From updates on Sam Darnold’s illness to another disgruntled player potentially on the move, we take a look at what is happening around the league in this edition of NFL news and notes.

Three things that matter

Sam Darnold to undergo further evaluation on Friday

The Jets quarterback will have an ultrasound on his spleen and blood tests done that will determine whether he will be able to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Darnold ramped up his workouts this week after being cleared for non-contact drills on Monday and has yet to be ruled out, though he also is not guaranteed to take the field.

“It’s a tough thing because you want to stay safe,” Darnold told reporters. “I want to make sure that I’m safe out there and that I’m not gonna die … For me, sitting back and watching the team play and not having anything to do with the win or the loss, it’s not a good feeling for me.”

Stefon Diggs denies formally requesting trade from Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings receiver admitted there is “truth to all rumours” but said he would not discuss the situation after assuring he has not formally requested a trade, though he could not speak for his agent.

“I haven’t spoke to him about it,” Diggs told reporters. “You’ve got to talk to him.

“I haven’t communicated anything. The conversations I’ve had [with the Vikings] have only been about team and trying to have success on the field.”

Diggs has put up uncharacteristically poor numbers this season after posting career highs in catches (102), yards (1,021) and touchdowns (nine) last season, and the inconsistencies brought on by Kirk Cousins under center could be to blame.

Melvin Gordon may start against Broncos

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn confirmed the running back will play a role in Los Angeles’ game plan against the Denver Broncos on Sunday but said the team do not want to push him too soon after he ended his 64-day contract holdout.

“He’s getting more work [in practice] this week, and he’s definitely going to have a workload this week, but not too big,” Lynn said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I want to work him in, but I don’t want to overdo it.

“We have a package for him – a role for him in this game. He may even start this game. But we’re going to see how he looks at the end of the week and go from there.”

Two things that don’t matter

Patriots find replacement for Stephen Gostkowski

New England are expected to sign veteran kicker Mike Nugent after Gostkowski was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. It was also reported that the Patriots will sign former Chargers kicker Younghoe Koo to the practice squad for added insurance.

Nugent has gone 253 of 311 to hit 81.4 per cent of his field goals over his career during stints with the Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders.

Appeal hearing set for Vontaze Burfict

The Raiders linebacker appealed the NFL’s decision to suspend him for the remainder of the season after his helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle, and it was reported a hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.

It is rumoured that Derrick Brooks will hear Burfict’s appeal, and NFL Media notes he and James Thrash have a history in that chair – Thrash previously reduced a Burfict suspension from five games to three in 2017 after Brooks upheld a three-game suspension in 2016.

Still, quarterback Derek Carr defended his team-mate’s questionable and repeated actions.

“I don’t think it’s fair, if we really got to know the guy,” Carr said. “If the people making the decision really knew the guy that we know, inside our building … he’s a great person, his heart is broken because he’s not playing football. The guy just wants to play football. We don’t get a lot of time to play this game in our lives.”

One video you have to see

Saquon Barkley’s high ankle sprain does not seem to be bothering him too much.

Thursday’s tweet of the day

Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett had a funny story for reporters after practice.

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