Jordyn Tyson
Hamstring injury confirmed by coach
Coach Kellen Moore confirmed Friday that Tyson is dealing with a right hamstring injury, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.


Coach Kellen Moore confirmed Friday that Tyson is dealing with a right hamstring injury, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Tyson missed time over the spring with an injury but was cleared for the start of training camp last month. He has an injury history with the hamstring, but Moore indicated the new injury isn't related to the one Tyson dealt with prior to the 2026 Draft. The Saints are gathering more information, but it sounds like Tyson could be dealing with a multi-week injury as Week 1 approaches. New Orleans kicks off its regular season in 30 days with a road game against the Lions on Sept. 13.
LaPorta did not play in Thursday night' preseason opener against the Bengals.
LaPorta joined Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in street clothes for the exhibition. LaPorta is looking for a bounce-back season in 2026 after battling a back issue that limited him to just nine regular-season contests last season. He's expected to slot in as the third or fourth option in this Detroit offense under new OC Drew Petzing.
Williams did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Bengals.
The Lions rested their key starters, including Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. Aside from trading David Montgomery, not much has changed in terms of offensive personnel for Detroit in 2026, though the team does have a new play-caller in OC Drew Petzing. After posting a 65-1,117-7 line across 17 regular-season games last season, Williams will remain a focal point of the pass offense.
Douglas was among the Patriots' key skill players who didn't play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts, Mark Daniels of masslive.com reports.
Also in that category were the team's top two WRs, A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, while Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams all saw action in the contest. Douglas is listed as a first-teamer along with Brown and Doubs on New England's unofficial depth chart, and it looks like he could be poised for an uptick in snaps/targets out of the slot this coming season after seeing his catch total in 2025 drop to 31 following a 66-catch effort in 2024. In that scenario, the 2023 sixth-rounder has a chance to resurface as a fantasy option in deeper PPR-friendly formats.
Taylor was among the Colts' key skill players who didn't see action in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots.
Taylor, who agreed to terms with the Colts last Thursday on a two-year, $44 million contract extension, is slated to continue to work in a high-volume role as the clear-cut top option in Indy's backfield, with DJ Giddens (hamstring) Seth McGowan in contention for slotting behind him. Taylor's next chance to see game action is Aug. 22 against the Falcons, but even if he does end up suiting up for either of the team's remaining exhibition games, his snap count would presumably be light.
Bowers started Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona and came out of the game after one snap.
The Raiders' other starters, including QB Kirk Cousins and RB Ashton Jeanty, continued to play throughout the opening drive. Not that this needed reinforcement, but the early exit is yet another sign of Bowers' massive importance to the Las Vegas offense. We may not see him again until Week 1 against Miami.
Brown was among the Patriots' key skill players who didn't see action in Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
Also in that category were QB Drake Maye, fellow WRs Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas, RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, along with TE Hunter Henry. As the coming season approaches, Brown and Doubs are slated to be the team's top two WR options, while Douglas figures to work out of the slot in a wide receiver corps that also includes Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams, who all saw action Thursday. In his new locale, Brown is on track to log steady volume as Maye's top target, positioning him for weekly fantasy utility in 2026.
McBride played one snap in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders.
QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Marvin Harrison and the five starting offensive linemen played all 11 snaps on Arizona's opening drive. It was only McBride who got superstar treatment, as WR Michael Wilson and RB Jeremiyah Love also took most of the snaps on the lone series for Arizona's first-team offense. McBride has far more competition for the ball this year, but he'll still be prioritized in the passing game and remains a clear favorite to lead the team in targets.
Smack made three field goals in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.
Smack -- per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- was a bit wayward early in training camp, but the rookie was true on all three of his attempts -- including one from 58 yards away -- in his first exhibition appearance. Smack was already the clear favorite to open the season as Green Bay's kicker, and Thursday's showing all but locks him in.
Gibbs was held out of Thursday's preseason opener against the Bengals.
The star running back was among a number of key skill players rested by the Lions on Thursday, a group that also included QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well a TE Sam LaPorta. Since he signed a lucrative three-year contract extension with the team last week, Gibbs -- who had previously reportedly been dealing with a minor back issue -- has been practicing, and is thus slated to reprise his role as the clear-cut top option in Detroit's backfield, and in turn maintain his standing as an elite fantasy option ahead of the 2026 regular season.
The Texans believe that Mertz tore his ACL during Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Per Schefter, there is expected to be additional testing to confirm Mertz's injury, but at this stage it doesn't look good for the 2025 sixth-rounder. As a result, look for Houston to bring in added QB depth behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills in short order.
Miller carried the ball 14 times for 55 yards and failed to catch his only target in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Colts.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson both sat out the Patriots' preseason opener, allowing Miller to get the start and handle the bulk of the work on the ground -- the rest of the RBs in the lineup combined for 27 yards on 17 carries. The 2026 seventh-round is battling Lan Larison, Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty for the RB3 role to open the season, and Miller may have improved his chances of claiming it with Thursday's effort.
Larison gained just one yard on seven carries in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Colts, but he caught six of eight targets for 38 yards.
The undrafted running back out of UC Davis couldn't get anything going on the ground, but Larison's pass-catching chops stood out -- no other Patriot had more than three receptions on the night. His opportunities came with both TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson getting the night off, but the performance may have boosted Larison's chances of beginning the season in the RB3 role. He has yet to make his NFL debut after spending his rookie season in 2025 on the IR due to foot surgery.
Maye did not play in the Patriots' 13-13 preseason tie with the Colts on Thursday.
As expected, the star quarterback got the night off for the exhibition opener while Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton split snaps under center. Maye's next chance to build chemistry with new wideouts A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs will come next Saturday against Brown's former team, the Eagles.
McGowan carried the ball five times for 17 yards in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Patriots. He also lost a fumble.
The rookie seventh-round pick got the start in the Colts' backfield with Jonathan Taylor held out and DJ Giddens (hamstring) sidelined, but McGowan didn't exactly impress in his opportunity. Taylor's the unquestioned RB1 for Indy, if not the centerpiece of the offense, but if he were to suffer an injury, McGowan could find himself handling the bulk of the early-down and goal-line work in the backfield with Giddens having done little to establish himself as a rookie last year.
Richardson got the start in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Patriots, completing 11 of 14 passes for 145 yards and an interception while adding 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries. He also lost a fumble.
The 2023 first-round pick barely saw action in 2025 due to injuries, but Richardson has been healthy in training camp and played the entire first half, producing the Colts' only TD of the night on a one-yard plunge in the second quarter. His two turnovers could be attributed to rust, but ball security was an issue for Richardson even before he got hurt, as he threw 12 INTs while losing three of nine fumbles over 11 regular-season contests in 2024. He'll begin the current campaign backing up Daniel Jones, and hoping to show enough to increase his trade value.
Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing yards and another TD on two carries in Thursday's 28-9 preseason win over the Packers.
The rookie third-round pick didn't see the field until late in the third quarter after Mason Rudolph and Will Howard had both gotten work under center, but Allar had the best night of any Steelers QB. Allar scored on a three-yard run to cap his first possession of the game before tossing a five-yard TD to Kaden Wetjen and a four-yard score to Riley Nowakowski in the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers is the unquestioned starter for Pittsburgh and Rudolph seems locked in as the top backup, but the team seems likely to keep both Howard and Allar on the roster rather than risk losing one of them to another team.
Bernard caught four of five targets for 51 yards in Thursday's 28-9 preseason win over the Packers.
'The rookie wideout tied tight end Robert Tonyan for the Steelers' lead in receptions, but that production came with Mason Rudolph under center as Aaron Rodgers got the night off, and the team's top two wideouts DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman (leg) sidelined. While it's encouraging that Bernard took advantage of his opportunity, and he did out-produce his main competition for the WR3 role in Roman Wilson, he still has a lot to prove to land on the fantasy radar in most formats.
Washington failed to see a target in Thursday's 28-9 preseason win over the Packers.
QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't under center in the Steelers' exhibition opener, while the team's top two wideouts DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman (leg) were sidelined, but top tight ends Washington and Pat Freiermuth both made cameos in the contest. Washington's receiving numbers took a step forward in his third NFL season, and with Jonnu Smith no longer on the roster, the 2023 third-round pick could see his volume tick up a little further after he caught 31 of 43 targets for 364 yards and a touchdown over 16 regular-season contests last year.
Freiermuth caught his only target for two yards in Thursday's 28-9 preseason win over the Packers.
QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't under center in the Steelers' exhibition opener, while the team's top two wideouts DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman (leg) were sidelined, but top tight ends Freiermuth and Darnell Washington both made cameos in the contest. Freiermuth's lone catch came just short of the goal line, as Mason Rudolph found him on a 4th-and-3 early in the second quarter. The 27-year-old saw his receiving numbers decline in 2025, and while significant competition for targets went out the door this offseason in Jonnu Smith and Kenneth Gainwell, the addition of Pittman as a possession receiver could put a ceiling on how much Freiermuth is able to bounce back.
Lloyd carried the ball four times for 13 yards in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.
With Josh Jacobs (groin) sidelined, Lloyd got the start for the Packers but saw limited snaps alongside other members of the first unit like QB Jordan Love. Jacobs' status this season is clouded due to off-field issues, and nagging injuries are par for the course with him, so the identity of Green Bay's RB2 holds more importance than usual. Lloyd is being the first crack at securing the role, but he'll need to prove he can stay on the field -- he's played just one NFL game since being taken in the third round of the 2024 draft.
Golden failed to see a target in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.
The Packers began the game with most of their offensive starters on the field, including QB Jordan Love, but they all made quick exits. Golden, the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is coming off a disappointing rookie campaign in which he failed to find the end zone in 14 regular-season contests. He'll battle Christian Watson and Jayden Reed for looks from Love, but as in years past in coach Matt LaFleur's offense, who the actual top option is could change from week to week.
Reed caught one of two targets for 19 yards in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.
The Packers began the game with most of their offensive starters on the field, including QB Jordan Love, but they all made quick exits. Reed is established as one of the team's top three wideouts alongside Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but as in years past in Matt LaFleur's offense, who the actual top option is could change from week to week. Reed played only seven regular-season games in 2025 due to injuries, catching 19 of 22 targets for 207 yards and one touchdown.
Watson failed to bring in his only target in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.
The Packers began the game with most of their offensive starters on the field, including QB Jordan Love, but they all made quick exits. Watson heads into 2026 at the top of the depth chart at wide receiver after signing a four-year, $110.5 million contract extension in June, but Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden both figure to see significant roles as well, and as in years past in Matt LaFleur's offense, who the actual top option is could change from week to week. Watson has missed time to injuries in each of his four NFL seasons, playing just 10 regular-season contests last year and hauling in 35 of 55 targets for 611 yards and six touchdowns.
Love got the start in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers, completing three of five passes for 18 yards.
The 27-year-old QB handled only one possession in the Packers' preseason opener, but Love led his team to a field goal before being replaced by Tyrod Taylor. Keeping Love healthy ahead of Week 1 will be a top priority for Green Bay, as he's missed two regular-season games each of the last two years. He's coming off a 2025 campaign in which he completed a career-high 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,381 yards and 23 TDs with just six INTs.
Singleton rushed eight times for 31 yards in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
The rookie fifth-round pick is looking to lock down the No. 3 running back role this summer, and Singleton got a long look in the second half of Thursday's preseason opener. Singleton had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons at Penn State and is a capable receiver, so there's seemingly plenty of upside there, particularly for a third-day pick. Singleton figures to continue seeing plenty of action when the Titans face the Seahawks at home on Sunday, Aug. 23 in their second preseason game.
Spears rushed four times for 35 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
Spears finished second in rushing yards for the Titans on the night behind Julius Chestnut, and the former showed no signs of the soreness and irritation that caused an early exit from practice on Friday. Spears has a chance to make a case for the top running back job currently held by Tony Pollard, but barring any unforeseen developments or injury, it appears likely the latter will continue relegating Spears to a complementary role to begin the 2026 season.
Robinson brought in two of four targets for 19 yards in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
On a night when 10 different Titans players recorded at least one catch, Robinson shared the team lead in receptions and targets while setting the pace in receiving yards. The veteran offseason addition opened the contest with the rest of the first-team offense, getting his first opportunity to build rapport with Cam Ward in a game setting. Robinson is expected to be one of Ward's most trusted targets during the wideout's debut campaign in Tennessee, and Thursday offered an abbreviated glimpse of what can likely be expected from the duo during the regular season.
Helm brought in his only target for 16 yards in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
With Chig Okonkwo now in Washington, Helm is set to operate as the Titans' unquestioned No. 1 tight end in 2026. Consequently, the second-year pro was on the field with the rest of the starters to open Thursday's game, and he flashed on his one reception, which came during the Titans' opening possession. Helm's 16-yard grab moved the ball into 49ers territory and put his ability to gain yards after the catch on display. Helm already managed a 44-357-2 line across 16 regular-season games in a rotational role as a rookie in 2025, so fantasy expectations are understandably elevated now that Okonkwo is no longer a competitor for Cam Ward's attention.
