NFC West

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's status for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams is up in the air.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters on Friday his star quarterback will be a game-time decision.

Murray is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of Wednesday's practice. He did return to the practice field on a limited basis Thursday. The 25-year-old missed three games during the 2021 season, but he has been largely durable since the Cardinals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft.

He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season and a Pro Bowl selection in his next two as someone who can hurt opposing defenses with his arm and legs.

The Oklahoma product has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,168 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 359 yards and two scores on the ground in nine games this season.

Arizona will take a step back offensively if Murray is sidelined, but it can at least take solace in the fact backup quarterback Colt McCoy is a veteran with plenty of experience.

He went 2-1 in three starts for the Cardinals last season and has also appeared in games for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington and New York Giants throughout his career.

The Cardinals are fighting to stay in playoff contention with a 3-6 record heading into this week's showdown with the Rams.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is in the NFL's concussion protocol, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday.

It's unclear how and when Stafford was injured. McVay said Stafford did not enter protocols until Wednesday. He played the entire game in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elbow issues have plagued Stafford throughout his time in Los Angeles, but he's been able to consistently stay on the field. He played in all 21 games (regular season and playoffs) last season and has been in the lineup each of the team's first eight games in 2022.

Stafford has not been as effective as he was a year ago. Struggling to find the rhythm that made him an MVP candidate in 2021, Stafford has thrown for 1,928 yards and eight touchdowns against eight picks as the Rams have gotten off to a 3-5 start.

John Wolford would start if Stafford is not cleared ahead of Sunday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson responded Wednesday to apparent criticism from Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll about not wearing a play-calling wristband during his time in Seattle.

Russell Wilson on play-call sheet on wrist band: “Won a lot of games. Didn’t know winning or losing mattered whether you wore a wrist band.” #9sports pic.twitter.com/XZ7IqlK7gK

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) November 9, 2022

Carroll didn't mention Wilson by name during his comments Monday on Seattle Sports 710 AM, which were centered on the Seahawks offense's success under Geno Smith, Wilson's replacement.

"If you notice, Geno's going off the wristband, and that's a big help," Carroll said. "It's smoothed things out, sped things up, cleaned things up. And that's part of it, too. We never did that before. There was resistance to that, so we didn't do that before."

The Broncos-Seahawks dynamic has been one of the NFL's most interesting storylines during the first half of the 2022 season.

When the blockbuster trade happened in March, Wilson was viewed as the missing piece for Denver, which was expected to emerge as a serious contender in the loaded AFC West.

Not only have the Broncos not taken a leap forward, owning a 3-5 record, but their offense has even dipped compared to last year. They rank 20th in total offense (328.9 yards per game), a slight decline from when they finished 19th in 2021 (330.5 yards per game).

However, Wilson expressed confidence after an Oct. 30 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team's most recent game prior to its bye week, that things were about to turn around.

"In every season I've ever played, there's a moment in time where it clicks," he told reporters. "Hopefully, that will be the start of it."

For now, though, Denver is one of the most disappointing teams at the halfway mark.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks are one of the NFL's biggest surprises with a 6-3 record heading into a Week 10 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Smith is enjoying an unexpected resurgence, completing 73.1 percent of his passes for 2,199 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions across nine games. He's added 196 rushing yards and one score on the ground.

The 32-year-old journeyman ranks fourth in ESPN's Total QBR (68.0), 24 spots ahead of Wilson (36.0), which is something few, if any, could have predicted before the campaign.

Clearly, the split between Wilson and the Seahawks was less than amicable, and that narrative has persisted throughout the season, previously popping up after Seattle's season-opening win over Denver when Carroll said the victory was "really rewarding" for the quarterback's former teammates.

"Eh, you figure that out," Carroll said when asked why it meant so much. "But it was really meaningful and they really wanted it and I knew we were playing for a lot more than just the regular stuff. We have a real connection with the history. ... They feel it and they love the fact that they played here and they love seeing us do well."

