Players to Watch
Blake Martinez • ILB • Green Bay Packers • Second season • @Big__Blake50
Coming out of Green Bay's bye week, Martinez ranks sixth in the NFL with 64 tackles, just two shy of his rookie total in 2016. Martinez is averaging 11.4 tackles over his past five games, and checks in as Pro Football Focus' 13th-highest graded linebacker (82.5), and PFF's 10th-best graded linebacker against the run (85.1). The Packers face Detroit on Monday Night Football – through seven games, the Lions are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, fifth-lowest in the league.
Christian McCaffrey • RB • Carolina Panthers • First season • @run_cmc
The unpredictability of this NFL season continued with a wild trade deadline. In a shocking move, Carolina dealt No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo. This could mean even more targets for McCaffrey, who leads NFL running backs with 66 targets and 49 receptions. McCaffrey has already set a franchise record for receptions by a running back, and ranks third in receptions among all players – only Antonio Brown (57) and Jarvis Landry (50) have more catches than the rookie first rounder.
Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Third season • @AndrusPeat
New Orleans welcomes Tampa Bay to town on Sunday having won five games in a row after an 0-2 start. A big part of the Saints' success has been the play of its offensive line, including left guard Peat. The line has allowed a league-low three sacks and helped New Orleans rush for over 138 yards per game on the current win streak. They face a Tampa Bay defense which ranks 26th in the league in rushing defense, according to Pro Football Focus.
Matchup to Watch
Colts at Texans
Henry Anderson of Indianapolis and Brennan Scarlett of Houston are both coming off arguably their most productive performances of 2017. In a 41-38 loss at Seattle, Scarlett registered a season-high four quarterback hurries – entering Sunday, Scarlett had five hurries in his previous six appearances. In a 24-23 loss at Cincinnati, Anderson made seven tackles, including three for loss, three run stops and blocked a field goal – Anderson has sacks in back-to-back games, his first sacks since Week 2 of 2015.
Injury Report
- Andrew Luck's season officially ended on Thursday after Indianapolis placed him on injured reserve. Luck never returned to full health after undergoing offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder.
- Ryan Hewitt (knee) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday – he is expected to return this week at Jacksonville after missing Cincinnati's last three games.
- Andrus Peat (hip) sat out practice earlier in the week but returns on Thursday and will play in Sunday's matchup against Tampa Bay.
- Zach Ertz (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday.
- Solomon Thomas (knee) is doubtful for this week after picking up an injury in Week 8.
- Richard Sherman (achilles) was a full participant in practice on Thursday.
- Ty Montgomery (ribs) was a full participant in practice this week.
Week 9 Schedule
| Date | Time (PT)/TV Network | Matchup (Players) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Colts (Anderson, Luck) at Texans (Scarlett) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Bengals (Hewitt) at Jaguars |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Buccaneers at Saints (Fleener, Peat) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Falcons (Hooper, Toilolo) at Panthers (McCaffrey) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Broncos at Eagles (Ertz) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 1:05 p.m./FOX | Cardinals (Mauro) at 49ers (Thomas, S.) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 1:05 p.m./CBS | Redskins at Seahawks (Baldwin, Sherman) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | 5:30 p.m./NBC | Raiders at Dolphins (Thomas, M.) |
| Monday, Nov. 6 | 5:30 p.m./ESPN | Lions at Packers (Martinez, Montgomery) |
Byes: Cleveland (Hogan), New England (Bademosi, Fleming, Richards), Pittsburgh (DeCastro)