Ward completed five of 12 targets for 57 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed once for two yards in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
Ward's final line underscores his inconsistent performance as he officially began game preparations for his second season. The 2025 first overall pick played on the Titans' first three drives, and he helped lead Tennessee to a touchdown on its opening possession with a marathon 11-play, 95-yard drive that featured 18- and 16-yard completions to Calvin Ridley and Gunnar Helm, respectively. Those two throws served as the highlights of Ward's night, and he'll aim for more efficiency in his second preseason game on Sunday, Aug. 23 at home against the defending champion Seahawks.
Brissett completed all five of his passes for 44 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's 27-14 preseason win in Las Vegas.
In his first game action since agreeing to a reworked contract in late July, Brissett connected with WR Michael Wilson (twice for 23 yards), first-round rookie RB Jeremiyah Love (once for two yards), WR Kendrick Bourne (one time for 12 yards) and WR Marvin Harrison (a seven-yard TD). Meanwhile, standout TE Trey McBride logged just one play before hitting the sidelines. This was one exhibition contest with Brissett working with the first-team offense, but the offensive scheme under new coach Mike LaFleur appears to be running on all cylinders roughly one month before the regular season kicks off.
Stribling brought in seven of eight targets for 63 yards in the 49ers' 19-13 preseason loss to the Titans on Thursday.
The 2026 second-round pick led the 49ers in receptions and receiving yards while checking in second in targets to Jordan Watkins. Stribling finished his college career with back-to-back 800-yard seasons, and Ricky Pearsall's season-ending knee injury opens up plenty of opportunity for the rookie to make a significant first-year impact. Stribling is also currently benefiting from Christian Kirk's lingering calf injury, and the former's performance in his NFL debut certainly helps buttress his case for consistent opportunity right from the onset of his first season.
Lance completed 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards, no touchdowns and one interception while rushing three times for 27 yards in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans.
Lance played the first three quarters of Thursday's preseason opener as the Chargers rested starting QB Justin Herbert and other key starters. DJ Uiagalelei came in for the fourth quarter. Lance threw an interception on his final pass of the first half but moved the offense pretty well and tied for the team lead in rushing yards. He'll likely feature prominently in the Chargers' second preseason game, which will be Aug. 20 against the 49ers.
Tate didn't come up with any of his three targets in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
The rookie fourth overall pick was on the field for the Titans' opening possession and saw his first target near the goal line on second down. Tate's two other opportunities came during Tennessee's third drive, but he ultimately finished his night without making any impact on the stat sheet despite working with starting quarterback Cam Ward during his time in the game. Despite the quiet debut, Tate naturally remains ticketed for a major role in his 2026 rookie campaign and will look to build some momentum during Tennessee's second preseason game against the Seahawks at home on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Pollard rushed four times for 22 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.
The veteran running back took the field with the rest of the Titans' starters on Tennessee's opening possession and wasted no time making an impact, quickly bursting up the middle for a 12-yard run on his team's first play from scrimmage. Pollard eventually capped the drive off with a five-yard touchdown run, finishing his abbreviated night in impressive fashion. Pollard is looking to maintain a firm hold on the No. 1 running back role over Tyjae Spears in what is expected to be an improved Tennessee offense, and Thursday's showing certainly got him off to a strong start in that regard.
Klein caught his only target for 31 yards in Thursday's 27-7 preseason loss to the Chargers.
Klein's lone catch gained enough yards to lead the Texans in receiving yards as Houston's offense struggled to produce while the team's starters rested in the preseason opener. Houston drafted Klein 59th overall out of Michigan, and the rookie second-round pick is likely to begin his career in a backup role behind Dalton Schultz. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Klein was known more for his blocking than his receiving ability in college.
Thompson caught two of six targets for 30 yards in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans.
Thompson tied KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the team lead in targets as the Chargers got the rookie fourth-round pick involved in Thompson's first taste of NFL action. Both Thompson and Lambert-Smith are trying to push Tre' Harris for a spot in three-receiver sets alongside Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Thompson's likely to maintain a prominent role in the Chargers' second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 20.
Tucker secured both of his targets for 21 yards in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.
Tucker opened the game with the rest of the Raiders' projected offensive starters and showed some solid chemistry with Kirk Cousins, recording 16- and five-yard grabs on an opening possession that was capped by Michael Mayer's 13-yard touchdown grab. Tucker tuned up for his projected No. 1 receiver role in 2026 by posting a career-best season a year ago, furnishing a 57-696-5 line across 17 regular-season games.
Vidal got the start in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans and rushed five times for eight yards while failing to catch his only target.
The Chargers rested starting running back Omarion Hampton for the preseason opener, and offseason addition Keaton Mitchell didn't register a touch. This was a quiet performance from Vidal, but the 2024 sixth-round pick remains in the mix for touches behind Hampton after a solid sophomore season in which Hampton produced 779 regular-season scrimmage yards.
Washington rushed six times for 63 yards, failed to bring in his only target and returned one kickoff for 22 yards in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.
The rookie fourth-round pick is considered the favorite to open the season as the No. 2 back behind Ashton Jeanty, and Washington did nothing if not help cement that status in his NFL debut. The Arkansas product gained the bulk of his rushing production on his 53-yard scamper during the Raiders' third possession, but he also had a five-yard run wiped out by an offensive holding penalty. Washington averaged a stellar 6.4 yards per carry during his 2025 senior season with the Razorbacks, and he should have ample opportunity to prove his worth as a change-of-pace back during his rookie campaign.
Dicker made both of his field-goal attempts and one of two PAT tries in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans.
Dicker connected on field-goal attempts of 34 and 48 yards, though he later missed a PAT attempt in the fourth quarter. He missed just once on 35 PAT tries in the 2025 regular season. Dicker has established himself as one of the league's most reliable kickers in recent seasons while kicking in sunny Los Angeles.
Allgeier rushed four times for 19 yards and wasn't targeted in the Cardinals' 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.
Allgeier and rookie third overall pick Jeremiyah Love were the two Cardinals running backs to log touches on the team's opening possession. Allgeier's first opportunity came after Love had seen two rush attempts and recorded a reception, but the former proceeded to rattle off consecutive seven-yard runs on his first pair of carries. Allgeier also had a five-yard rush on the Cardinals' second drive, and his team debut was an encouraging one overall. The veteran's exact regular-season role in a crowded backfield remains to be determined, but it's worth noting Allgeier has ample experience complementing a star back after playing alongside Bijan Robinson in Atlanta for the last three seasons.
Young caught two of four targets for 28 yards in Thursday's 16-14 preseason win over the Lions.
Young ran with Joe Flacco and the second-team offense in the rookie fourth-round pick's NFL debut. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are entrenched in the top two spots on Cincinnati's wide receiver depth chart, but Young will try to contribute in a depth role out of the gate. Young should continue to get ample opportunities in the Bengals' second preseason game against the Bears on Aug. 22.
Harrison brought in his only target for seven yards and a touchdown and also drew a 20-yard pass interference penalty in the Cardinals' 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.
The embattled 2024 first-round pick drew the penalty on the Cardinals' third play from scrimmage, and he capped off that opening drive with his seven-yard touchdown grab. Harrison endured an injury-shortened season in 2025 where he suited up for only 12 of 17 regular-season games, but he appears back to full health ahead of what could be a pivotal season for his future with the franchise.
Dobbs completed four of eight passes for 32 yards and added a nine-yard run in Thursday's 16-14 preseason loss to the Bengals.
Dobbs made his Lions debut four days after singing with the team Sunday in the wake of Teddy Bridgewater's retirement. Luke Altmyer got the start Thursday and turned the ball over three times, so the undrafted rookie seems unlikely to challenge Dobbs for the second spot on the depth chart behind Jared Goff once Dobbs familiarizes himself with Detroit's playbook. Dobbs is likely to play more extensively against the Commanders on Aug. 22 in the Lions' second preseason game.
Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and rushed twice for six yards in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.
The highly anticipated professional debut of the No. 1 overall pick officially began on the Raiders' second possession after projected starter Kirk Cousins led Las Vegas to a touchdown on the opening drive. Mendoza's first completion went to Jack Bech for nine yards, and he had a subsequent five-yard connection with fellow rookie Mike Washington wiped out by a holding penalty. Mendoza appeared much more comfortable the second time he had the ball, leading the Raiders on a 10-play, 79-yard march that included a 19-yard completion to Malik Benson and was capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass to Bech. Mendoza played into the fourth quarter and had a solid night overall, but Greg Auman of FOX Sports reports head coach Klint Kubiak said after the game it's still Cousins "job to lose" in terms of the Week 1 starting role.
Altmyer completed 13 of 22 passes for 130 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Thursday's 16-14 preseason loss to the Bengals. He also rushed four times for one yard, ran in a two-point conversion and lost a fumble.
Altmyer played most of the game in his NFL debut, but the undrafted rookie out of Illinois didn't help his chances of winning the second spot on Detroit's QB depth chart. He threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tarik Black with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter and ran in the ensuing two-point conversion, but Altmyer also turned the ball over three times. The recently signed Joshua Dobbs seems likely to beat out Altmyer for the backup role, but both options will likely see action int he team's next preseason game, Aug. 22 against the Commanders.
Coach Klint Kubiak said after Thursday's 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals that the Raiders' starting quarterback gig is Cousins' "job to lose," Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Kubiak announced at the outset of training camp that Cousins was the team's No. 1 QB, and nothing between then and Thursday's contest seemingly has changed his mind. Cousins led a touchdown drive on his only possession, which culminated in a 13-yard connection between him and TE Michael Mayer. Meanwhile, 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza fared well himself, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, one TD and one interception. Considering Kubiak's comments, Cousins appears destined to be under center for Las Vegas to begin Week 1 against the Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 13.
TeSlaa didn't catch any of his three targets in Thursday's 16-14 preseason loss to the Bengals.
TeSlaa couldn't get on the same page with quarterbacks Luke Altmyer and Joshua Dobbs as the Lions rested key starters, including Jared Goff. Detroit's 2025 third-round pick will likely continue to get opportunities in the preseason as TeSlaa tries to nail down the third spot on Detroit's wide receiver depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Lions' second preseason game will be Aug. 22 against Washington.
Coach Mike LaFleur said Thursday there's "no concern" with Beck's ribs injury, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Beck suffered the injury during last week's Hall of Fame Game but played through the injury and went on to complete 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown against Carolina. He sat out Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders, but it sounds like Beck could be back in game action next Saturday against Dallas. With the Cardinals looking at a likely rebuilding season in 2026, Beck is a good bet to take regular-season snaps.
Wilson brought in both targets for 23 yards in the Cardinals' 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.
The Cardinals' starting offense took the field on the opening possession, and Wilson was on the receiving end of two of Jacoby Brissett's first three completions. The fourth-year wideout is coming off having posted a career-best 78-1,006-7 line on 126 targets over 17 regular-season games in 2025, but if Marvin Harrison is able to enjoy better healthy this coming season, Wilson could be headed for at least a slight statistical downturn in his No. 2 receiver role.
Coach Mike LaFleur said Love suffered an ankle injury during Thursday's 27-14 preseason win at Las Vegas, but he doesn't believe it's serious, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Love played the entire first half in his first appearance as a pro, and the third overall pick in this year's draft didn't disappoint, turning 11 carries into 58 yards and reeling in all three targets for 14 yards. LaFleur added afterward that Love could have returned if he was needed, and the coach also is optimistic that the rookie running back will be able to practice next week. Love's next chance for exhibition action is Saturday, Aug. 22 versus the Cowboys.
Jeanty rushed three times for 16 yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.
Jeanty was the first running back in the game for the Raiders and saw all his touches on Las Vegas' first drive before his night came to a quick end. The 2025 first-round pick is coming off a solid rookie campaign where he arguably maximized his opportunities on a struggling team in need of a talent infusion, and the offseason addition of star center Tyler Linderbaum is expected to make a significant impact on the blocking Jeanty enjoy as he carries out his clear-cut No. 1 role in 2026.
Gadsden caught two of three targets for 21 yards in Thursday's 21-7 preseason win over the Texans.
The Chargers rested key starters, including QB Justin Herbert, but Gadsden evidently hasn't earned that distinction coming off a 664-yard rookie regular season. Both of Gadsden's catches Thursday came on passes thrown by Trey Lance. In Gadsden's second NFL campaign, he will try to hold off David Njoku for targets among the Chargers' tight ends. Gadsden could continue to see action in the Chargers' second preseason game, Aug. 20 against the 49ers.
Love rushed 11 times for 58 yards and brought in all three targets for 14 yards in the Cardinals' 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.
The rookie first-round pick was the first Cardinals running back to garner a touch in the contest, logging two rush attempts and a reception on the opening possession. Love had eight- and nine-yard runs on Arizona's second drive and back-to-back 14- and 16-yard scampers the third time the Cardinals had the ball. It was a highly efficient showing overall for Love in his first taste of NFL game action, and he clearly became more comfortable the longer he remained in the game. The third overall pick should have additional opportunity to tune up for his first season in the Cardinals' second preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 22 at home against the Cowboys.
Stroud didn't suit up for Thursday's 27-7 preseason-opening loss to the Chargers.
Houston rested its starters, including Stroud. Davis Mills led a touchdown drive on Houston's first possession before being replaced by third-string quarterback Graham Mertz, who subsequently injured his knee, prompting Mills to return to the game. Stroud had a forgettable playoff showing last season, but he remains locked in as Houston's starting QB ahead of Mills.
Borregales converted just two of five field-goal attempts in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Colts.
Coach Mike Vrabel wasn't thrilled after Borregales missed kicks from 56, 55 and 49 yards. "I don't have a message [for him]," Vrabel said, via Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com. "We're expected to make them. That's pro football." Borregales is the only kicker on the Patriots' roster at the moment, but based on Vrabel's comments, it wouldn't be a shock if New England brings in competition for the remainder of the summer. As a rookie last season, Borregales made 27 of 32 field-goal tries and 53 of 55 PATs across 17 regular-season contests.
Gesicki didn't catch his only target in Thursday's 16-14 preseason win over the Lions.
Gesicki's lone target came on a pass from Joe Burrow on the game's second possession. Cincinnati's starters exited the contest shortly thereafter. The 30-year-old Gesicki is tentatively penciled in atop a Bengals tight end depth chart that also includes Drew Sample, Erick All, Tanner Hudson and Jack Endries, the last of whom caught a four-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from backup quarterback Joe Flacco.
Goff didn't suit up for Thursday's 16-14 preseason loss to the Bengals.
Goff sat out the preseason opener, as did Detroit's other key starters. Luke Altmyer and the recently signed Joshua Dobbs split quarterback duties Thursday. Altmyer and Dobbs will likely continue to get most of the preseason playing time as the Lions sort out their depth chart behind Goff in the wake of veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater's retirement. The Lions will continue preseason play Aug. 22 against the Commanders.
Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow have had no trouble connecting at practice, Dan Hoard of the Bengals' official website reports.
Higgins and Burrow were drafted together in 2020, and they've had a long-standing connection with one another on the field. The two players have had no trouble getting back up to speed with each other after the offseason, and amongst the many plays they've made at camp, Higgins reeled in a red zone touchdown pass from Burrow at practice Tuesday. The wide receiver caught 59 of 98 targets for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2025, a campaign during which Burrow, Jake Browning and Joe Flacco all started at least three contests at quarterback. Now with Burrow fully healthy ahead of the 2026 season, Higgins figures to once again be one of the most productive No. 2 WRs in the NFL.
Brown rushed five times for 16 yards in Thursday's preseason-opening 16-14 win over the Lions.
Brown and the rest of Cincinnati's starters played two drives Thursday. After recording at least 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns in each of the past two regular seasons, Brown is locked in atop a Bengals running back depth chart that also includes Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks. Cincinnati will continue preseason play Aug. 22 against the Bears.
Burrow completed five of six passes for 39 yards in Thursday's preseason-opening 16-14 win over the Lions.
Burrow played on Cincinnati's first two possessions Thursday before turning things over to backups Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford. The Bengals' two drives with Burrow in the game resulted in a punt and a field goal. Offense hasn't been the Bengals' problem when Burrow has been healthy, so the star QB isn't expected to see extensive action during the preseason.
Rodgers did not suit up for Thursday night's preseason opener against the Packers, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
According to coach Mike McCarthy, he was prepared to play Rodgers in the exhibition but opted against it since Michael Pittman (leg) wasn't available. McCarthy said he only would've used Rodgers if both Pittman and DK Metcalf (undisclosed) were able to play. Rodgers' next chance for game action will be next Friday against another one of his former teams, the Jets.
Chase caught his only target for 16 yards in Thursday's preseason-opening 16-14 win over the Lions.
Chase's catch came on Joe Burrow's first pass of the game, as the star QB-WR duo didn't take long to get on the same page. Cincinnati's starting offense played two possessions, but Chase wasn't thrown to again. Chase is expected to see a heavy dose of targets again in 2026 after leading the league in that category during each of the past two regular seasons. Cincinnati's next preseason game will be Aug. 22 against the Bears.
Black (thigh) will not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Black is competing for one of the relief running back roles behind Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed), so any missed time is detrimental to the 24-year-old's chances of remaining in his position on the depth chart. With primary competition Jordan James (ribs) also out for Thursday's game, Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick, Khalil Herbert and Zamir White will get a chance to prove they should be in the conversation for spots on the 53-man roster.
James (ribs) will not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
James fractured his rib in late July and has still not recovered from the issue. The running back is set to be the primary relief back behind Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed), but if he can get healthy may see starting snaps depending on McCaffrey's outlook for the season. Running back Kaelon Black (thigh) is also not participating in Thursday's game, leaving Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick, Khalil Herbert and Zamir White to absorb all of Thursday's carries in an effort to climb a depth chart littered with injuries before cutdown day.
Kirk (calf) is not suited up for Thursday's preseason opener against the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kirk will spend Thursday night's contest out of uniform on the sideline as he continues to deal with the calf injury he sustained in late July. The wide receiver is set to be the No. 3 option behind Mike Evans (quadriceps) and recently re-signed Deebo Samuel, though Evans' age and injury could allow Kirk to see an increased snap share over the course of the regular season.
Evans (quadriceps) is not dressed in uniform for Thursday night's preseason opener against the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans has been dealing with a minor quad strain for the past week and returned to practice Tuesday. Considering his veteran status and recent injury, it's not surprising to see Evans in street clothes for the exhibition with Tennessee. As long as he avoids setbacks, Evans should be ready to rock for the Niners' Week 1 regular-season opener against the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10.
London outlined that he tries to model his game after big-bodied wideouts like Mike Evans and former NFL stars Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and Andre Johnson, Robert Mays of The Athletic reports.
London saw a dip in production in 2025, but that was mostly due to a PCL sprain in his left knee that sidelined him for four contests late in the season. The wide receiver still caught 68 of 112 targets for 919 yards and seven scores over 12 regular-season contest, and the 76.6 yards per game were a new career-high for the 25-year-old. London understands that part of what makes him special is his 6-foot-4, 215-plus pound frame, and he'll look to continue to use it to his advantage in Year 5 with Atlanta. The wide receiver will once again face uncertainty at quarterback in 2026, as the team signed veteran Tua Tagovailoa (back) in the offseason to compete with Michael Penix (knee) for the starting job. Regardless of who is under center, London has elevated to being one of the top WRs in the league, and he figures to have another strong campaign this year.
Arnold is planning to sign with the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thursday.
Arnold visited with the Texans, Saints and Giants, but has ultimately chosen the 2025 Super Bowl champions. The NFL still has a decision to make regarding possibly placing the cornerback on the Commissioner's Exempt List due to his felony charges for robbery and kidnapping that occurred in February. In any event, it appears as though the Seahawks are willing to take a chance on the former Lions starter as long as he is allowed to play. Prior to landing on IR due to a shoulder injury last December, Arnold recorded 31 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception over eight regular-season games with Detroit in 2025.
Brooks isn't suited up for Thursday's preseason game in Pittsburgh.
Brooks will join Josh Jacobs (groin) on the sideline for the Packers' exhibition opener, leaving some combination of MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon to man the backfield. Brooks' absence Thursday may stem from the hamstring injury that kept him on the active/PUP list until this past Sunday. In any case, he'll have two more chances to mix into a preseason contest as he vies with Lloyd for the No. 2 RB role behind Jacobs.
Kraft (knee) appears on track to be available for the Packers' Week 1 matchup with the Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Kraft spent the first two days of training camp on the active/PUP list, but he's been active on the field for most practices since then, including Monday's session when he was seen running routes on air while catching passes from QB Jordan Love without a sleeve on his right knee. Said knee endured a torn ACL in Week 9 of last season, but considering Kraft's slow build-up to date in camp, Rapoport's report lines up with an appearance for the tight end in the regular-season opener. Another question surrounding Kraft is whether or not he and the Packers are able to agree to terms on a contract extension.
Pittman isn't in line to suit up for Thursday's preseason contest against the Packers, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Pittman missed practice this week due to an right leg injury, and with DK Metcalf (undisclosed) also in street clothes Thursday, the Steelers' top two wide receivers won't be available to the offense. Pittman's next opportunity to log some exhibition action and potentially get some work in with QB Aaron Rodgers is Friday, Aug. 21 versus the Jets.
Metcalf (undisclosed) isn't in uniform for Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The same applies to fellow WR Michael Pittman (leg), with Steelers playing it safe with their top two wideouts, as they've been managing injuries of late. Metcalf's next chance to see game action will arrive Aug. 21 against the Jets, and his absence, along with Pittman's on Thursday, will open up opportunities for those competing for depth chart slotting and/or roster spots to see added snaps versus Green Bay.
Rodgers isn't slated to play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Packers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
With Rodgers in street clothes ahead of the contest, the Steelers will turn over the offense to Mason Rudolph (likely 1-to-2 series), Will Howard (the rest of the first half) and Drew Allar (after halftime), per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Coach Mike McCarthy has suggested he would like Rodgers to get some exhibition reps this month, so the quarterback's next chance to do so is Friday, Aug. 21 versus the Jets.
Marks isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Chargers, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Marks is slated to be among key Texans skill-position players that won't suit up for the team's exhibition opener. Fellow RB and offseason addition David Montgomery also is on that list, and with Jawhar Jordan (hip) and British Brooks (hand) dealing with injuries, Houston's backfield may be populated by just Noah Whittington, Josh Pitsenberger and Owen Wright on Thursday. As a fourth-round rookie last season, Marks notched 196 carries for 703 yards and two touchdowns and hauled in 24 of 36 targets for 208 yards and three more TDs in 16 regular-season games, and while he'll still see his share of touches in 2026, his workload could take a hit with Montgomery on board.
Nabers (knee) wore a red non-contact jersey during team drills at Thursday's practice, which didn't feature any live periods, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
The Giants held a light practice Thursday, so Nabers didn't get the opportunity to run through any reps at full speed, and the wide receiver later moved to a side field to work on releases against trainers. Nonetheless, head coach John Harbaugh referred to Nabers' participation Thursday as "a milestone for our team," per Tom Rock of Newsday Sports. Harbaugh also said Thursday that Nabers will be ready to face defenders at full speed "soon," per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Nabers will presumably sit out Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings.
Jennings (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
Jennings will miss the entire season as a result of his placement on IR. He had been the favorite to secure the third spot on New England's running back depth chart behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. That spot will now go to one of Lan Larison, Jam Miller, Hassan Haskins or the newly signed JaMycal Hasty, unless the Patriots add another backfield option.
Head coach Sean McVay expects Nacua (groin), who is dealing with soreness in his psoas, to be "ready to go" in practice ahead of the team's second preseason game against the Saints on Aug. 22, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
The psoas is a muscle that runs from the lower back through the pelvis and to the top of the femur. Nacua left Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys due to soreness in that area. He's on track to sit out Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs before likely returning to practice ahead of the team's second preseason game versus the Saints. The standout wideout can thus be considered day-to-day for now.
Allen has seen an uptick in pass-catching opportunities during training camp, which could lead to an expanded receiving role during the regular season, Josh Shipley of SI.com reports.
Allen excelled in pass protection as a rookie, but the 2025 seventh-round pick saw only 23 rushing attempts and 11 targets during the 2025 regular season. He was a productive pass catcher at Syracuse, notching 64 receptions in 2024. Allen could be ticketed for the majority of opportunities in passing situations while Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez split early-down work.
Head coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Nacua (groin) is expected to practice prior to the Rams' second preseason game against the Saints, Greg Beacham of The Associated Press reports.
Nacua injured his groin during Tuesday's session and worked on a side field with trainers Thursday. McVay indicated the star wide receiver is simply dealing with soreness in his groin, adding that Nacua should return to practice next week, following the Rams' preseason opener against the Chiefs on Saturday.
Bennett is slated to start Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
With top QB Matthew Stafford presumably not set to see the field Saturday, Bennett will get the start while his competition for the team's No. 2 job, Ty Simpson, will see action in the contest as well. Matthew Caldwell is also a candidate to see snaps versus Kansas City once Bennett and Simpson have had their turns.
Purdy isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Titans, Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows report.
The report indicates that the 49ers won't play most of their starters Thursday, and with Purdy set to sit this one out, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke and Adrian Martinez are the team's available signal-caller option against Tennessee. With Jones already entrenched as Purdy's top backup, Rourke and Martinez could end up seeing the bulk of the QB reps Thursday.
Valdes-Scantling (knee) will be sent for an MRI to evaluate his injury, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Valdes-Scantling suffered an injury at practice Saturday, which has now been revealed to be a knee injury. A return timetable won't be established until the results of the MRI are know, but the veteran wide receiver almost certainly won't suit up for the Cowboys' preseason opener against the Seahawks on Saturday.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Mafah and Jaydon Blue will both "get a ton of work" during the preseason and that they are "in a heated battle" for the top backup spot behind Javonte Williams, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Blue was listed ahead of Mafah on the team's initial depth chart, but both second-year pros will have a chance to make their respective cases for the backup role during the preseason. Williams is locked in atop the depth chart after rushing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, while both Blue and Mafah appear to have leapfrogged Malik Davis in the pecking order at running back.
Beck won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders due to a rib injury he sustained in the previous Thursday's preseason game against the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Beck practiced through soreness all week and the injury isn't considered serious, per Rapoport, but the Cardinals are nonetheless opting to hold the rookie third-round pick out of action for the second of Arizona's four preseason contests. Beck impressed in the Hall of Fame Game, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown while playing the entire first half. Jacoby Brissett, who is expected to be Arizona's Week 1 starter, is set to start Thursday's preseason tilt. Beck's next chance to see preseason action will come Aug. 22 against the Cowboys.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Blue and Phil Mafah will both "get a ton of work" during the preseason, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Blue and Mafah are "in a heated battle" for the top backup spot behind Javonte Williams, per Schottenheimer. Dallas' initial depth chart lists Blue second behind Williams, ahead of Mafah and Malik Davis. Blue was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2025, going two rounds ahead of Mafah. The Cowboys will kick off preseason play Saturday in Seattle.
Garrett (knee) is working on a side field with trainers at practice Thursday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Garrett and Puka Nacua (groin) are getting in a star-studded side session Thursday as they work their way back from their respective injuries. Both standout contributors are expected to be available well before the Rams kick off regular-season play Sept. 10 against the 49ers, but Garrett is unlikely to suit up for Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs.
Nacua (groin) is working on a side field with trainers at practice Thursday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Barshop initially didn't spot Nacua (who is dealing with what has been described as minor groin soreness) among the Rams' practice participants, but the star wide receiver was soon seen working out on a practice field alongside Myles Garrett (knee). It's encouraging that Nacua is on the field in any capacity at this point, though it will likely be at least a few days until he's cleared to practice with his teammates, per earlier reports. Nacua is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason opener at Kansas City.
Nacua (groin) doesn't appear to be participating in Thursday's practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Nacua's absence isn't unexpected, as initial reports after he left Tuesday's practice due to a groin injury suggested that the star wide receiver could be sidelined "a few days." He looks unlikely at this point to suit up in Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs, but there has been no indication that Nacua's availability for Week 1 against the 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10 is in question.
Bagent is in line to start and play the first half of Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Head coach Ben Johnson named Bagent the starter for Saturday's game and added that Caleb Williams won't play Saturday and may not see action at all in the preseason. Bagent is firmly penciled in as Williams' backup in a quarterback room that also includes Case Keenum and Miller Moss.
Williams won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Head coach Ben Johnson revealed Thursday that the Bears plan to sit "a number" of their starters, with Williams among those getting the day off. Per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Johnson seems to be leaning toward resting Williams for the entire preseason, though a final determination on the starting quarterback's status for the second and third preseason games has yet to be made. Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Miller Moss are the other QBs on Chicago's roster, and Finley reports that Bagent is on track to play the first half of Saturday's preseason opener.
Wiggins (leg) is expected to resume practicing prior to Baltimore's second preseason game against the Vikings on Aug. 22, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Wiggins won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Eagles, but he isn't expected to face a long-term absence after being carted off during Tuesday's practice due to a left leg injury. Subsequent tests revealed no structural damage for Baltimore's 2024 first-round pick.
Rattler will start Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars, per Saints head coach Kellen Moore.
Rattler will get the first opportunity to make his case for the backup role behind Tyler Shough. Zach Wilson is competing for the second spot on the Saints' quarterback depth chart as well, and New Orleans also has Hunter Dekkers in the QB room. Rattler and Wilson are likely to both see plenty of preseason action as the Saints sort out their backup QB situation.
Tyson exited Thursday's practice early due to a possible hamstring injury, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, though it isn't believed to be a serious issue, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The biggest knock on Tyson coming out of Arizona was his lengthy injury history, including a hamstring injury suffered prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, in which the Saints selected Tyson eighth overall. It's not clear whether this latest hamstring issue is related to the previous injury. The team's early optimism suggests Tyson's availability for Week 1 against the Lions doesn't appear to be in jeopardy, but the rookie first-round pick is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars.
Tillman didn't practice Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Tillman can ill-afford a lengthy absence, as Jackson adds that the 2023 third-round draft pick could be on the wrong side of the roster bubble for the Browns, who will begin preseason play Saturday against the Bears. Rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston appear to have leapfrogged Tillman in a Browns wide receiver room that also includes Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond.
Flowers (quadriceps) is participating in team drills at Thursday's practice, Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner reports.
Flowers appears to be practicing without limitations Thursday, having progressed in his recovery after returning in limited fashion Tuesday from a left quadriceps contusion he sustained Saturday. Baltimore is expected to rest key starters for Saturday's preseason opener against the Eagles, so Flowers isn't expected to suit up despite being healthy.
Mahomes (knee) won't play in Kansas City's preseason opener against the Rams on Saturday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Mahomes has been progressing well in his recovery from a torn ACL that was surgically repaired in December. He has been cleared for 11-on-11 drills, but the Chiefs don't have much incentive to rush the star quarterback's return to game action. Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun will suit up at quarterback Saturday. Mahomes continues to target the Sept. 14 regular-season opener against the Broncos as his return date.
Head coach Dave Canales said Thursday that he's confident Hubbard (hamstring) will be available for the Panthers' regular-season opener against the Bears, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Canales revealed earlier Thursday that Hubbard is considered week-to-week due to a hamstring injury, but the head coach's clarification after Thursday's practice comes as a relief to Hubbard's prospective fantasy managers. Hubbard -- who had an MRI after feeling something grab in his hamstring during Wednesday's practice -- had originally been slated to work with Carolina's starters in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bills, but he will instead sit out while Jonathon Brooks will start, with Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon also mixing in at running back.
Brooks will start Saturday's preseason game against the Bills, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Carolina's original plan was for Brooks to mix in alongside Chuba Hubbard, but head coach Dave Canales revealed Thursday that Hubbard is considered week-to-week due to a hamstring injury, per Mike Kaye of ESPN.com. While Hubbard is expected to be ready for Week 1 action, per Canales via Joe Person of The Athletic, his current absence opens the door for Brooks to make a case for the top spot on a running back depth chart that also includes Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon.
Hubbard (hamstring) is considered week-to-week, head coach Dave Canales revealed Thursday, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard had been practicing without limitations but evidently sustained a hamstring injury in the lead-up to Carolina's second preseason game against the Bills on Saturday. The 27-year-old running back is unlikely to suit up during the preseason based on this timetable, and Hubbard's availability for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener will need to be monitored ahead of Week 1. Jonathon Brooks had been gaining momentum in Carolina's backfield competition even prior to Hubbard's injury. The Panthers also have Trevor Etienne, AJ Dillon, Anthony Tyus and Miles Davis in the backfield.
McCarthy told reporters Wednesday that he wants to remain in Minnesota despite losing the Vikings' quarterback competition to Kyler Murray, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
"This is the place I want to be," McCarthy said. "And I love every single person in this building. I love the state. I love the fanbase. And I'm going to continue to just do whatever I can for this team and this organization." Murray was named the team's Week 1 starter Tuesday and veteran backup Carson Wentz remains on the roster, leading to speculation that the Vikings could try to trade McCarthy. Minnesota's 2024 first-round draft pick missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, and McCarthy then threw for 1,632 yards with an 11:12 TD:INT across 10 starts during the 2025 regular season, prompting Minnesota to bring in an alternative option in Murray.
Pearsall announced Thursday in a post on his personal Instagram account that he underwent season-ending surgery to repair the PCL in his right knee, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
The procedure typically carries a wide-ranging recovery timeline of 6-to-12 months, so while Pearsall will be ruled out for the season, it's not clear if he'll be available for the start of the 49ers' offseason program next spring or the start of training camp next summer. The wideout will wind up having played in just 20 of a possible 51 regular-season contests and one of two playoff games through his first three NFL campaigns, missing time as a rookie while recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest before being hampered by the PCL injury off and on in 2025. He'll turn 27 in September and will be entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2027.
Head coach Joe Brady said Thursday that Allen and the rest of Buffalo's healthy starters will play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Panthers, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Brady added that he wants Allen to be competitive but mindful Saturday, per Glab. Allen is expected to start Saturday's preseason game but probably won't play more than a few series before giving way to backups Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele.
Bateman is in full uniform for Thursday's practice.
Bateman didn't take part in either of the Ravens' last two practices, but the team didn't disclose whether his absences were injury-related or part of a planned maintenance plan. Either way, Bateman will be back on the field Thursday, but it's unclear if the Ravens intend to have him suit up in Saturday's preseason opener versus the Eagles. While Bateman projects to head into Week 1 as a starter alongside No. 1 wideout Zay Flowers, rookie third-round pick Ja'Kobi Lane has generated considerable buzz during camp and could be a threat to poach reps in two-receiver sets as the season unfolds.
Sanders could have to battle for a roster spot for the remainder of the preseason with the Panthers slated to sign veteran tight end Darren Waller to a one-year deal, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.
Even before the Panthers brought Waller aboard, Sanders already looked to be third on the depth chart at tight end, as he played in the team's preseason opener versus the Cardinals last week while Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans were rested. A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Sanders had still been viewed as the Panthers' top pass-catching option at the position, but he no longer holds that distinction following the addition of the 33-year-old Waller, who ended a one-year retirement last season and delivered an impressive 24-283-6 receiving line in just six games with the Dolphins. With Carolina also holding Feleipe Franks in high regard for his special-teams contributions, the team may prefer to enter the season with him as their No. 4 tight end over Sanders, who could be viewed as redundant now that Waller is in the fold.
The Jaguars envision Thomas serving as the 'X' receiver in their offense during the upcoming season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
After an outstanding rookie campaign in which he put up a 87-1,282-10 receiving line on 133 targets over 17 contests, Thomas saw his production crater in Year 2 (48-707-2 line in 14 games). Though the Jacksonville offense took a step forward as a whole under first-year head coach Liam Coen, Thomas ended up sacrificing heavy target volume to Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, who emerged as trusted weapons underneath and in the intermediate area for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Wolfe notes that while the Jaguars value Thomas "a ton" and have no desire to trade him, the coaching staff learned last season that the wideout's strengths lie in using his blazing speed to run deep routes on the perimeter rather than taking contact on routes in the middle and shorter areas of the field. While that sort of role typically doesn't lend itself to consistently heavy target counts week to week, it's not one that's completely bereft of fantasy value. Wolfe cites Brandin Cooks -- whose tenure with the Rams overlapped with Coen's time as an assistant for the team -- as a player in a similar mold as Thomas who was able to turn in productive seasons on modest target volume while primarily serving as a vertical threat.
Lemon (hamstring) won't take part in Thursday's practice, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.
The rookie first-round pick will be sidelined for his seventh practice of training camp, but he was spotted in a helmet catching passes from a JUGS machine off to the side, per Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal. While his presence on a side field is seemingly a good sign, Lemon appears unlikely to be available for Saturday's preseason opener versus the Ravens. With DeVonta Smith also having been slowed by a hamstring injury in camp, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown have been seeing added reps with the first-team offense.
Smith (hamstring) won't participate in Thursday's practice, but he was spotted working out off to the side, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Smith will sit out his seventh practice of training camp, though his ability to run routes and take part in rehab work on a side field is a sign that he could soon be ready to take part in team drills. While the wideout will almost certainly sit out Saturday's preseason opener versus the Ravens, that might have been the case even if he was fully healthy.
Tremble could face competition atop the depth chart at tight end with Carolina slated to sign Darren Waller to a one-year contract, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.
Regarded as a strong blocker, Tremble projects to enter his sixth season in Carolina as the team's starter, but he could end up ceding more work on obvious passing downs to Waller, who ended a one-year retirement in 2025 and delivered an impressive 24-283-6 receiving line on 34 targets over just six games with the Dolphins. Waller's receiving output was on par with Tremble's over his full 17-game slate with Carolina, as the latter contributed 27 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 37 targets. The modest catch and yardage totals were all career highs for Tremble, who now appears likely to take a step back statistically in 2026 if Waller emerges as Carolina's top pass-catching tight end.
Coach Dave Canales highlighted Legette on Wednesday for having a strong training camp, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
"Really good to see him back out there playing like himself," Canales said. "Playing fast, just knowing where to be. He's doing a phenomenal job; he's the guy that we're counting on. He looks explosive. And then what I've seen him do is just make great plays on the boundary, back of the end zone, just some of those spatial plays where he can go attack the ball, find a way to get his feet down, and he's really attacked that part of his game, and that's something that I've seen him really improve on." Legette acknowledged he wasn't very good in 2025 and took a "step back" this offseason to refocus on getting better. He worked out with Bryce Young multiple times away from the team during the spring and now has a good chance to claim the WR3 role in Carolina after rookie Chris Brazzell was lost for the season due to a knee injury early in camp.