It's far too early to declare a winner from the offseason trade, especially since Wilson is under contract through 2028, but early returns are trending favorably for the Seahawks.

The Seattle Seahawks have been the biggest surprise of the 2022 season thanks to an offense that has flourished under veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

Head coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that he believes a key difference this year is Smith's willingness to wear a wristband to facilitate play-calling, which is a departure from how things were under longtime quarterback Russell Wilson.

"If you notice, Geno's going off the wristband, and that's a big help," Carroll said on Seattle Sports 710 AM (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). "It's smoothed things out, sped things up, cleaned things up. And that's part of it, too. We never did that before. There was resistance to that, so we didn't do that before."

Smith's use of the wristband has made things easy for offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Carroll said the two have developed a chemistry.

"When Shane says something to Geno, he's not doubting it. He's just going with it, so there's a real immediate flow and that accelerates all the process," Carroll said.

While Carroll didn't mention Wilson, it was clear he was contrasting how things were when he was behind center. Wilson made nine Pro Bowls with the Seahawks, but in his final year there was a narrative that he wasn't given freedom to run the offense.

Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in the offseason, and the team has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations that came with the acquisition. The 33-year-old has thrown for 1,694 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions in seven games. The Broncos are 3-5.

Conversely, Smith has thrived this season, ranking sixth in the NFL with 2,199 passing yards and tying for fifth with 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions. The longtime backup is playing the best football of his 10-year career.

The Seahawks (6-3) will go for their fifth straight win when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) at Allianz Arena in Munich on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward doesn't agree with the way Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey called out L.A.'s offense after Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ramsey felt the Rams offense should have been able to run out the final two minutes on the clock after the defense's stop on the penultimate Bucs possession. Instead, Tom Brady and Co. got the ball back and scored a touchdown to win 16-13.

Ramsey told reporters:

"The defense should not have had to go back on the field. Simple. Gotta have some dogs who are gonna go get it. We shouldn't come to the sideline after a big stop like that and our coaches or the other side or whoever telling us, 'We gonna to need y'all one more time. We gonna to need y'all one more time.' Like what the f--k? We just made a big stop, turnover on downs, with a minute and some change left and no timeouts for nobody."

Heyward was asked about those comments Tuesday on the Not Just Football podcast (27:30 mark of video below). He responded:

"You know, I can only speak for our team. When our offense comes up short you just think as a defense we gotta do more. Whatever it takes. We know it's not gonna be perfect on the other side of the ball, but we're provided an opportunity to win the game when we step on that field. I don't think it comes down to pointing the finger. I think it comes down to just understanding the situation that when one unit falls short the other unit's gotta step up."

Heyward's steady progression after the Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2011 draft allowed him to become one of the league's top defensive linemen. He entered 2022 with five straight Pro Bowl appearances and three First Team All-Pro selections over the past five years. He also fills a key leadership role for the club.

The 33-year-old Ohio State product has recorded 31 total tackles and three sacks in eight games this season.

Some of Ramsey's frustration likely stems from the fact that the Rams, the reigning Super Bowl champions, suffered their second straight loss to drop their record to 3-5. It hasn't been the type of title defense L.A. was expecting.

Regardless, clearly Heyward, whose Steelers stand at 2-6, doesn't believe in venting those types of grievances in the public.

Both teams will attempt to begin turning their seasons around Sunday. The Steelers host the New Orleans Saints at Acrisure Stadium, while the Rams welcome the Arizona Cardinals to SoFi Stadium.

NFL executives predicted the Buffalo Bills against the San Francisco 49ers as the most likely Super Bowl matchup in a midseason poll.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday there was also support for the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC, but the Bills and Niners garnered the most votes from their respective conferences.

"Battle-tested and explosive playmaking on both sides of the ball," an NFL personnel director said about San Francisco.

An AFC exec added about Buffalo: "This feels like their time."

The Bills were on cruise control for much of the first two months, going 6-1 with several blowout victories, but their outlook is less certain after Sunday's loss to the New York Jets that saw quarterback Josh Allen suffer an elbow injury.

