Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka named Jameis Winston the starting quarterback over Russell Wilson.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is on a historic pace, leading the NFL in multiple rushing and scrimmage categories.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is on track to join a list of Hall of Famers with 14 or more sacks in five seasons.
The Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) are two games behind the 8-2 Denver Broncos entering Week 11. Sunday’s contest in Denver isn’t a must-win for Kansas City. But if the Chiefs want to win their 10th straight AFC West title, it’s a game they really need to win.
“They’re (Broncos) first in the division, and they have a couple games on us. It’s huge for the division, and that’s always our first goal is win the division,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told reporters this week. “I think you understand that this game is important. That’s the biggest thing, it’s a divisional game and they’re always important, but with them (Broncos) having the lead and us needing to go out there and win to have a chance to win the division, I think guys understand that.”
In the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams battle for first place in the division. Rams QB Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with 25 touchdown passes and WR Davante Adams tops the league with nine touchdown catches. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,041 receiving yards.
Sunday night features a heavyweight matchup between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions and Eagles are the only two NFC teams with at least 40 regular-season wins over the past four seasons.
Heading into Week 11, USA TODAY Sports examines news, notes and some of this week’s latest rumors:
Is Russell Wilson’s time as a starting QB over?
Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka announced Jameis Winston as the team’s starting quarterback this week as Jaxson Dart is in the leagues’ concussion protocol. Winston gets the nod over Russell Wilson, who began the season as the Giants’ starter.
Kafka’s decision to start Winston ahead of Wilson is another sign that Wilson’s days as QB1 could to be over.
Wilson went 0-3 as the Giants starter this year. His 58% completion percentage, 138.5 passing yards per game and 77.4 passer rating this year are all career-lows.
Marvin Harrison Jr. out this week as Cardinals enter tough stretch
The Cardinals (3-6) have lost six of their last seven games and are entering a four-game stretch where they host the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, have a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and return home versus the Los Angeles Rams.
Harrison shouldn’t be out for long, but one has to wonder if Arizona’s season has dried up in the desert. The Cardinals haven’t finished a season above .500 since 2021, which is also the last time they earned a playoff berth.
There’s also the looming question about Kyler Murray’s future with the franchise. The current Cardinals regime inherited Murray, so they aren’t necessarily tied to the QB. But Murray’s contract will complicate matters for Arizona. Murray is owed $36.8 million fully guaranteed in 2026, per Over The Cap. He’ll also earn $19.5 million in guaranteed money in 2027.
Myles Garrett on pace to join exclusive list of Hall of Famers
Garrett’s been one of the lone bright spots in Cleveland this season. His 11 sacks are tied for the NFL lead. If Garrett registers 14 sacks this season, he’ll become just the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to produce at least 14 sacks in five career seasons, per NFL Research.
He’ll join Hall of Famers Reggie White, Kevin Greene and Bruce Smith.
Don’t expect Asante Samuel Jr. to stay on Steelers’ practice squad long
Samuel was one of USA TODAY Sports’ top free agents over the offseason. He underwent a spinal fusion procedure ahead of the season and has since been fully cleared.
Don’t expect Samuel to be on the Steelers’ practice squad for long.
The cornerback spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. He started in 47 career games, but a shoulder injury limited him to only four games last year.
Samuel should soon find his way on the field. The 26-year-old cornerback has the versatility to play on the outside or in the slot. He has good instincts and ball skills. He’s allowed a 59% completion percentage in his career. However, he struggled to tackle during his four seasons in Los Angeles.
Steelers veteran cornerback Darius Slay is currently in concussion protocol.
Does Jonathan Taylor deserve more MVP consideration?
Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,139), rushing touchdowns (15) yards from scrimmage (1,399) and scrimmage touchdowns (17) entering Week 11. He’s on pace to become the third player in NFL history with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 scrimmage touchdowns in multiple career seasons, joining Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Priest Holmes, per NFL Research.
Taylor is coming off his fifth three-touchdown game of the season. A running back hasn’t won league MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012.
Bucky Irving returns to Bucs practice
Irving returned to practice this week on a limited basis. The Bucs running back hasn’t played since Sept. 28 due to foot and shoulder injuries.
“It’s good to have him back out there,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said this week.
The Bucs have two difficult road tests against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 and Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. While Irving’s timetable to return is unclear, Bucs fans (and fantasy owners) can’t wait to see the Oregon product return to the field.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