Pickens has impressed throughout the Cowboys' training camp, Dan Rogers of SB Nation reports.
Pickens had a spectacular season in 2025, reeling in 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which were career highs, over 17 regular-season contests in his first year with Dallas. The wide receiver did tail off as the season came to a close, though, averaging 57.4 receiving yards and 4.0 catches over the team's final five games after averaging 95.2 yards and 6.1 receptions over the team's previous 12 contests. Pickens will look to put together a more complete campaign this year, and he has already been connecting on all cylinders with quarterback Dak Prescott, using his advanced ball-tracking ability to make acrobatic plays throughout training camp. The Cowboys have as good of a receiving duo as any team in the league, as the talented Pickens will be paired with No. 1 option CeeDee Lamb again in 2026.
Brown remained the Patriots' No. 1 option in the passing game during Tuesday's joint practice with the Colts, Ethan Hurwitz of SI.com reports.
Brown started his day off by beating Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner in a 1-on-1 situation, and once full-squad reps began, the wide receiver was heavily targeted. The 29-year-old is entering his first season in Josh McDaniels' offense, working with emerging star Drake Maye at quarterback. Brown and Maye connected five times at practice Tuesday, including a 10-yard score on an in-breaking route where Brown split two defenders to reach paydirt. The wide receiver and the Eagles had grown tired of each other after a four-season marriage in Philadelphia from 2022-2025, and Brown will now provide the Patriots with a clear No. 1 option in their passing game after being traded June 1. He has recorded four straight 1,000-plus yard campaigns and has finished with seven or more receiving touchdowns in six of his seven NFL seasons leading into 2026.
Beckham will play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports.
It's not a surprise considering Beckham is in a fight for a roster spot after he was listed as a third-string wide receiver on the Giants' initial unofficial depth chart. The 33-year-old is competing with a handful of other veteran wideouts for a couple spots. Beckham has largely been out of the league, injured or ineffective for much of the past two seasons.
Kelce said Wednesday that he wants to "prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year" this upcoming season, Nate Taylor of ESPN.com reports.
"That's probably the biggest thing for me, is making sure I'm accountable to the guys in this [locker] room and every single play that I'm out there," Kelce continued. "[Just] being more accountable when the ball is in the air. There were a few games last year that I felt like I put on myself. In the blocking world, being able to get my guy so we can spring guys for bigger gains. And just being a better leader." Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving last season, but his 50.1 yards per game were his fewest in the last 12 years. He did average 11.2 yards per catch, though, which was a big jump from his 8.5 yards-per-catch average in 2024. Kelce is turning 37 years old in less than two months and doesn't move like he used to, but he still knows how to get open and has undeniable chemistry with Patrick Mahomes. Kelce should remain a big factor on third downs and in the red zone for Kansas City, but he's no longer one of fantasy's top tight ends.
Collins has been in top form at practice ahead of the 2026 campaign, John Harris of the Texans' official website reports.
Collins took a bit of a step back in 2025, catching 71 of a career-high 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six scores over 15 regular-season contests. On the surface, it certainly appears to have been another impressive campaign, which it was, but his 4.7 receptions per game, 74.5 yards per contest and six scores were the wide receiver's lowest figures since 2022. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had a down year in 2025, and if he can get back on track this season, Collins could reap the benefits most substantially. The wideout made a series of impressive plays at practice Tuesday, connecting with Stroud on a handful of occasions. Collins is still considered to be a fantasy WR1 option in 2026, and he appears to be on track to hit the ground running Week 1 against Buffalo.
Jefferson and newly named starting quarterback Kyler Murray have been starting to click at practice, Will Ragatz of Bring Me The Sports reports.
Jefferson will be working with a new starting quarterback for the fourth season in a row after Minnesota named offseason addition Kyler Murray as their starter Tuesday. The two players connected on a handful of big plays at practice Wednesday, including a gain of roughly 35 yards on a deep post. Jefferson is coming off a down year during which he caught 84 of 141 targets for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were career lows, over 17 regular-season contests while working with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer at quarterback. Now with the expectation of more stability with Murray under center, the 27-year-old superstar wide receiver is looking to get back on track. Murray also seems to understand the most important aspect of quarterbacking the Vikings: get Jefferson the ball as often as possible.
St. Brown is the top option in a wide receiver room that Lions' head coach Dan Campbell described as the "best it's ever been" in camp since Campbell's arrival in 2021, Dharya Sharma of Athlon Sports reports.
St. Brown is entering his sixth season in Detroit, and he just notched his fourth straight campaign with over 1,100 receiving yards. The 26-year-old caught 117 of a career-high 172 targets for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns over 17 regular-season contests in 2025. Jameson Williams has come into his own has a prolific big-play threat, opening the field up for St. Brown in the middle of the field. Additionally, Detroit has high hopes for second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa and free-agent addition Greg Dortch this season. Having an impressive group of wide receivers around St. Brown could prove to benefit the 26-year-old, allowing him to see higher quality targets in Year 1 under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Smith-Njigba is always willing to be coached up in an attempt to be a better player, Anthony Moeglin of Roundtable Sports reports.
Smith-Njigba is coming off of a 2025 campaign during which he caught 119 on 162 targets for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns over 17 regular-season games, ultimately being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. That hasn't stopped him from challenging himself, though. "He's the only No. 1 wideout I've been around where you can challenge him, and he's not taking it personally... he wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged," said Seahawks wide receiver coach Frisman Jackson. It's hard to imagine that Smith-Njigba has another level to his game, but with Seattle's former top running back Kenneth Walker leaving for Kansas City in free agency, the team may have to lean on the passing game at times in 2026, potentially leading to even more opportunities for Sam Darnold to connect with his star wide receiver in the passing game.
Pollard found paydirt at the Titans' joint practice with the 49ers on Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website reports.
Pollard was able to reel in a touchdown through the air from Cam Ward during the team's red-zone period against San Francisco. The running back is set to face some added competition in the backfield this season after Tennessee selected Nicholas Singleton in the fifth round of this year's draft, while Tyjae Spears (undisclosed) is looking to put together his first healthy campaign since his rookie year in 2023. Pollard has been a bit of an iron man in his NFL career, missing just a handful of regular-season contests over the last five years, but the 29-year-old has seen his receiving production drop in each of the last three campaigns, and he could find himself on the sidelines more often in passing situations this season.
Hubbard appears likely to operate in a committee with third-year pro Jonathon Brooks in the Panthers' backfield this season, Ben Cooper of Roundtable Sports reports.
Hubbard slotted in behind Rico Dowdle at running back with Carolina in 2025, notching just 511 rushing yards and one touchdown, the latter of which was a career low, over 134 carries in 15 regular-season contests. With Dowdle heading to Pittsburgh via free agency this offseason, Hubbard seemed likely to return to being the Panthers' RB1 in 2026, but he may not run away with the job. Jonathon Brooks is entering his third season in the league, but he has missed all but three contests during his first two campaigns while recovering from a pair of ACL injuries. Brooks was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and Hubbard is expected to split reps with the 23-year-old this season, likely ceding the majority of snaps to the youngster in clear passing situations. Hubbard has the more proven track record, but he'll have to prove that his disappointing 2025 campaign was just an anomaly, or he'll likely have a limited ceiling from a fantasy perspective again this season.
The Panthers signed Waller (groin) to a one-year contract Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Waller came out of a one-year retirement last summer to join the Dolphins and appeared in nine regular-season games with Miami, registering 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns as a red-zone weapon. Injuries have been Waller's downfall in recent years, and he missed considerable time last season with hip, pectoral and groin issues. His addition is bad news for all three of Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans, who were all expected to see considerable playing time in a three-man committee at the position for the Panthers. Waller's main contributions figure to come on third downs and in the scoring area, assuming he makes the 53-man roster out of camp.
Price (lower body) participated in Wednesday's walkthrough, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.
Price sat out last Friday's practice due to lower-body soreness but progressed to running on a side field Tuesday before Wednesday's development. The Seahawks posted their first unofficial depth chart of training camp this week, and Price was listed as the No. 2 RB behind George Holani and ahead of Emanuel Wilson. Price's status as a 2026 first-round pick indicates he'll be a part of game plans from the start of his NFL career, but he also seems likely to be in some sort of timeshare with Holani and even Wilson. First, though, Price will focus on getting healthy.
Johnson was listed as the No. 3 RB on the Chiefs' unofficial depth chart ahead of the team's preseason opener, Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star reports.
While preseason depth charts can often be taken with a grain of salt, slotting behind starter Kenneth Walker does remain up for grabs, with Emari Demercado (listed second) and Brashard Smith (listed fourth) also in the mix. With that in mind, GM Brett Veach noted that "Smith, who was here last year...adds value as a dynamic speed element and his return game as a punt kick returner," while "Demercado is a veteran guy that has always been good in the pass protection game, and he's a reliable receiver." In reference to Johnson, who the team took in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Veach said, "He has more of a total skillset. He's just young. So I think once he figures out how to consistently throw his hat and hands in there on a consistent basis, I think we all know what he can do running the ball, and he's a really good route runner, too." With all that in mind, it's plausible that Demercado opens the season in a change-of-pace role, with Johnson perhaps next in line for early-down work if Walker misses time, while Smith provides both backfield depth and special-teams utility.
Deshaun Watson will get the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, while Sanders will draw the start in the team's Aug. 22 contest against the Bills.
Per coach Todd Monken, each quarterback will likely play a half during the team's first preseason game, as he wants to have both Watson and Sanders experience a two-minute situation Saturday. For now, Watson and Sanders -- who are listed as co-starters on the team's unofficial depth chart -- continue to share first-team practice reps, with Monken having yet to outline a timetable for selecting his Week 1 starter.
Watson will start Saturday's preseason game at Chicago, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Coach Todd Monken relayed Wednesday that whoever starts Cleveland's preseason opener between Watson and Shedeur Sanders will play the first half, with the other entering the contest afterward. Then, the order will switch for the team's second exhibition Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Bills. Watson and Sanders have been alternating days working with the first-team offense in most practices during training camp, but Watson will get the first chance in a game to stake a claim to the No. 1 gig.
Blue is listed as the No. 2 RB behind Javonte Williams on the Cowboys' unofficial depth chart ahead of the team's preseason opener, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Per Watkins, both Blue and Phil Mafah -- who is listed third by the team -- have looked good at training camp thus far, while Malik Davis slots in behind the aforementioned top three. While noting the unofficial nature of the team's current backfield listing, Blue is still a player to monitor on the fantasy radar should he indeed head into the regular season as Williams' top understudy.
Nacua, who left Tuesday's practice with a groin injury, could be sidelined for "a few days," Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Nacua's issue was initially described as minor groin soreness, and Schefter's report supports the notion that the star wideout's injury isn't a long-term concern. With that in mind, it seems likely that the Rams will play it safe and Nacua won't suit up for Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs.
Nix isn't in line to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons, James Palmer of The Athletic reports.
Per Palmer, the Broncos' franchise QB is, however, on track to see action Aug. 21 against the Packers, as well as in the team's Aug. 28 preseason finale, per coach Sean Payton, who noted that the signal-caller has practiced fully since the start of training camp and has taken the same number of snaps as he did during last year's camp, Jeff Legwold of ESPN reports. With Nix slated to sit versus Atlanta, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com relays that Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger are each in line to play a half on Friday.
Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that Nabers (knee) may mix into team drills as early as next week, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
On a day in which Nabers didn't do much at practice, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Harbaugh quelled any fears of a setback with his comments afterward. Nabers has missed just one practice so far in training camp, mostly being contained to individual drills and work on the side as he closes in on completing his recovery from the ACL and meniscus tears that he suffered in his right knee Week 4 of last season. Assuming he fares well once he rejoins team drills, he'd put himself in a good position to be available Week 1 versus the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Dobbins, who was forced out of Monday's practice with a soft-tissue injury, was present for Wednesday's practice, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Dobbins went through individual drills during Tuesday's session, and his continued presence on the field a day later is a good sign ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons. That said, we'd be surprised to see the running back get any reps in that contest given his recent injury, and if he ends up being held out, his next chance to see game action will occur Aug. 21 against Green Bay.
Stroud is among the Texans' starters not expected to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Per Alexander, Thursday's contest is likely to feature rookies and journeyman players trying to make the Texans' 53-man roster rather than established starters. In that scenario, Stroud's next chance to see preseason action will occur Aug. 20 against the Raiders. Davis Mills and Graham Mertz are available to handle QB reps against Los Angeles on Thursday.
