Players to Watch
Solomon Thomas • DL • San Francisco 49ers • First season • @SollyThomas90Thomas hopes to build off his improving performances in Week 4 against an Arizona team that ranks dead last in pass blocking (-34.0), according to Pro Football Focus. The third overall pick in this year's draft has appeared on nearly 60 percent of San Francisco's defensive snaps in 2017. Thomas, who has registered quarterback hurries in each of his past two games, will look for his first career sack against a leaky offensive line.
Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fifth season • @ZErtz_86Through three weeks, Ertz leads NFL tight ends in targets (28), receptions (21) and receiving yards (245). He has seven more catches and 59 more yards than highly sought-after free agent signing Alshon Jeffrey, and looks like Carson Wentz's favorite target. Look for Ertz to keep his form going when Philadelphia travels to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • Third season • @HenryAnderson91Anderson draws a favorable matchup this week when Indianapolis heads west to take on Seattle. According to Pro Football Focus, the Seahawks rank 31st in the league in pass blocking and 25th in run blocking. Seattle's offensive line struggles are well documented, and Anderson's health has been a bright spot for Indianapolis' young season.
Matchup to Watch
Bears at Packers
Two former Cardinal will suit up on Thursday night when Green Bay hosts Chicago in a divisional matchup. Both players -- Ty Montgomery and Blake Martinez – have played important roles for the Packers so far this season. Montgomery has blossomed into an every-down back, and he has played the most snaps (205) of any tailback in the league by a wide margin. On defense, Martinez's snap rate is up nearly 30 percent from his rookie year, and his season grade of 78.7 from Pro Football Focus ranks 20th in the league out of 87 eligible players.
Injury Report
- Kyle Murphy's foot injury on Sunday added to Green Bay's list of injury woes at tackle. Murphy had played every offensive snap of the season until he was placed on injured reserve on Monday.
- David Parry was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in the first half of New Orleans' 34-13 win at Carolina. Parry was previously a member of the Saints' practice squad, and was signed to the 53-man roster prior to Week 3.
- Andrew Luck remains absent from Indianapolis practice while he continues to rehabilitate after offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder.
- Both Richard Sherman (Achilles) and Doug Baldwin (groin) sat out practice this week, and their status for Sunday is not listed.
Week 4 Schedule
| Date | Time (PT)/TV Network | Matchup (Players) |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Sept. 28 | 5:25 p.m./NBC | Bears at Packers (Martinez, Montgomery) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 6:30 a.m./FOX | Saints (Fleener, Peat) at Dolphins (Thomas, M.) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Titans at Texans (Scarlett) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Panthers (McCaffrey) at Patriots (Bademosi, Fleming, Richards) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Bills at Falcons (Hooper, Toilolo) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Steelers (DeCastro) at Ravens |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Bengals (Hewitt) at Browns (Hogan) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1:05 p.m./CBS | Eagles (Ertz) at Chargers |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 1:05 p.m./FOX | 49ers (Thomas, S.) at Cardinals (Mauro) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | 5:30 p.m./NBC | Colts (Anderson, Luck) at Seahawks (Baldwin, Sherman) |