26CornerBlitz

After entering the concussion protocol following the Monday Night Football game with the New England Patriots back in October, Buffalo Bills quarterback Derek Anderson is finally able to suit up once again. Head coach Sean McDermott made the announcement on Friday that Anderson, who was injured late in the October 29th matchup with the Patriots, has cleared the league’s concussion protocol. The veteran quarterback had been participating in practice on a limited basis for several weeks, but was still not cleared to play in any games. That changed on Friday, yet McDermott would not commit to Anderson or Matt Barkley as the backup to Josh Allen on Sunday when his team plays the Detroit Lions at New Era Field. “We’ll see. We’ll take it one day at a time right now. I want to get him back going and making sure he comes out good here,” McDermott said when asked if Anderson would take over the No. 2 role.

Who dat?

Given the entire context of that sentence, I have no heartburn with that piece of it.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that the Arizona Coyotes believe the single most important move they can make as an organization is to bring Matthews home. Matthews is the only home-grown player in Arizona history and would be a marquee attraction like no other, not to mention a dominant scorer who still has an upside in his game. Strategically, how could a team manage it? Well, one possibility would be to begin by signing Marner to an offer sheet first and offer a max contract. The Leafs would almost certainly have to match. If they did, then at that point, the Coyotes could turn around and sign Matthews to a max offer sheet as well. At that point, the Leafs could be boxed into a financial corner, after spending $11-million per season to sign John Tavares away from the New York Islanders and then recently, signing William Nylander to an extension for just under $7-million per season. Similarly, a team could target Laine and Connor. Laine is showing signs of being a consistent 40-plus goal scorer in the NHL and he doesn’t turn 21 until this coming April. Connor is a different player, but the combination of his speed, hockey sense and finishing touch around the net might make him an ideal target for a team like, say, the Detroit Red Wings, who are rebuilding their base and would presumably love to repatriate a hometown kid. Connor grew up as a Red Wings fan in the same way Tavares did with the Leafs.

Joe B: 5 things to watch for in Bills vs. Lions (WKBW) — For the first time in several years, the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions did not face off against one another in the preseason in 2018. Fittingly, though, as one team is eliminated from playoff contention while the other awaits their likely inevitability, a mid-December showdown awaits to reconjure the rivalry. Above all else, the upcoming Bills-Lions matchup is a swing game for draft order angling. If the Bills lose, with a game against the New England Patriots on the docket, that will lock them into 11 losses at least, which in this year's standings would be a pretty solid bet to be drafting either in or very close to the Top Five. If the Bills win, it puts a six-win season on the table for them, which would most likely drop them into the bottom part of the Top 10, or quite possibly out of it all together. However, what should you be looking for from a Bills perspective heading into the game? Five things to watch for in Bills vs. Lions: 1) Allen's bounce-back game? 2) McCoy's availability -- but does it matter? 3) A shift at tight end? 4) The plan to replace Milano 5) The offensive line remains the same -- for now Injury Report Buffalo OUT: CB Ryan Lewis (concussion) QUESTIONABLE: K Stephen Hauschka (right hip), RB Chris Ivory (shoulder), RB LeSean McCoy (hamstring), TE Logan Thomas (hamstring) Detroit OUT: WR Bruce Ellington (hamstring), DE Da'Shawn Hand (knee), RB Kerryon Johnson (knee), T Rick Wagner (concussion), S Charles Washington (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE: LB Trevor Bates (ankle), RB Nick Bellore (ankle), CB Marcus Cooper (back), T Taylor Decker (shoulder), LB Devon Kennard (hip), QB Matthew Stafford (back) Bills Projected Inactives: QB Derek Anderson, RB Keith Ford, WR Da'Mari Scott, TE Logan Thomas, G Vladimir Ducasse, DE Mike Love, CB Ryan Lewis Prediction: Bills over Lions

Competive advantage? The Lions are preparing for Allen and no other QB.

Chris Trapasso talks NFL draft with the Bills' needs in mind: 12-15: HR 2 - Sports Talk Saturday with Sal Capaccio

The injury that ended his career was rather unfortunate. He was so good!

Helluva Punt Returner too.

Carson Wentz Injury Update: Eagles QB out with back injury, Philly should shut him down for season by Will Brinson The Eagles have a very interesting situation on their hands with Carson Wentz, who is dealing with a fractured back that Doug Pederson said could keep him out of action for up to three months. It will officially keep him out for Sunday night (8:15 p.m., NBC, stream on fuboTV, try for free) in Los Angeles, as the Eagles announced on Saturday morning he wouldn't play against the Rams. If the Eagles are smart -- and I think the Eagles are smart -- they should shut him down for the rest of the season. Wentz has a long history of battling injuries in his short career. There was the torn ACL Wentz suffered last year (against the Rams in Los Angeles, actually). Wentz suffered broken ribs in his first game in the NFL. He dealt with a fractured wrist in college. And according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wentz' medical report at the combine in 2016 referred to a healed stress fracture that Wentz battled while playing for North Dakota State. Pederson was a bit touchy and evasive about the situation on Friday when asked about Wentz' status -- the quarterback was listed as questionable on the Eagles Friday injury report before being downgraded to out on Saturday. Here's his exchange with reporters: