Between a flurry of injuries and trades, Week 8 had a little bit for everyone, and that isn’t even including the play on the field. With the NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, more trades could certainly be on the way.
With so much action both on and off the field, let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories in the NFL this week.
Henry Hits IR, Titans Sign Potential Replacement
In a devastating blow to the Tennessee Titans, running back Derrick Henry was put on the injured reserve and will have surgery on his injured foot Tuesday morning.
There is optimism that Henry could return, though, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Henry will miss around 6 – 10 weeks of action. Theoretically, on the short end, that means Henry could be back as soon as Week 15.
Henry has been nearly unstoppable this season. The 27-year-old running back has rushed 219 times for an NFL-leading 937 yards and ten touchdowns. He also has 18 receptions for 154 yards this season.
The Titans are currently 6-2 and lead the AFC South by three games over the Indianapolis Colts. In fact, they are -1500 to win the division and have the ninth-best odds of winning Super Bowl LVI at +1800.
It appears that it did not take long for Tennessee to add some depth to the running back room. On Monday, they agreed to a practice squad deal with Adrian Peterson, and the expectation is that he will likely be added to the team in short order.
For Peterson, he played last season with the Detroit Lions. In 16 games, the 36-year-old running back rushed 156 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns.
Rams Net Von Miller From Denver
In a shocking deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Denver Broncos traded outside linebacker Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. Denver is also picking up part of his salary. In return, they will receive a second and third-round pick.
While he did not play last season due to an ankle injury, he has been off to a decent start for the 2021 campaign. In seven games, he has 19 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and nine quarterback hits.
Miller will step right into an already solid defense that currently ranks 10th in scoring defense, allowing just 21 points per game.
The Rams currently have the third-best odds of winning the Super Bowl this season at +650.
Saints Lose Quarterback For The Season
Despite beating the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend, there was anything but jubilation on Monday as head coach Sean Payton told reporters that quarterback Jameis Winston is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL.
After serving as a backup to Drew Brees last season, Winston got the opportunity to start for the Saints this season. In seven games, he had thrown for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He also had 32 rushing attempts for 166 yards and another score.
At 5-2, the Saints are just a half-game behind the Buccaneers for first in the NFC South. They still have the second-best odds of winning the division, though, at +340.
With Winston out, the Saints will now look to either Taysom Hill or Trevor Siemian to lead the team under center. It is possible, with the trade deadline Tuesday, that the team could look to find a solution via that route as well.
However, two names that are not expected to join the Saints are Cam Newton and Drew Brees.
