Pittsburgh Steelers’ promising cornerback takes major step to return from injury
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. has returned to practice from a nagging hamstring injury. Trice is the third player this year to have his 21-day window opened. The Steelers have five spots to use there.
If he is not activated by the end of the 21-day window, Trice will be out for the season.
Trice suffered a hamstring injury during the season last year that forced him to miss half the season. He missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL. At the NFL Combine, general manager Omar Khan said the team liked Trice, but could not trust him given his injury history.
We really like Cory. The reality is that durability has been an issue and until durability is not an issue, you know, that’s a position that we, you know, we have to keep our eye on,” Khan said.
Trice was taking second-team reps and showing out once again, but his inability to stay healthy has forced him to miss far too much time for the Steelers to count on him.
Elevating his game is no concern, as Trice has done that multiple times in two training camps, but he simply has to stay healthy to carve out a role. If he is going to return, the Steelers will hope to see Trice stay healthy this time, and prove that he can be a contributor for them on the field.
Bears Could Catch Major Break vs. Bengals Amid Recent News
Getty
The Chicago Bears could catch a major break with the recent injury news surrounding Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Chicago Bears are heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals with a renewed sense of optimism, and it has everything to do with the health status of Bengals starting quarterback Joe Flacco.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Flacco is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, putting his availability for this week “up in the air.” While Bengals head coach Zac Taylor labeled his veteran quarterback as “day-to-day,” the potential absence of Flacco could dramatically shift the outlook of this game.
Bears Could Catch a Major Break with Joe Flacco’s Injury Status
GettyCincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Flacco #16.
Flacco has been one of the most important additions to Cincinnati’s offense this season. After starting the year with the Cleveland Browns, he was traded to the Bengals in a midseason move that sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round selection.
The former Super Bowl MVP quickly found himself starting for a second AFC North team in one season, and he hasn’t disappointed.
Since taking over, Flacco has delivered steady, poised football. Across three appearances, he has completed 64.3% of his throws for 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Those numbers reflect not only his efficiency but also his experience in protecting the football and making winning plays.
Without question, Flacco represents Cincinnati’s best chance at maintaining their offensive flow. A shoulder sprain, however, brings serious doubt to his reliability for Sunday, especially when it’s on his throwing arm.
If he sits or is limited, it could create a major advantage for a Bears’ defense that could use all the help they can get.
Jake Browning Starting Would Give Chicago a Noticeably Easier Matchup
GettyIvan Pace Jr. #0 of the Minnesota Vikings tackles Jake Browning #6 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Flacco can’t suit up Sunday, the Bengals will turn back to QB Jake Browning, who hasn’t been as impressive as Flacco.
In four starts this year, Browning completed 64.5% of his passes for 757 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions. While the completion rate nearly mirrors Flacco’s, the drastically different TD-to-INT ratio tells the real story. Instead of providing stability while Joe Burrow recovers, Browning often gave opposing defenses opportunities.
Under head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the Bears’ defense are not just one of the best at creating turnovers, they are the best. Chicago currently leads the NFL with 16 turnovers, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
If Cincinnati’s offense starts to sputter with Browning under center, it would make it easier for a defense that feasts on creating takeaways.
From a strategic standpoint, the Bears would much rather face Browning than a red-hot Flacco, who has yet to throw an interception in a Bengals uniform. The Bengals can only hope their veteran savior can suit up, but if the shoulder injury holds him back, the Bears suddenly gain a huge edge.
Raiders’ Brock Bowers Gets Strong Words Before Jaguars Game
Getty
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders have only had a healthy Brock Bowers for one game, which was their Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots. Since then, he’s dealt with a knee injury.
Bowers did his best to play through the injury despite the injury as he wore a brace. However, eventually, the Raiders coaching staff shut him down for a couple of weeks to truly get healthy.
Now, coming off a bye week, all signs point to Bowers potentially playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the Raiders having arguably their best offensive weapon out on the field in Week 9, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about facing the young tight end.
“I think you look at last year and early in the season,” Coen told reporters about preparing to potentially face Bowers. “The first play of the season against the Patriots, they got him the ball on the very first play. When he’s healthy and available, he’s someone they definitely want to get the ball in his hands.
As you go throughout the work week, you see, all right, where’s 89?
“We’ve got to make sure we understand where he is because he’s in the hip at tight end, he’s in an inline stance, he’s in the slot, he’s out at one. They want to move him around as the weapon that he is. I think we don’t want to say overprepare, but definitely lean more toward expecting them to get him going.”
Raiders Will Have to Worry About Travis Hunter
Still, Coen isn’t the only coach gearing up to contain a rising young offensive threat. In their upcoming matchup with Jacksonville, the Raiders
will have to deal with two-way standout Travis Hunter. Ahead of the Week 9 game, head coach Pete Carroll shared his thoughts on going up against the impressive rookie.
“He’s not just a good fast kid that can play ball,”
Carroll said on a recent episode of “1 on 1.” “He’s got great instincts. That’s why he could play on both sides of the football. I remember asking him at the combine, ‘Are you worried about playing both ways?
“That’s the kind of guy who has the savvy and awareness that make him unique and special, and why they went so hard after getting him. He’s the centerpiece of their offense and, in particular, defense. Maybe they’re cutting back a little on that, but offensively, he did really well last week. He’s not just a catch guy; he’s a catch-and-run guy, and he blocks, too. He’s got a good mentality about him.”
Jaguars Will Need to Prepare for a New Raiders Player
The Jaguars will see a new face in a Raiders uniform when they take the field. On October 27, Las Vegas announced the signing of veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, reuniting him with Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith.
Lockett began the 2025 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans but requested his release, which was granted on October 20. Before Lockett’s possible debut with the Raiders, Carroll spoke about reuniting with the former Seattle Seahawks standout.
“High hopes for him and high hopes for us that we can make a good connection here, “ Carroll said on the latest episode of “1 on 1.”
“It’s a lot to ask a guy to jump in and be a regular player in a week’s time, but he’s going for it and we’ll see what happens by the end of the week. He’s in here over the weekend as soon as he found out that he was going to be a Raider.
“He’s a marvelous football player and a tremendous person; he’s one of the real natural ball players—he’s got great sense and feel and has always demonstrated that. Geno knows him really well. They’ve played together for quite some time, and there’s a chemistry between them that
maybe can give us a little edge that we haven’t had with the younger guys who have been playing.
“We’ll see what happens and hold out good hopes for this to help us. I’m really excited for Tyler to be with us again, in a place where people love him, know who he is and what he’s all about, and hopefully our fans will be able to see that.”
