MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa has had a rough couple of weeks.

He created a media firestorm after calling out his teammates’ lateness to player-led meetings. He has thrown six interceptions in two games. And, most recently, he got benched during the Miami Dolphins’ 31-6 lopsided loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Despite the criticism that ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Despite a bone bruise in his left knee, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. plans to start against the Dolphins at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Obviously, at the end of the game, you saw I did get up a little bit slow, but I’ve been feeling good,” Penix said. “Just continuing to get better each and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants coach Brian Daboll, who is under investigation for violating the NFL’s concussion protocol on the sideline of the Giants’ Week 6 win over the Eagles, was asked Thursday if center John Michael Schmitz is going to a neurologist Friday to get cleared.

“You have to ask the doctors about the concussion protocol,” Daboll ...Read more

Eureka! Do people still shout that word as an exclamation of triumph? Well, I’m bringin’ it back, Jack, after our best all-round week in what’s been a challenging season for picks thus far. I’ll take twin double digits every time, and so 11-4 straight-up is good and 10-5 vs. the betting line is better. Our bounty included Indy’s ...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 7’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 7 RECAP

Bengals 33, Steelers 31: Joe Flacco finished as Week 7’s QB6 with 342 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Pittsburgh. The veteran gunslinger is a solid streaming option the next two games against the Jets and Bears, who are allowing the ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 8 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 10-5 (.667) record. Through the first seven weeks of the season, he is 71-37 (.657).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more

MIAMI — We are not officially past the point of no return, but we’re speed walking toward it.

The Miami Dolphins are a poorly built football team that is injury depleted, error-prone, lacking leadership, and most importantly, toughness.

These problems, which many of us suspected were issues coming into this season, can’t be argued based ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Here's a new topic: Do the Steelers need a No. 2 receiver?

Actually, it is a new topic, at least in this sense: The Steelers defense cannot be trusted, thus making it imperative they double down on offense.

I'm still in shock Mike Tomlin saw fit Tuesday to point out that his defense made a "necessary stop" late in the Bengals ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The words Patrick Mahomes shouted at the line of scrimmage aren’t suitable for publication here. You know that.

He used the F-bomb twice in the span of three words, butchering both the language and our ability to print it. But here’s the gist of the message: Trying to draw the opponent offsides never works.

The faux ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Somewhere through their dueling analysis and misguided words is the hope Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa keep their relationship intact. It won’t be easy while walking the plank the rest of this season.

But their bond has been one of the few good aspects of the past few, disappointing ...Read more

ATLANTA — Former Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, who was released Tuesday, signed with the New York Giants practice squad Wednesday, according to a league source familiar with the transaction.

McCloud played with the Buffalo Bills when current Giants coach Brian Daboll was the offensive coordinator. Also, Chad Hall was with the Bills ...Read more

NEW YORK — The concern over Tom Brady’s roles as the lead analyst on Fox’s NFL coverage and a Raiders minority owner seems to have dissipated.

At least to those who matter most — NFL owners. It was a non-topic at their fall meetings this week.

“You guys have written about that already,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said.

When asked ...Read more

NEW YORK — Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL moved closer to a public trial earlier this month.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he can’t prevent Gruden from coaching in the league again.

“If he’s offered a job and gets a job coaching in the NFL, that’s not ...Read more

CHICAGO — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since straining his hamstring Sept. 28 against Kansas City.

That’s particularly relevant to the Chicago Bears, who will take on the Ravens at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Baltimore.

Since injuring his hamstring, Jackson missed two games and the ...Read more

NEW YORK — A day after New York Jets owner Woody Johnson criticized his play this season, Justin Fields took the high road.

The fifth-year quarterback, who was not aware of Johnson’s comments until Wednesday, said he will not reach out to Johnson, nor does he expect him to do the same. However, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn noted he discussed...Read more

DENVER — Sean Payton said he didn’t intend for his comments about the New York Giants’ quarterback situation after Sunday’s win to be taken as a slight to Russell Wilson.

The former Broncos quarterback, benched earlier this year by Giants coach Brian Daboll in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart, clearly didn’t see it that way.

He took to ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Wednesday in Owings Mills for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury nearly a month ago.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player jogged onto the field late in the open portion of the session. After loosening up, he dapped up fullback Patrick Ricard, hugged offensive ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Mike Evans has elected to have surgery on his broken right collarbone in the hopes it could help him return to the playing field more quickly, perhaps before the end of the regular season.

The Bucs Pro Bowl receiver also suffered a concussion while attempting to make a catch in the second quarter of Monday night’s 24-9 loss at...Read more

NFL WEEK 8 THURSDAY PICK

VIKINGS (3-3) at CHARGERS (4-3)

Line: LAC by 3 1/2.

Cote’s pick: LAC, 24-20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

The NFL’s Week 8 kickoff in prime time gets two quality(ish) teams that are playoff hopeful but haven’t always looked it, with both coming off losses, albeit to good opponents in the Eagles and ...Read more