The Chicago Bears emerged victorious with a 16-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, despite being without their starting quarterback Justin Fields for the fourth consecutive game. The rookie quarterback has been sidelined due to a dislocated right thumb.

Stepping up in Fields' absence, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent, out of Division II Shepherd, earned his second win in four starts. Bagent showcased growth by passing for 162 yards without throwing any interceptions, a significant improvement after throwing five interceptions in his previous two games.

The Bears remain optimistic about Fields' return for their next game against the Detroit Lions on November 19. They hope to have their dynamic young quarterback back in action to lead their offense.

Meanwhile, the Panthers faced their own setback as they played without their sack leader Brian Burns, who was sidelined with a concussion. The Panthers are hopeful for Burns' return when they host the Dallas Cowboys on November 19.

In other injury news, the Cincinnati Bengals received a mixed bag of updates regarding their wide receivers. Tee Higgins will be unable to play, as he suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday's practice. However, Ja'Marr Chase is expected to be available for the Bengals' upcoming game against the Houston Texans. While Chase's availability is still questionable, coach Zac Taylor expressed optimism about his status and mentioned that Chase looked good during Friday's practice.

The San Francisco 49ers are anticipating the return of Deebo Samuel, who has been sidelined for most of the past three games. Samuel is set to be back in action on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after making progress in practice throughout the week. With Samuel's return, the 49ers' offense hopes to regain its momentum after averaging only 17 points per game in their last three outings.

Stefon Diggs, a key wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, surprisingly appeared on the team's injury report on Friday. This development raises concerns about Diggs' availability for their upcoming game against the Denver Broncos on Monday night. The Bills, who rely heavily on Diggs' contributions, will closely monitor his status as they prepare for the matchup.

As the NFL Sunday matchups approach, various teams are dealing with injuries to key players. While some players like Deebo Samuel are set to return and make an impact, others such as Brian Burns and Tee Higgins face uncertain timelines for their comeback. With the second half of the season in full swing, teams must navigate these obstacles as they seek to secure victories and enhance their playoff chances.