NFL Rumors: Bears Justin Fields backup plan, Colts PEDs suspension, Packers move
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2023-10-18 07:45
Check out the latest NFL news, including the Chicago Bears adding a quarterback with Justin Fields injured, the Green Bay Packers making a move for a running back, and more.

NFL Rumors: Packers add James Robinson to their RB room

The Green Bay Packers are about to return from their Week 6 bye, where they prepare for the 1-5 Denver Broncos. The team currently sits at 2-3 and is looking to gain ground on the Detroit Lions (5-1) for first place in the NFC North. It certainly helps that the Broncos have statistically the worst defense in the league.

Ahead of the game, the Packers decided to add some depth to the running backs room. According to NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport, the Packers are signing former Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets running back James Robinson.

The Packers have dealt with running back issues, with star Aaron Jones missing Weeks 2, 3, and 5 due to a hamstring injury. The team is hopeful that Jones could return to the field to provide the offense with a spark that could help quarterback Jordan Love.

Regardless of what happens, the Packers are bringing in Robinson to have the depth necessary, just in case.

Robinson is three years removed from rushing for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns on 240 carries in his rookie season with the Jaguars. However, Robinson ruptured his Achilles tendon late in the 2021 season. He would get traded to the Jets during the 2022 season but played just four games.

Ahead of this season, Robinson spent time with the New England Patriots and New York Giants but did not make either 53-man roster.

Through his four years in the NFL, Robinson ran for 2,262 yards and 18 touchdowns on 514 carries.

Looking to get back in the win column, the Packers are making sure they have an adequate amount of running backs available. It certainly helps when they are facing a Broncos team that has surrendered 172.3 rushing yards per game.

NFL Rumors: Colts DT Grover Stewart suspended for violating NFL's PED policy

The Indianapolis Colts have been holding their own thus far this season, sitting at 3-3 on the year. However, they may very well receive confirmation that rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson could get season-ending surgery to repair a Grade 3 AC sprain. With that, it will be Gardner Minshew the rest of the way.

But on Tuesday, the Colts' defense received some bad news, and they will be without a key defensive lineman for a significant stretch of the season.

The NFL announced that Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart has been suspended for the next six games for violating their performance-enhancing drug policy. With that, Stewart will be eligible to return for the team's Week 14 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stewart released a statement on his personal Instagram account, apologizing for the suspension. The defensive tackle said that he "would never purposefully put [himself] or the team in this kind of situation," while saying that he was responsible for what he puts in his body and that he "should have taken the proper steps to educate [himself.]"

Stewart's absence will be huge, considering how well he has played through the first six weeks of the season. Stewart recorded 16 total tackles, 13 defensive stops, five quarterback hits, and four quarterback hurries in 258 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

The Colts will now be without Stewart for the following games:


NFL Rumors: Bears add Trace McSorley amid Justin Fields injury

If the season were to end right now, the Chicago Bears would have the first- and second-overall picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team picked up its first win of the season in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders. Yet, the Bears were unable to build off of the momentum, as they lost 19-13 loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings.

As if that loss couldn't sting more for the Vikings, they watched quarterback Justin Fields exit the game with a right hand injury. That injury turned out to be a dislocated thumb, which the quarterback popped back in but was unable to grip a football. The Bears announced on Monday that Fields was officially doubtful to play in the team's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Bears played rookie Tyson Bagent for the remainder of the aforementioned Week 6 game against the Vikings. Not to mention, they have Nathan Peterman on the roster. However, the team has brought in more depth at the position.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bears are signing former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trace McSorley to their practice squad.

McSorley made a name for himself as the starting quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he was named Second-team All-Big Ten three times. In 2019, McSorley was drafted in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens. Despite being with the team for nearly three seasons, he played in just three games.

Midway through the 2021 season, McSorley was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. In 2022, McSorley received his first career start in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he threw for 217 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception while completing 24-of-45 pass attempts. Arizona lost 19-16 to Tampa Bay.

In nine career games, McSorley threw for 502 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions while completing 51.6 percent of his passes.

Based on the team's depth chart, Bagent could be in line for his first career start. In the aforementioned game against the Vikings, Bagent recorded 83 passing yards and one interception while completing 10-of-14 of his throws, in addition to picking up a rushing touchdown.

In case the Bears need another quarterback, they will have access to McSorley from the practice squad.

Tags indianapolis colts green bay packers grover stewart trace mcsorley james robinson chicago bears