Nabers (knee) remained limited to individual drills at Wednesday's practice, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Nabers logged less work than normal Wednesday, working on the side before heading indoors with a member of the Giants' medical staff about one hour into the session. With New York's preseason opener coming up Saturday versus the Vikings, Nabers' decreased workload may have been tied to the team installing the game plan for that contest. In any case, Nabers has missed only one practice to date in training camp and seems as if he has a chance to be active Week 1 against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that McMillan got "bigger and stronger" in the offseason, which has been apparent on the practice field in training camp, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.
In particular, McMillan put a double move on CB Mike Jackson at Wednesday's practice, creating more separation than he would have previously after beating Jackson off the line before gathering in a touchdown from QB Bryce Young. "At the line of scrimmage, [McMillan] just hasn't really had an issue this camp," Canales added. "Getting off the line, I think that he's really translating all the work he did in the offseason." McMillan again is expected to serve as the top pass catcher in the Panthers offense this season after a 2025 rookie campaign in which he posted a 70-1,014-7 line on 122 targets in 17 regular-season games.
Egbuka suffered a sprained toe during Wednesday's practice, and testing will determine the severity of the injury, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Egbuka limped off the practice field Wednesday after getting rolled up on by a teammate, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the issue is considered to be minor. Upcoming imaging could change that tune, but Egbuka now seems destined to miss Friday's preseason game at the Jets along with QB Baker Mayfield, who is healthy but won't play in that contest.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Rice is unlikely to face NFL discipline for his probation violation this spring, Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports reports.
The report notes that Rice's return from arthroscopic knee surgery is a bigger concern for the Chiefs right now, with the wideout perhaps not yet in game shape after being eased into drills in training camp. He probably won't play much this preseason, if at all, but Rice still has a month to get ready for a starting role in Week 1 against Denver.
Egbuka left Wednesday's practice due to a toe injury that's considered minor, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Egbuka limped off the field to be evaluated by trainers before watching the rest of the practice from the sideline without cleats. The Bucs are planning to rest key players for Friday's preseason game versus the Jets, so Egbuka's next chance to put on his pads will be early next week at practice.
Lamb recently told reporters that he and QB Dak Prescott are "hitting on all cylinders" at training camp, Tommy Yarish of DallasCowboys.com reports.
Lamb said his goals for 2026 are to win, stay healthy and dominate. "Whatever the numbers look like, that's cool," he said. Lamb's fantasy production was disappointing last year, but only due to a lack of touchdowns (three) and a prolonged stretch of missed time (three full games, plus nearly all of another). He finished with career highs for yards per catch (14.4) and aDOT (11.8) while posting his second-best mark for yards per route run (2.27). Lamb was efficient pretty much everywhere besides the red zone, where his 17 targets (t-8th among WRs) yielded eight catches for 57 yards and two TDs. He's been healthy throughout the offseason and training camp, with no reports of any missed time or limitations.
Penix (knee) still hasn't been cleared for 11-on-11s and won't be available for Friday's preseason opener against Denver, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Limited to 7-on-7s at training camp, Penix may or may not play this preseason, but he at least figures to increase his practice involvement soon. Tua Tagovailoa will start Friday's exhibition and remain a strong favorite for the Week 1 nod, but Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated Wednesday that he isn't ready to name his Week 1 starter yet.
Tagovailoa will start Friday's preseason opener against Denver, but coach Kevin Stefanski isn't ready to name the Week 1 starter, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Stefanski said Wednesday that the starters will stay in Friday's game for about 10 snaps or one series. For now, Tagovailoa is the starter by default with Michael Penix (knee) not yet cleared for contact or full-team drills. Stefanski is leaving the door open for Penix to earn the starting job, but that seems more likely to happen in-season than ahead of Week 1.
Panthers coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Brooks will mix in with Chuba Hubbard during Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Hubbard likely will get the start after both running backs (and numerous other players) were held out of the Hall of Fame Game last week. While Hubbard remains a clear favorite for the Week 1 start, Brooks is on track for a significant role that could include a steady mix of carries and targets. The preseason usage won't necessarily reveal much about the Week 1 plan, but it's still one of the more interesting situations to monitor for fantasy purposes this summer.
After leaving Wednesday's practice with an apparent lower-body injury, Egbuka stuck around on the sideline to watch the rest of the session, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Egbuka limped off the field Wednesday morning and met with trainers on the sideline. He didn't return to practice, but it's a good sign that he remained on the sideline rather than being taken back to the training room. Healthy or not, Egbuka isn't expected to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Jets. Tampa Bay will then resume practicing Sunday or Monday.
Egbuka limped off the field with trainers at Wednesday's practice, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Egbuka was "rolled up on" by a teammate and stayed down on the field briefly before limping off under his own power. He was then brought to a trainer's table on the sideline to be examined. Afterwards, Egbuka stuck around on the sideline to watch the rest of practice -- a good sign that the training staff doesn't think his injury is serious.
Shough and most of the Saints' other starters are unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Jacksonville, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Saints coach Kellen Moore said Thursday's joint practice with the Jaguars will be where Shough and other key players get their chance to square off with opponents. Moore did leave the door open for borderline starters to suit up, but it sounds like Shough, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, etc. will all be held out.
Wilson has been the No. 3 wideout with Pittsburgh's first-team offense throughout most of training camp, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.
The 2024 third-round pick has just 12 catches on 258 career snaps, but he's apparently making a strong case to stay ahead of rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard on the depth chart. With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman locked in as the top two wide receivers, Wilson probably won't see many targets even if he has a steady role in three-wide sets.
Holani has been a standout at training camp and is listed as a starter on the initial preseason depth chart, SI.com's Randy Gurzi reports.
With Zach Charbonnet (knee) unavailable, Holani and rookie Jadarian Price have taken most of the first-team reps at training camp. Holani is listed as the starter, but he could still end up seeing most of his playing time on passing downs while Price gets mot of the carries early in the year. Until there's a clearer picture, both Price and Holani should be rostered in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
Bateman is absent from practice Wednesday for a second straight day, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.
No injury has been reported, so it is possible that Bateman's absence is related to a personal matter. With Baltimore's preseason opener coming up this Saturday against Philadelphia, the coaching staff may soon have an update on Bateman's status.
Ferguson was a standout performer during the Rams' joint practice with the Cowboys on Tuesday, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Star wideout Puka Nacua (groin) made an early exit from practice; that opened up extra targets for others, and Ferguson looks to have been one of the main beneficiaries. According to play-by-play notes provided by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ferguson notched at least four receptions, two of which went for big gains. Ferguson had an excellent pass-catching profile coming out of Oregon, and he averaged an impressive 21.0 yards per reception on 11 catches as a rookie second-round pick in 2025. Though the Rams maintain a crowded tight-end room heading into 2026, Ferguson should still see his role grow in Year 2 while head coach Sean McVay frequently favors two- or three-tight-end sets.
The Giants list Skattebo as a co-starter at running back with Tyrone Tracy on their first unofficial depth chart of season that was posted Wednesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Though he worked ahead of Tracy last season before his rookie campaign came to an end when he dislocated his ankle Week 8, Skattebo hasn't yet been anointed as the Giants' No. 1 back heading into 2026. Skattebo was cleared for the start of training camp but has had his workload managed coming off the major injury. The 24-year-old should see his reps increase as camp and the preseason rolls along, and assuming he's able to steer clear of any health-related setbacks, the expectation remains that he'll receive the starting nod out of the backfield Week 1 versus the Cowboys.
Head coach Jeff Hafley said he's planning on having Willis play in the Dolphins' preseason opener Friday versus the Commanders, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Hafley could reverse course and hold Willis out Friday if the signal-caller gets sufficient reps and looks good during Wednesday's joint practice with the Commanders, but as a first-year starter on a new team, it probably wouldn't hurt the 27-year-old to get in some more snaps in the preseason opener. Because Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme includes many concepts similar to the ones Willis learned under Packers head coach and playcaller Matt LaFleur, the quarterback has seemingly had a comfortable transition to Miami and has been building chemistry with his receiving corps through the first two weeks of camp, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The upcoming joint practice will be the first major test Willis has faced this summer, as he's generally received positive reviews during camp practices while matching up against a beleaguered Dolphins defense.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that Sieler is being viewed as week-to-week due to an unspecified injury, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Sieler will sit out the Dolphins' joint practice and preseason opener versus the Commanders this week while he recovers from the injury, but Hafley didn't indicate that the standout defensive tackle is at serious risk of missing the Week 1 matchup with the Raiders on Sept. 13. After two straight 10-sack seasons, Sieler saw his production dip in 2025, as he recorded 5.5 sacks to go along with 47 tackles while playing the full 17-game slate.
McGowan churned out a "handful of big gains" on the ground during the Colts' joint practice session with the Patriots on Tuesday, Joel Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Erickson notes that the New England defense stymied both Jonathan Taylor and McGowan throughout the first half of practice, but the Colts' ground game was more effective when the session shifted to the red-zone portion after a special-teams period. McGowan, a seventh-round rookie out of Kentucky, has been serving as the Colts' No. 2 back behind Taylor for most of camp while DJ Giddens has been sidelined by a hamstring injury and has drawn positive reviews for his physical running style. McGowan could still have the early edge for the top backup role even if Giddens is able to get back on the field in the near future, though the performance of both players over one more joint practice and three preseason games will carry the most weight when it comes to depth-chart slotting.
Teammate Kyren Williams said last week that Corum looks "a lot leaner" and "more explosive" headed into his third season, Nate Atkins of The Athletic reports.
Corum's workout videos from the offseason went viral on social media, as he was shown doing speed and agility drills barefoot in the gym with his trainer. He made it a point to work on fast-twitch movements to add explosion in 2026. After averaging a robust 5.1 yards per carry on 145 rushing attempts last regular season, Corum is expected to remain a big factor in the Rams' backfield alongside Williams. In Los Angeles' high-powered offense, Corum is a popular RB3 fantasy pick with big upside after compiling 746 rushing yards and six touchdowns while playing second fiddle to Williams in 2025. If Williams were to go down with an injury, Corum would be an immediate plug-and-play RB1.
Stevenson has shined in red-zone drills and as a receiver at training camp, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports.
Stevenson was a standout in Tuesday's joint practice with the Colts, skying over a defender for a touchdown catch in the end zone, while making "multiple nice plays" throughout the day, per Daniels. While TreVeyon Henderson is the shiny 2025 early-round pick, Stevenson has been the steady presence atop the depth chart this summer after he averaged a strong 4.6 yards per carry across 14 regular-season appearances last season. Stevenson also played 70 percent of the offensive snaps to Henderson's 32 percent during New England's playoff run. Stevenson is still being drafted after Henderson in fantasy and looks like one of the better value picks in the middle rounds, especially after he had a career year as a receiver in 2025, averaging 10.8 yards on 32 catches during the regular season.
Swift has been one of the brightest stars of training camp for the Bears, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Swift broke off a 62-yard touchdown in Tuesday's practice and also trucked a defender on a run to the outside. "I'm excited for him," Caleb Williams said Tuesday. "Selfishly, he helps everybody on that field when he can go and be the special back that he is, whether it's passing or short yardage and running downhill. I'm excited for him, I think he's going to have a great year." Swift rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns on 223 carries (4.9 YPC) across 16 regular-season games last season and should head into 2026 as the clear lead back in Chicago ahead of Kyle Monangai. The scoring upside of the Chicago offense has Swift on the fantasy RB2 map.
Atwell is listed with the second-team offense on the Dolphins' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Fellow wide receivers Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and rookie third-round pick Caleb Douglas composed the first team, while rookie fifth-rounder Kevin Coleman (undisclosed) and Jalen Reagor joined Atwell on the second unit. Depth charts at this time of year need to be taken with a grain of salt, but considering Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reported last week that Washington, Tolbert and Atwell had separated themselves as the top three WRs through the first week of camp, Douglas' ability to rise above Atwell is notable. In the end, how Atwell and Douglas fare in the preseason will determine who begins the campaign with more reps in three-wide sets.
Montgomery caught an 80-yard touchdown on a wheel route in Tuesday's practice, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
It was the biggest play of training camp to date, according to Bien-Aime, and it's further proof that the Texans are serious about getting Montgomery involved in the passing game after he was used more as the thunder to Jahmyr Gibbs' lightning in Detroit the previous couple seasons. Despite losing those chances to Gibbs with the Lions, Montgomery has shown in the past that he's more than capable of making plays as a receiver. He caught 54 passes in 2020 with the Bears and secured 36 of 38 targets for 341 yards in 2024. While Woody Marks will have a role, Montgomery is expected to open the season as the clear RB1 in Houston.
Douglas is listed as a starting wide receiver on the Dolphins' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Douglas joined fellow WRs Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert on the listed first-team offense, while Tutu Atwell, Kevin Coleman and Jalen Reagor composed the second team. Douglas was selected in the third round of this year's draft, 75th overall, ahead of position mates Chris Bell (third round, 94th overall) and Coleman (fifth round, 177th overall). Both Bell (knee, active/non-football injury list) and Coleman (undisclosed) have missed time in training camp, perhaps aiding Douglas' rise, but it's somewhat surprising to see the latter ahead of the veteran Atwell. Douglas will aim to put good tape together during the preseason slate to solidify his case further.
Coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that the game is starting to slow down for Henderson as he enters his second season, Taylor Kyles of CLNSMedia.com reports.
Henderson has remained hit-or-miss in pass protection during training camp, but he continues to make plays in the passing game and break off long runs as a rusher. The problem for Henderson is Rhamondre Stevenson has done nothing to lose his spot atop the depth chart as the Patriots' RB1 after averaging 4.6 yards per carry across 14 regular-season games last season. Henderson played just 31.4 percent of the offensive snaps during New England's playoff run last season and figures to open 2026 as a low-volume, big-play threat. If Stevenson starts off slow or gets injured, Henderson has the talent to flip the backfield roles. Henderson is shaping up as an upside fantasy pick who is currently being drafted ahead of Stevenson.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that Barkley has been advocating for more plays to be run under center.
Barkley's most productive season on the ground came in his first with the Eagles in 2024, when he turned 345 carries into 2,005 yards (5.8 YPC) and 13 touchdowns across 16 regular-season games. However, he saw his output dip significantly last year, when he averaged 4.1 yards per carry for 1,140 yards and seven scores in 16 regular-season contests. Fowler notes that Barkley's desire to see more run plays called under center allows the veteran running back to survey the defense more clearly to set up big gains. He logged only seven runs of 20-plus yards and three runs of 40-plus yards last year, compared to 17 runs of 20-plus yards and seven runs of 40-plus yards in 2024.
Henry is expected to get his normal workload this season but will also be more involved in the passing game, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Henry has logged 280-plus carries in six of his last seven seasons, with the exception being in 2021 with the Titans, when was limited to 219 carries and eight regular-season games due to a foot injury. He's seen the highest usage among running backs the last few years, and that trend doesn't look like it's going to change in 2026 under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, the latter of whom was the OC with the Bears' last season and helped Chicago finish as the third-ranked rushing attack. The play calling for Henry may look different, with the veteran running back seeing more designed runs to the perimeter so far in training camp, and he's also expected to see more work in the passing attack. Henry is the unquestioned bell cow for the Ravens, forming a lethal one-two punch with Lamar Jackson while Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali and rookie fifth-rounder Adam Randall providing backfield depth.
Price (lower body) returned to a limited practice Tuesday, Corbin K. Smith of SI.com reports.
Price has missed the last handful of days with a lower-body soreness but progressed to running on a side field Tuesday. He appears to be nearing a return to team drills. With Price and Zach Charbonnet (knee) missing practice, George Holani and Emanuel Wilson have been getting additional reps with the first-team offense.
Nacua exited Tuesday's practice with minor groin soreness, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Rams are "just being cautious" with their star receiver, according to Rapoport, after he left the field with the training staff during Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys. It sounds like Nacua has avoided anything serious, and there's been no indication his availability for Week 1 of the regular season is in jeopardy.
Bernard will have the opportunity to work in an expanded role in Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers due to injuries to both Michael Pittman (right leg) and DK Metcalf (undisclosed), Jacob Punturi of SI.com reports.
The Steelers released their initial depth chart Aug. 5, which had Roman Wilson pencilled in as the WR3 alongside Pittman and Metcalf while Bernard was listed as the No. 4 wideout. Bernard, a second-round selection of the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been battling against Wilson for a spot on the first-team offense, and Thursday's preseason game will be stage in which both wideouts audition for a starting spot for the upcoming regular season, especially if both Pittman and Metcalf are sidelined against Green Bay.
The Dolphins listed Wright as the No. 2 running back on the team's first unofficial depth chart that was released Tuesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Depth charts released in training camp are fluid and subject to change as the weeks progress, but it looks like Wright is ahead of 2025 sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon for the Dolphins' RB2 role behind De'Von Achane, with Donovan Edwards and Carlos Washington both fighting for a roster spot. Wright missed the first six games of the 2025 regular season due to a knee injury, but he had his moments when he was healthy, such as Week 14 against the Jets when he turned 24 carries into 107 yards and a touchdown. Friday's preseason opener against the Commanders is Wright's first in-game opportunity to separate himself from Gordon and the rest of the competition for the backup job.
Williams is making a case for a bigger role in the Jets offense with his performance in training camp, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Cimini specifically noted that Williams may jump past 2026 first-round wide receiver Omar Cooper, the latter of whom has dealt with "little pitfalls. That's part of being a rookie," per receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. At the outset of camp, Williams was believed to be a return specialist and the No. 4 WR behind Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and Cooper. However, Williams appears to be trending toward a reality in which he could play over Cooper in three-wide sets once the regular season arrives. In 15 regular-season games with the Jets last year, Williams hauled in 25 of 35 targets for 182 yards and no touchdowns, while racking up 837 yards on kick returns and 396 yards and two TDs on punt returns.
Wiggins suffered no structural damage in his left leg after he was carted off the field during Tuesday's practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Wiggins got tangled up with rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane during a 1-on-1 drill and couldn't put any weight on his left leg in the aftermath of the play. Coach Jesse Minter later told Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com that he thinks "there's optimism" regarding the situation, "but we'll look at it, [and] we'll see where it's at." While Wiggins appears to have avoided a significant concern, a definitive prognosis has yet to emerge for the third-year cornerback, who totaled 76 tackles and three interceptions in 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Deshaun Watson and Sanders are listed as co-starters on the Brown' unofficial depth chart, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Coach Todd Monken has yet to reveal his QB plans for Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, but it's expected that whichever of the two signal callers starts that contest will give way the other one in Cleveland's second exhibition tilt. For the time being, Watson and Sanders continue to share-first team practice reps, with no timetable outlined for a decision on the team's Week 1 starter.
Kamara and Travis Etienne are listed as co-RB1s on the Saints' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
This comes as a bit of a surprise considering Etienne signed a big money deal (four years, $52 million) to join the Saints in the offseason, while Kamara agreed to a reworked contract (one year, $6 million) in mid-July to remain with the only team he's over known. However, Kamara has been taking on more of the passing-down reps during camp, with Etienne handling early downs, and how the running backs are listed on the depth chart indicates both will have regular roles in the offense.
Coleman is listed as a starter on Buffalo's first depth chart of the preseason, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
The Bills list 12 starters, including three WRs, with the other unsurprisingly being DJ Moore and and Khalil Shakir. While it isn't a bad sign to be listed as a starter on the unofficial depth chart, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News believes Joshua Palmer has the upper hand on Coleman in a competition for the No. 3 receiver spot. Palmer reportedly shined Tuesday in one of the final practices before Buffalo's preseason opener (Saturday against Carolina).
Etienne and Alvin Kamara are listed as co-RB1s on the Saints' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
After Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million contract with New Orleans in the offseason, he was expected to take on a larger share of the backfield work over the incumbent Kamara, especially after the latter agreed to a reworked contract (one year, $6 million) to stay with the Saints in mid-July. Having said that, Kamara has handled more of the third-down work in training camp, while Etienne has taken on early downs, but with the team now listing them as co-RB1s, there may be more of an even split between the two than initially thought.
Hunter is listed as a starting cornerback and second-string wide receiver on Jacksonville's initial preseason depth chart, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.
Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports that Hunter has played 96 snaps on defense and 61 on offense in 11-on-11s during the open portions of Jaguars training camp. The team hasn't been shy about the expectation of Hunter taking on a far larger defensive workload this season, but there's still rampant debate in fantasy circles about the nature of Hunter's 2026 usage on offense. It may depend in part on the health of Jacksonville's other wide receivers, namely Parker Washington, Brian Thomas and Jakobi Meyers.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that Mendoza will play in Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona and may even get a few snaps with the starting offensive line, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
It sounds like Kirk Cousins will make the start, but Mendoza could enter the game fairly early on, and he's expected to play a lot this preseason (if not necessarily Thursday night). Kubiak hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but Cousins has been treated as the starter throughout training camp by all accounts.
Coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that the Raiders' starters -- a group that would include Jeanty -- are in line to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
It remains to be seen how much work Jeanty is in store for versus Arizona, but once he gets his reps, his backups will presumably see plenty of action. As the coming campaign approaches, Jeanty is positioned for a high-volume role in the Las Vegas offense that could include more working in the passing game, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Currently in line for slotting behind Jeanty in the Raiders' backfield are Mike Washington, Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale and Roman Hemby.
Richardson will start Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Per Boyd, Richardson will start off the first half of the contest, while fellow QB Riley Leonard will start the second half. Then in the team's second preseason tilt, Aug. 22 against the Falcons, that arrangement will be reversed. The two signal callers remain in contention to serve as Daniel Jones' top backup this coming season, and will have their chance to make their cases for slotting on that front in the coming weeks, with Jones not slated to play in the preseason.
Willis has shown increased comfort with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's concepts during the first two weeks of training camp and has been stacking up positive performances during practices, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
After joining the Dolphins in March on a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March, the fifth-year quarterback will be heading into his first season as a full-time NFL starter. Furones relays that Willis has limited mistakes and has been able to build chemistry with a mostly unproven Dolphins receiving corps during OTAs, minicamp and now training camp, but the 27-year-old will get his first real test this week. He's set to receive extended reps against the Commanders defense in a joint practice Wednesday, and he could be in line to play a few drives in the preseason opener versus Washington two days later.
Coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that Burden (groin) is going to "hopefully" be ready by the start of the season, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Burden is already expected to sit out all three of the Bears' preseason games, but the hope is that the wideout will be available for the team's Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Panthers. In any case, based on the wording of Johnson's comments Tuesday, Burden isn't necessarily a lock to be ready for Week 1 action and his status will thus need to be monitored closely until then.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Bosa has missed recent practices due to soreness/tendinitis in his right knee, and the pass rusher is considered week-to-week, Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bosa avoided the active/PUP list at the start of training camp, but his recovery from the torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee Week 3 of last season is ongoing. He's made three or fewer appearances in two of his pro campaigns, but in the other five when he played between 14 and 17 regular-season contests, he racked up at least 9.0 sacks in each of them while topping out at 18.5 in 2022.
Bryant (knee) had surgery Friday and will be out for 4-6 months, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Chicago's prized offseason signing on defense now seems more likely than not to miss the entire regular season. The Bears reportedly have some hope that Bryant can return for the very end of the season or the playoffs, but it's not something the team can count on as they prepare for the campaign ahead. With Bryant unavailable, Xavier Woods and Cam Lewis (leg) are the top candidates to step up at safety alongside first-round pick Dillon Thieneman.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that Mayfield will be rested for the preseason opener Friday versus the Jets, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Bowles indicated that the Bucs' had been planning for backup Jake Browning to direct the first-team offense Friday, but Browning's status is now in flux after he appeared to suffer a back injury during Tuesday's session. Mayfield didn't see any action during the 2025 preseason, and the Buccaneers could opt to take a similar approach with the veteran signal-caller in 2026 and hold him out for their final two exhibitions. The 31-year-old is heading into his fourth season with Tampa Bay on an expiring contract and will be aiming for a bounce-back campaign after noticing a steep decline in his passing efficiency and touchdown total between 2024 and 2025.
Ward and other starters are scheduled to play in Thursday's preseason opener against San Francisco, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.
The combination of a young QB and a new coaching staff could lead to more playing time than usual this preseason. Still, there's no guarantee of Ward playing more than a series or two Thursday night.
Evans (quadriceps) took part primarily in individual drills at Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
After a week away from the practice field due to a minor quad strain, Evans was back in action, albeit in a limited capacity. Easing him back in isn't a surprise considering the cautious approach the 49ers have taken with Evans' injury. Even if he doesn't suit up for Thursday's preseason contest against the Titans, he still has one month to get healthy for the team's Week 1 matchup with the Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Tuesday that Lawrence and the team's other established starters will sit out Saturday's preseason opener versus the Saints, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.
Though he'll be held out Saturday, Lawrence is still expected to receive extended reps against the Saints when the two teams link up for a joint practice Thursday, per John Shipley of SI.com. Shipley relays that the Jaguars are also planning on Lawrence taking limited snaps, if any, in their final two exhibition contests, a departure from how he's been utilized in his prior five preseasons. Lawrence doesn't believe a lack of preseason reps will affect his preparation heading into Week 1, especially now that he already has a year under his belt in Coen's offensive system. The 26-year-old had the best fantasy season of his career in 2025, setting personal bests in touchdown passes (29), rushing yards (359) and rushing touchdowns (nine).
Coach Sean McVay said Nacua left Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys early and doesn't have an update on the wide receiver's status, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.
Nacua exited the practice field with the Rams' training staff, indicating that the standout wide receiver is dealing with some sort of health concern. Its nature isn't known, but the team likely will reveal what he's dealing with in the near future.
Coach Sean McVay said after Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys that Garrett didn't take part due to swelling in his knee, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.
