Cowboys All-Pro LB Micah Parsons (illness) expected to play vs. Bucs

Sun Dec 22 11:53am ET
Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons missed practice Friday because of illness but is expected to play Sunday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network reported.

Parsons, who missed four games this season because of a high ankle sprain, showed up on Friday's injury report and is listed as questionable for the Cowboys (6-8) against the Buccaneers (8-6).

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones mentioned earlier in the week during his appearance on 105.3 The Fan that Parsons was having flu symptoms. Jones said he would be surprised if Parsons didn't play, however.

Parsons, 25, has 32 tackles (eight for loss), 8.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 10 games (all starts) this season.

Dallas selected him 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Parsons has 245 tackles (59 for loss), 49 sacks, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 60 regular-season games (all starts).

He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 through 2023 and voted first-team All-Pro in his first two NFL seasons.

As for the Buccaneers, the team downgraded tight end Cade Otton from doubtful to out for Sunday night's game because of a knee injury.

Otton, 25, has started all 14 games for Tampa Bay and has 59 receptions on 87 targets for 600 yards and four touchdowns. The Bucs picked him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Washington. He has 148 catches for 1,446 yards and 10 TDs in 47 regular-season games (42 starts).

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 16

Player Notes
Josh Allen Dec 22 10:50pm ET
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Patrick Taylor Dec 22 10:50pm ET
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San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. had an uneventful first career start during a 29-17 loss to the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. The former Green Bay Packer took eight carries for 24 yards and caught one of five targets for one-yard receiving. Sometimes in fantasy, it's easy to fall in love with expected volume and opportunity and look past talent. Even though Taylor Jr. entered the game first on the depth chart, he looked the part of the fringe player that he has been throughout his career. Taylor Jr. was outgained on the ground by both wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. and quarterback Brock Purdy. No other tailbacks were involved with the 49ers opting to throw the ball 40 times rather than lean on their stable of replacement-level backs. Next week, the 49ers will host the Detroit Lions with Taylor Jr.'s fantasy viability in Week 17 dependent on the availability of rookie Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring).

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Jalen Tolbert Dec 22 10:50pm ET
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Sam Darnold Dec 22 10:50pm ET
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James Cook Dec 22 10:50pm ET
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Brian Thomas Jr. Dec 22 10:40pm ET
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Mac Jones Dec 22 10:30pm ET
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Kirk Cousins Dec 22 10:13pm ET
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Bijan Robinson Dec 22 10:13pm ET
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Jonathan Taylor Dec 22 10:13pm ET
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Saquon Barkley Dec 22 10:13pm ET
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Brock Purdy Dec 22 9:40pm ET
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came up short in a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. With the team down to its fifth-string option at running back, Purdy led the team in rushing with 26 yards on four scrambles and threw the football a career-high 40 times. He completed 26 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Purdy's touchdowns included a 16-yard Deebo Samuel Sr. catch-and-run through three tacklers and a two-yard toss to second tight end Eric Saubert. Late in the fourth quarter with San Francisco needing a touchdown for a chance to win, Purdy was hit as he threw to wideout Jauan Jennings and the football ended up in the hands of Miami nickelback Kader Kohou. Over his last four games, Purdy has alternated between two sub-five-point bad-weather games and two 20-plus-point performances in good weather. He'll get the Detroit Lions home in Santa Clara on Monday night in Week 17.

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Myles Garrett Dec 22 9:40pm ET
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