The Raiders on Wednesday placed LB Nick Kwiatkoski on the COVID list. It's not yet clear whether he tested positive or was merely a close contact, but that probably doesn't matter just 3 days away from Saturday night's clash with the Dolphins. No Kwiatkoski should mean more playing time for LB Cory Littleton. Nicholas Morrow also figures to get a boost in tackle upside, assuming he's ready to return from his concussion.

Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral) is active for today’s game against the Bills. He should step back into the role Nicholas Morrow has been filling. Kwiatkoski is just a middling IDP option against a Buffalo offense that has gone pass-happy this season, though.

Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral) and S Jonathan Abram (shoulder, thumb) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills. Kwiatkoski -- who has been out since straining a pectoral muscle early in the season opener -- graduated to full practice Friday and looks on track to play. Abram put in limited workouts all week, but Raiders Wire reports that Abram "appears likely to play" as well. Both are IDP options if in the lineup. Holding off on Kwiatkoski for another week would be OK, though, as Buffalo has been a negative scoring matchup for fantasy LBs.

Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski returned for limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, his 1st action since straining a pectoral muscle early in the season opener. DC Paul Guenther indicated there's a chance Kwiatkoski could return for Sunday's game against the Bills, according to News 3 in Las Vegas. If he does, expect Nicholas Morrow to return to a reserve role. Whoever plays at LB for the Raiders this week will face a Buffalo offense whose suddenly pass-happy approach has meant fewer points for opponent LBs through the 1st 3 weeks.

Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski missed practice Thursday with the pectoral injury that knocked him out of Sunday's win over the Panthers. Kwiatkoski avoided tearing the muscle, but it's not yet clear how long the team expects him to be out -- or whether he'll miss any games. We'll keep an eye on the starter-level IDP option.

Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski left Sunday's game against the Panthers with a pectoral injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the day. If the injury turns out to be a tear, Kwiatkoski's season would likely be over. We'll watch for updates on his status.

The Raiders have reached a 3-year, $36 million deal with LB Cory Littleton. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that it will include $22 million guaranteed. That follow's Las Vegas' Monday deal with LB Nick Kwiatkoski to likely fill the team's 2 full-time LB roles for the coming season. Littleton clearly stands as the better player, but we'll see exactly what their roles look like. Littleton became a versatile performer with the Rams, delivering in the pass rush and coverage. He'll remain a stellar bet for fantasy production in the middle of a defense that delivered Tahir Whitehead 108 tackles in 2019. There's room, though, for Kwiatkoski to also reach fantasy-starter territory -- at least in low LB3 range.

The Raiders have agreed to a 3-year, $21 million deal with LB Nick Kwiatkoski. The former Bear started 8 games for Chicago last season, filling in for each of the team's ILB starters at different points. He steps into a starting job in an Oakland LB corps with lots of tackles available. Tahir Whitehead is gone after leading the team with 108 tackles (79 solo) last season.

The Bears "fear" LB Roquan Smith suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Thursday night's win over the Cowboys, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Such fears nearly always prove true, so we should expect Smith to miss the rest of the season. Kevin Pierre-Louis filled in and played 63% of the snaps against Dallas, while starter Nick Kwiatkowski elevated from that level to full playing time (96%). He'll become a more solid IDP starter when Smith's injury gets confirmed.

ESPN.com reports that Bears LB Roquan Smith "will be out indefinitely while the team gives him the time he needs to deal with a personal issue." According to Bears writer Jeff Dickerson, "Smith had not been acting like himself around the team facilities for the past week or so." HC Matt Nagy has refused this week to go into any further detail on Smith's situation. IDP owners obviously need to treat the LB as out for at least Week 5. With a Week 6 bye following, Smith becomes droppable in shallower IDP leagues. Where you can afford the bench spot, we'd try to hold him a little longer to see if we can get more insight into the situation. Nick Kwiatkoski started in Smith's place against the Vikings last Sunday but played only 55% of the snaps. Kevin Pierre-Louis also jumped in for 40%. If you need a Smith replacement, search elsewhere.

Bears LB Danny Trevathan put in a limited practice Wednesday for the 1st time since the team's Week 9 bye. That obviously bodes well for a return to action from the calf injury that has cost him 3 games, though we'll continue to watch his status through the week.

Bears ILB Danny Trevathan (calf) is inactive for the 2nd straight game. He has yet to return to practice since the Week 9 bye. Christian Jones and Nick Kwiatkoski will start inside again for the Bears. Both are IDP options.

Bears ILB Danny Trevathan is inactive for today's game against the Packers because of a calf injury. That leaves Christian Jones as the lead ILB in an upside matchup. Expect Nick Kwiatkoski to start in Trevathan's place. He's a fringe IDP option for deeper leagues as well.

Bears ILB Nick Kwiatkoski (chest) is active for today's game against the Panthers. That'll mark his 1st action since suffering the injury in Week 2. There's tackle upside in Jerrell Freeman's vacated spot, but Kwiatkoski's no more than a low LB3 for fantasy football owners.

Bears ILB Nick Kwiatkoski will miss his 4th straight game today against the Ravens with a chest injury. He returned to limited practices this week, which bodes well for a Week 7 return against Carolina. Christian Jones should start next to Danny Trevathan against Baltimore, with Trevathan the only 1 you'll want to use in your IDP lineup.

Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski (chest) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens. He put in limited practices all week after being sidelined since a Week 2 chest injury. IDP owners should seek a better option, as it's tough to know what Kwiatkoski's playing time will look like even if he's active.

Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski left in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a pectoral injury. He's questionable to return. Kwiatkoski started in place of LB Jerrell Freeman, who went on IR with a torn pec.