If Allen, one of the MVP front-runners, misses an extended period of time, Buffalo is likely to lose its status as the Super Bowl favorite.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Monday the quarterback is being evaluated for injuries to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and the related nerves.

"We're just going through it, still evaluating it, and we'll see where it goes," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. "I'll know more in the next 24 hours and then probably be able to check in with [the media] back on Wednesday."

At full strength, the Bills have a strong case as the NFL's most complete team, ranking first in total offense (416.4 yards per game) and fourth in total defense (299.6 yards allowed per game).

Meanwhile, the 49ers are still seeking top form after a 4-4 start, but the addition of running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers ahead of the trade deadline was the type of splash a team makes when it's seriously chasing a title.

The combination of McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel is a nightmare for opposing defenses, and the Niners also feature wideout Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle among the targets at the disposal of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

San Francisco doesn't have a ton of margin for error. It currently sits seventh in the NFC, which is the final wild-card slot, and it has the 11th-toughest remaining schedule in the league, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.

In terms of upside, however, there aren't many teams with more potential heading into the second half of the regular season than the Niners.

Both Buffalo and San Francisco are next in action Sunday, when the Bills host the Minnesota Vikings (7-1) and the 49ers take on the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3).

The Arizona Cardinals will reportedly be without safety Budda Baker for multiple weeks.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Baker suffered a high-ankle sprain and that "the hope" is that the defensive playmaker will be back in two or three weeks. However, Rapoport noted his return will ultimately be decided "on the severity."

This is another setback for the Cardinals, who are trending in the wrong direction with losses in four of their last five games.

Arizona is just 3-6 on the campaign despite entering the season with hopes of contending in the NFC with Kyler Murray under center and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins set to return after a suspension that lasted the first six games.

Yet things are not going anywhere close to as planned, and now the defense will be without one of its best players in the immediate future.

Baker's resume includes four Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections. He has appeared in nine games this season with 71 tackles, two passes defended and one forced fumble. If he misses just a handful of games, he could be well on his way to posting more than 100 tackles for the fourth time in the last five years.

Arizona will face the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers in the next three games ahead of a bye, which is quite a daunting stretch.

Every loss makes the playoffs seem like even more of a longshot at this point, making its ability to play well even without Baker all the more imperative.

The Cardinals could turn toward Chris Banjo at safety to help cover for the starter's absence.

Jalen Ramsey is fed up with the ineptitude of the Los Angeles Rams' offense.

The Pro Bowl corner ripped the Rams' lack of offensive production following Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"The defense should not have had to go back on the field. Simple," Ramsey told reporters. "Gotta have some dogs who are gonna go get it. We shouldn't come to the sideline after a big stop like that and our coaches or the other side or whoever telling us, 'We gonna to need y'all one more time. We gonna to need y'all one more time.' Like what the f--k? We just made a big stop, turnover on downs, with a minute and some change left and no timeouts for nobody.

"Gotta have some dogs who are like, man, f--k all that, we are going to end this game right now. Good stop. We are going to end the game for y'all. We gotta play off each other in that sense. You know what I mean? That's what I mean by we should not have had to go out there. It is what it is. It ain't the first time that this has happened. This has happened multiple times this year, really. S--t."

The Rams' four fourth-quarter possessions went for a grand total of -1 yards, allowing Tom Brady multiple chances for a come-from-behind victory. As Brady usually does, he took advantage of said opportunities and hit Cade Otton for a one-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining to win the game.

While it's rarely advisable to rip your teammates in a public setting, it's hard to find fault in Ramsey's frustration. The Rams offense has continued to look listless after a Week 7 bye and now sits 31st in yards per game and 29th in points per game.

Matthew Stafford has looked like a shell of himself after signing a $160 million extension, the run game has been missing in action, and Cooper Kupp has been the team's only consistent pass-catcher. Add in some issues on the offensive line, and Sean McVay's reputation as an offensive innovator has been dissolving before our eyes.

