The Chicago Bears secured a hard-fought 16-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, overcoming the absence of their starting quarterback Justin Fields who missed his fourth consecutive game due to a dislocated right thumb.

Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent stepped up to the challenge and earned his second win in four starts. Bagent, hailing from Division II Shepherd, delivered a steady performance, passing for 162 yards and impressively avoiding any interceptions after throwing five in his previous two games.

While Fields' return is eagerly anticipated, the Bears remain hopeful that he will be ready to lead the team in their upcoming matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, November 19.

On the other side, the Panthers played without their sack leader Brian Burns, who was sidelined with a concussion. The team is optimistic about his return when they host the Dallas Cowboys on November 19.

In other news, there were injury updates surrounding several wide receivers in the NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals received a mixed bag of news as Tee Higgins will be unable to play due to a hamstring injury, while Ja'Marr Chase is expected to be on the field. The San Francisco 49ers are anticipating the return of Deebo Samuel, who will provide a much-needed boost to their struggling offense. Surprisingly, Stefon Diggs appeared on the Buffalo Bills' injury report, raising concerns for the team.

As the Sunday matchups approach, here are some injury updates from NFL Nation reporters:

Tee Higgins' absence will be felt by the Bengals after suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday's practice. He is expected to be out for at least a week. Trenton Irwin and Andrei Iosivas are likely to see increased playing time in Higgins' absence.

Stefon Diggs, the talented wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, was limited in practice on Friday, prompting his addition to the injury report. However, Diggs has a track record of durability and has not missed a game due to injury during his four seasons in Buffalo.

Deebo Samuel's return is eagerly awaited by the San Francisco 49ers, as he is set to make an impact on their offense again. After missing almost all of the past three games, Samuel fully participated in practice throughout the week and expressed his desire to contribute despite not trying to make up for his absence in one week.

Jeff Williams of the 49ers is listed as questionable for their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams has been dealing with an ankle injury and practiced on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. Coach Kyle Shanahan described his status as "real questionable," leaving his potential participation as a true game-time decision.

Undrafted rookie Rhamondre Mitchell, who had an impressive breakout game last Sunday with 138 rushing yards, is listed as questionable but was a full participant in Friday's practice. Mitchell has shown promise, and there is a chance he may become the second-string running back behind Gus Edwards for the Baltimore Ravens.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will once again be without their star safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, who injured his hamstring against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team will rely on a combination of players, including utilizing cornerback Patrick Peterson at safety for certain plays.

James Conner, the running back for the Arizona Cardinals, is expected to return to the field against the Atlanta Falcons. Conner recently came off injured reserve and has shown positive progress in practice. With Kyler Murray also returning, Conner's presence will be a welcome addition to the team.

The New York Jets' London is set to play after missing last week's game. He has stated that his groin injury has significantly improved, and he has practiced in full leading up to Sunday's matchup.

Mack Hollins, the Miami Dolphins' receiver, will be absent from their game against the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury. KhaDarel Hodge and Van Jefferson are likely candidates to fulfill his role both in the receiving game and as a gunner on special teams.

After entering the concussion protocol following a hit during last week's game, K.J. Osborn of the Minnesota Vikings has made a quick recovery. He has participated in practice sessions throughout the week, and there is a good possibility that he will receive clearance from multiple doctors to play on Sunday.

T.J. Hockenson, the Detroit Lions' tight end, is still affected by his rib and oblique injury. Hockenson expressed confidence in his ability to play on Sunday, but the team is closely monitoring his condition.

The toe injury suffered by Curtis Samuel of the Washington Football Team appears to be improving, and he is expected to play against the Seattle Seahawks. Samuel did not play in their last game against the New England Patriots and had limited participation in practice this week.

Marvin Jones Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars will miss their game against the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Doug Pederson had previously deemed it a long shot for Jones to play, and it was confirmed on Friday that he would be ruled out. Jones has been dealing with a knee injury.

Timothy Douglas of the New England Patriots has been limited in practice due to an undisclosed injury. The team is cautious about revealing details, and Douglas' status remains uncertain as the game approaches.

Taking on the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns will face the challenge of not having their top three offensive tackles available. Jedrick Wills Jr., who recently went on injured reserve due to a knee injury, joins Baker Mayfield and Jack Conklin on the sideline.

Las Vegas Raiders' left tackle Kolton Miller sustained an ankle injury in the previous game and has not participated in practice all week. His absence could lead to lineup adjustments, potentially involving Justin Herron or Jermaine Eluemunor.

Oshane Ximines, who has been on injured reserve, expects to be activated for the New York Giants' game against the Dallas Cowboys after missing four games due to a high ankle sprain. Ximines' return will bolster the Giants' pass rush.

Sean Murphy-Bunting, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' cornerback, will not participate in their upcoming game after reaggravating a thumb injury. His absence will be felt against tough wide receiver matchups such as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Jaire Alexander, the talented cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, sustained a shoulder injury and is unlikely to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This injury adds to the team's recent challenges in the position.

The Dallas Cowboys' Austin Turpin is questionable for their game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Turpin has been providing strong performances as a punt and kick returner in recent games.

As the Indianapolis Colts prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jonathan Downs' status is uncertain after reaggravating an injury. The Colts may have to consider alternative options, potentially involving Isaiah McKenzie.

Indianapolis Colts' linebacker Leonard Franklin is expected to return to the field against the New England Patriots. Franklin, the NFL's leading tackler, missed the previous game but has shown positive signs in practice.

The New Orleans Saints' Tony Miller will be absent from Sunday's game due to an ankle injury. This setback impacts the running back depth chart, but it does not significantly impact the team's primary backfield options.

In summary, numerous injuries and player updates have emerged across the NFL. While some teams have weathered the storm with alternative options,