. A poor offensive line hasn't helped his cause.

Backup John Wolford filled in for Stafford against the Cardinals. The 27-year-old completed 24 of 36 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On Sunday, Bryce Perkins was called into relief duty, leading the team to a pair of field goals in the second half.

While the Rams don't look ready to contend for a Super Bowl, they'll need Stafford healthy in order to finish the regular season on a high note and potentially sneak into the playoffs. But the situation doesn't look good, with superstar Cooper Kupp already sidelined for potentially the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain.

Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery this week, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The receiver's return could also be tied to the Rams' chances of contention after a 3-6 start to the season.

"If Los Angeles' struggles continue, it most certainly means that Kupp would not be likely to play again until the 2023 season," Schefter reported.

The Rams have eight games remaining in the regular season, starting with Sunday's road game against the New Orleans Saints.

Kupp suffered the high-ankle sprain in last Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the game with negative-one yards on three catches, representing just his second game with fewer than 60 receiving yards in the past two seasons.

Rams coach Sean McVay announced afterwards Kupp would require a "tightrope" procedure on the ankle that usually comes with a five-to-six week recovery timeline.

Thanks to everyone who has reached out and sent prayers! This is unfortunately just part of the game. Appreciate having a trusted medical team around me. Gonna get this thing fixed, then get back to work to get back to work!

— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) November 15, 2022

It now seems the injury will keep him off the field even longer, and he is unlikely to rush back if the Rams remain out of playoff contention.

The injury is devastating for both the Rams and fantasy football teams everywhere considering the wideout's production over the past two years.

The 29-year-old led the NFL with 145 receptions, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns last year, eventually winning Super Bowl MVP after leading the Rams to a championship. He continued to rack up the catches in 2022 with 75 receptions for 812 yards and six touchdowns through nine games, ranking in the top five of the NFL in each category.

Without him, Los Angeles will need to rely on Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson and Ben Skowronek.

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt paid it forward, and the gesture ended up coming back to his foundation.

As Front Office Sports explained, Cardinals fan Joey Reyes fell just short of winning a $1,000 parlay bet placed on the team's game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. It appeared as if Watt was going to return a fumble for a touchdown during the game, which would have earned Reyes the win, but officials erroneously blew the play dead.

When Watt found out about the bet, he sent Reyes $1,000. Instead of keeping it, the fan doubled it and donated to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's foundation:

On Sunday, Cardinals fan Joey Reyes missed out on a $1000 parlay after officials blew a potential JJ Watt TD dead.

Watt saw the bet, and he sent Joey $1000.

Instead of keeping the money, @JReyes192 has now matched the gift and donated it back to Watt's Foundation. pic.twitter.com/TAgH0ZL7j3

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 18, 2022

The play in question happened during the second quarter when Rams quarterback John Wolford fumbled on a sack. Watt picked the loose ball up and had nothing but space in front of him, but officials ruled the play dead and an incomplete pass.

While Arizona was rewarded with the fumble recovery upon review, Watt still missed his chance at a touchdown.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, they still scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession. And Watt's foundation may have been the biggest beneficiary of the entire sequence thanks to Reyes' generosity.

"Our mission is to provide after-school opportunities for middle-school aged children in the community to become involved in athletics, so that they may learn the character traits of accountability, teamwork, leadership, work ethic, and perseverance, while in a safe and supervised environment with their peers," Watt's foundation explains on its website.