The Rams defense, by contrast, has done its job despite being put at a consistent disadvantage. Ramsey's himself recovered from an ugly start to the season to play at an All-Pro level and currently has an 86.0 grade from Pro Football Focus for the season.

"I don't necessarily think that it's the panic button, but changes have to be made, adjustments have to be made, we can't continue to go on like this and what that looks like, I don't necessarily have the exact answers right now," McVay told reporters.

Sitting at 3-5, the Rams are in danger of becoming the rare defending Super Bowl champion to not make the playoffs the following year.

NFL free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. spoke with Complex about what he's looking for in his next destination as he readies for his return to the league after rehabbing from a torn ACL.

“Whether it’s Buffalo, Green Bay calling, the Cowboys, reunion with the Giants…”

Odell Beckham Jr. tells us what he’s looking for in a new home & the playoff teams calling. pic.twitter.com/w1QBjPZnrW

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 6, 2022

Beckham noted that he's looking for a place to call home for the next three-to-four years and that he is tired of "living out of suitcases." The 30-year-old also noted he's already lived the "rock-and-roll lifestyle."

Beckham also said that top NFL teams with great win-loss records and high playoff aspirations have been calling him, noting that they know what he can do on the field.

FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Beckham, who suffered a torn ACL last February during the Super Bowl when he was a member of the Los Angeles Rams, will be fully cleared by the end of this week. He also noted that the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Rams could be interested in bringing him in.

They will have competition. Of note, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Beckham is "firmly" on the Dallas Cowboys' radar.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen also seemed open to the idea of adding Beckham.

"He's been a good player," Schoen said, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post last Tuesday. "He's a guy we would consider and talk to when he's healthy."

Last year, Beckham joined the Rams midseason after parting ways with the Cleveland Browns. He played an instrumental role in the Rams winning their first Super Bowl in 22 years thanks to 48 catches for 593 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games (regular season and playoffs).

Perhaps he'll provide another team with a major midseason boost en route to a Super Bowl this year.

For now, the Beckham sweepstakes is on, and the three-time Pro Bowler should have a plentiful selection of teams to pick from.

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead maintained his blasé attitude toward draft picks ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Rams put two first-round picks and a second-rounder on the table for Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns. They were also willing to part with Cam Akers and picks in the second, third and fifth rounds for Christian McCaffrey.

The Panthers held onto Burns but sent McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for 2023 second-, third- and fourth-rounders and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

The Panthers didn't initiate a total fire sale in the wake of firing head coach Matt Rhule, but they've clearly started focusing on a rebuild.

Burns is coming off a Pro Bowl in 2021, and he has five sacks to open 2022. Still only 24, he has a bright future ahead. Still, you can't help but wonder whether Carolina was better off cashing in on his trade value now.

https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/1589252928917102593

By turning down Los Angeles' offer, the Panthers might have done the Rams a favor.

Snead's approach to team-building has served the franchise well in the short term. L.A. reached the Super Bowl in 2018 and claimed a title last year.

The downside to consistently leveraging draft picks into ready-made talent is becoming apparent now, however, with the Rams getting off to a 3-4 start. They've been hammered by injuries and lack the depth to compensate.

Los Angeles has an aging core and might face a painful transition when the likes of Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey retire. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported Wednesday on The Rich Eisen Show that head coach Sean McVay "in all likelihood" will leave when those four are no longer on the team.

The Rams already owe their 2023 first-round pick to the Detroit Lions as part of the Jared Goff trade. Losing out on two more first-rounders in pursuit of Burns would've further hamstrung Snead's ability to fill out the squad with young, cost-controlled talent.

At some point you have to demonstrate some faith in your own talent development.

Is Brian Burns better than the player who the Rams would draft in 2024? Probably. There are many benefits to trading 1sts for proven talent. Rams want to maximize a window. But 2024 and 2025 for 1 player? Shows lack of confidence in a number of personnel departments.

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) November 1, 2022

Assuming he doesn't turn around and deal the picks later, Snead should send a gift basket to Panthers GM Scott Fitterer if he winds up getting valuable contributors in the first round in 2024 and 2025.