Garrett missed some time early in training camp due to what McVay called at the time "soreness in his lower half," per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. Now, the location of the injury has become known, and McVay added Tuesday that Garrett is "85 percent," which is the reason for the cautious approach with the pass rusher to date. Garrett still has one month to get back to full health for the Rams' Week 1 matchup with the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Wiggins was carted off the field during Tuesday's practice after suffering a left leg injury, Jamison Hensley of ESPN reports.
Per the report, the Ravens' top cornerback couldn't put any weight on his left leg when heading into the team facility, which suggests he'll miss some time. For his part, coach Jesse Minter declined afterward to provide a timetable on when Wiggins might return to the field or specify his injury. "I think there's optimism," Minter noted. "But we'll look at it [and] we'll see where it's at."
Bhayshul Tuten and Rodriguez are listed as co-starters on the Jaguars' initial unofficial depth chart, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.
While preseason depth charts posted by NFL teams are indeed unofficial, the 'Tuten or Rodriguez' listing isn't unexpected, as the Jaguars seem to be trending toward employing a committee approach, possibly resulting in Tuten and Rodriguez forming a 1A/1B combo, with LeQuint Allen mixing in on third downs, to fill the void created by the offseason departure of Travis Etienne. In that context, Rodriguez could see enough touches out of the gate this season alongside Tuten to merit fantasy lineup consideration in deeper formats.
Tuten and Chris Rodriguez are listed as co-starters on the Jaguars' initial unofficial depth chart, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.
Preseason depth charts can often be taken with a grain of salt, but in this case the 'Tuten or Rodriguez' listing aligns with the notion that the Jaguars will employ a committee approach -- possibly resulting in Tuten and Rodriguez forming a 1A/1B combo -- to fill the void created by the offseason departure of last year's leading rusher Travis Etienne. Also in the mix for Jacksonville's backfield touches in that context is LeQuint Allen, who could factor in on third downs. In any case, regardless of how the team's carries/targets are distributed come Week 1, Tuten's share figures to be enough to merit fantasy lineup consideration out of the gate this season.
Pittman (right leg) didn't practice Tuesday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
The same applies to fellow WR DK Metcalf (undisclosed), according to QB Aaron Rodgers. As a result, there's a decent chance that both Pittman and Metcalf are held out of Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers, but there's been nothing so far to suggest that either player is managing anything too concerning.
Dobbins, who left practice early Monday with soft-tissue injury, went through individual drills during Tuesday's session, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Dobbins' quick return to work after leaving Monday's practice with a trainer signals that his issue was minor, though it remains to be seen if he'll see action in Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons. As the coming campaign approaches, Dobbins is slated to reprise his key role in a Denver backfield that also includes 2025 second-rounder RJ Harvey and rookie fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman. The key for Dobbins in terms of his fantasy utlity is staying healthy, giving his injury history. Moreover, Harvey will no doubt see his share of touches, with Coleman also a candidate to mix in, even if Dobbins heads into Week 1 as the team's de facto starter.
Love is slated to suit up for Thursday's preseason game in Las Vegas, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
While quarterback and rookie third-round pick Carson Beck logged more than one half of last Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Panthers, Love was kept on the sideline with the rest of the Cardinals' starters. Considering Love was the third overall pick in this year's draft, it comes as no surprise, but coach Mike LaFleur relayed Tuesday that the first-team offense will play one or two drives Thursday. As such, Love is poised to make his pro debut this week.
Coach Mike LaFleur said Tuesday that Brissett and the rest of the Cardinals' starters will play one or two possessions during Thursday's preseason game at Las Vegas, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
LaFleur held out Arizona's starters in last Thursday's Hall of Fame Game versus the Panthers, but Brissett and the rest of the first-team offense are slated to get some run this week. Brissett thus likely will be throwing passes to the Cardinals' top skill-position talents, including rookie first-round RB Jeremiyah Love, WRs Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson and TE Trey McBride.
McCaffrey (undisclosed) isn't participating in Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
McCaffrey was held out of drills Monday due to what the 49ers termed "tightness," and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak later touched on the subject, stating the team is "just managing" the veteran running back as he deals with some soreness, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. McCaffrey now is one of four San Francisco running backs tending to an injury -- also Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, PUP) -- meaning Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert are the current healthy options at the position.
Coach Jesse Minter noted Tuesday that Jackson and other key starters won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Eagles, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
There's little to gain by putting Jackson in harms way during the preseason, and there's a pretty solid chance he'll be held out of the team's other two exhibition contests as well. Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson (undisclosed) and Joe Fagnano are candidates to handle Baltimore's signal-caller reps this weekend against the Eagles.
When the Brown' unofficial depth chart is posted later Tuesday, the top QB slot will be listed 'Watson or Shedeur Sanders,' Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Meanwhile, Jackson notes that coach Todd Monken doesn't plan to reveal his QB plans for Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears on Tuesday, but it's expected that whichever of the two starts that contest will give way the other in the Browns' second exhibition tilt. The two signal-callers continue to share first-team practice reps, with Monken having yet to outline a timetable for his decision on when a Week 1 starter will be named.
Evans (quadriceps) is in pads and taking part in warmups ahead of Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans has been sidelined since last Monday due to a strained quad, but the 49ers have downplayed the injury all along, and after a week off, he appears poised to mix back in Tuesday. Considering the cautious approach the 49ers have taken with Evans, he may not have received clearance for all drills, and it remains to be seen if he'll be allowed to suit up for Thursday's preseason game versus the Titans.
Metcalf is managing an unspecified injury, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
In addition to Metcalf dealing with an injury, fellow WR Michael Pittman is also banged up, per QB Aaron Rodgers. Until added context arrives regarding the issues affecting Metcalf and Pittman surfaces, consider the Steelers' top WR duo day-to-day ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers.
Coach Aaron Glenn noted Tuesday that the Jets' starters, a group that includes Smith, will play in Friday's preseason opener against the Buccaneers, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.
It remains to be seen how much work Smith will see Friday, but after the veteran QB gets his reps in, Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are candidates to see action against Tampa Bay. As the coming campaign approaches, Smith is slated to lead a New York offense paced by top RB Breece Hall, with WRs Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper, as well as TEs Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) and Mason Taylor on track to be the team's top pass-catching options.
Jones won't play in the preseason, according to Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com.
From all accounts, Jones' recovery from a season-ending torn right Achilles that he suffered in Week 14 last season has gone well, but the Colts are evidently playing it safe with their starting QB, with an eye toward preparing him for Week 1 action. Per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star, Anthony Richardson will start Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots and play the first half, while Riley Leonard will work in the second half, an arrangement that is in line to be reversed in the team's second exhibition tilt against Atlanta.
UCLA football announced Monday that Carr has joined the program as a special adviser to head coach Bob Chesney, Paolo Uggetti of ESPN.com reports.
Carr announced his retirement from professional football in May 2025, but that hasn't deterred NFL teams from contacting him regarding a potential comeback. The 35-year-old quarterback remains on the Saints' reserve/retired list, so unless he's willing to return to New Orleans, he would need to be formally traded or waived before suiting up for another team. For his part, Carr noted during an appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" earlier this summer that he wouldn't completely close the door on a return to the NFL if the right opportunity presented itself, but barring an unforeseen development, the 35-year-old appears poised to sit out a second straight season. His decision to accept the opportunity within the UCLA program would seem to be a further indication that he's not actively planning to resume his playing career.
The Vikings have named McCarthy's teammate Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McCarthy, who the Vikings took in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, missed his entire rookie campaign due to injury and started ten games for the Vikings last year, with the team winning six of them. With Murray now having been named the team's starter ahead of Minnesota's preseason slate, McCarthy is slated to serve as the team's No. 2 signal-caller, with Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer rounding out the team's current depth chart at the position.
The Vikings have named Murray their starting quarterback, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Murray had been competing with fellow signal caller J.J. McCarthy for the assignment, but he'll now be the team's fourth Week 1 starter in the last four years. McCarthy is thus slated to serve as the team's top backup, while Murray will open the coming season helming an offense that includes a talented pass-catching nucleus featuring WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as well as TE T.J. Hockenson.
Waddle, who has been dealing with muscle tightness, didn't participate in practice Tuesday, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Per Stevens, Waddle was present for the session, but the wideout once again didn't work in the team's drills. Waddle remains day-to-day ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons, but given that he hasn't practiced since last Wednesday, it's increasingly likely he'll be sidelined for that contest.
Dobbins (undisclosed) is dressed for Tuesday's practice after making an early exit Monday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Dobbins has a lengthy injury history, but it doesn't sound like this latest incident will be a significant chapter. That said, the Broncos could limit Dobbins at Tuesday's practice, after coach Sean Payton told reporters Monday that the RB had suffered a soft-tissue injury. It's apparently minor, with Dobbins avoiding missed practice time for now.
Golden (toe) returned to practice Tuesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
With Golden and Jayden Reed (ankle) both returning to practice after brief absences, the Packers are mostly healthy at wide receivers. QB Jordan Love is expected to start Thursday's preseason game against the Steelers, but it isn't clear if Golden and Reed will be available after dealing with minor injuries earlier in the week.
Reed (ankle) returned to practice Tuesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
The Packers are banged up at other positions, but with Reed and Matthew Golden (toe) both returning to practice, the team is at least in good shape at wide receivers. It's unclear if Reed or Golden will play in Thursday's preseason game against Pittsburgh; starting QB Jordan Love is expected to play.
Dolphis coach Jeff Hafley said Monday on The Rich Eisen Show that Achane may have games with 40 touches this year, ESPN.com reports.
The number is an exaggerated, but Hafley did make it clear he'll keep Achane busy, joking that "there might be some games when I have to pick him [Achane] up and carry him back to the locker room because he's going to be so tired." Hafley also mentioned telling Achane that he didn't want to see the RB tapping his helmet for a breather, to which Achane responded that he's up to the task. The Dolphins don't seem to buy into any notion of limiting Achane's workload in a likely rebuilding year, though it is possible the tune changes if the season progresses and wins prove elusive or Achane gets banged up.
General manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that while Pierce is without a timeline to return from the PUP list, the wideout has avoided any setbacks following late-March surgery on his left ankle and is making positive strides in his recovery, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports. "It's been like any rehab," Ballard said of Pierce. "There's ups and downs. There's a new normal that they have to get used to. But there's no setback. He's in good shape. He's making great progress. Every player comes back differently, and we feel good about where he's at."
According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Ballard noted that he still anticipates Pierce will be ready to play Week 1 against the Ravens, though the wideout still has some hurdles to clear in the recovery process. Ballard also debunked reports from Monday indicating that Pierce recently required a second platelet-rich plasma injection for his ankle, with the GM relaying that Pierce's only PRP treatment came back in January before he had surgery two months later. Though he's not practicing with the Colts while on the PUP list, Pierce was in attendance for Tuesday's session and was seen taking part in individual work off to the side, per Boyd. After trading away Michael Pittman and rewarding Pierce with a four-year, $114 million contract earlier this offseason, the Colts are counting on the 26-year-old Pierce to take on a heightened role in the aerial attack in 2026 after he had mostly operated as a low-volume vertical threat over his first four seasons in the league.
Chase and other starters are scheduled to play in Thursday's preseason opener against Detroit, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor also said QB Joe Burrow and WR Tee Higgins will play. In the past two preseason openers, Burrow played a total of three drives and ended each with a TD pass, including one to Chase.
Burrow and other starters are scheduled to play in Thursday's preseason opener against Detroit, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
WR Ja'Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins and DT Dexter Lawrence are also expected to play, so it sounds like all healthy starters will get some action. Last year, Burrow played two drives in Cincinnati's preseason opener, completing nine of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. In the 2024 preseason opener, he played a single 12-play drive, also ending with a TD pass.
Judkins is expected to take on a larger role in the passing game this year, according to Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.
The report also notes that "the plan is for Judkins to be a workhorse" under new Browns head coach Todd Monken. A couple of weeks ago, RBs coach Duce Staley said Judkins "can play all three downs" once he has the mental aspect mastered. The Browns still have Dylan Sampson as an option for passing downs and/or to mix in on early downs, but it sounds like Judkins will get the lion's share of touches come Week 1. He's been a full practice participant since OTAs, coming back strong from late-December surgery on a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula.
Flowers (quadriceps) will take part in Tuesday's practice, Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Flowers could be in store for limited reps Tuesday after he exited Saturday's session due to a left quad contusion, but his presence on the field in any capacity suggests the Ravens aren't viewing the injury as a major concern. Earlier this month, the 25-year-old landed a four-year contract extension worth up to $140 million, solidifying his standing as the Ravens' No. 1 wideout both this season and beyond.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday that Jacobs (groin) will be "out for at least this week," Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
Jacobs initially was held out of practice last Thursday, so this essentially confirms that his absence will stretch to at least a week and a half. He won't play in Green Bay's preseason opener this Thursday against Pittsburgh, and it'd be surprising to see Jacobs in the lineup a week later versus Denver. The Packers recently got Chris Brooks (hamstring) back from the NFI list, joining MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon in the backfield. Lloyd is the current favorite for the No. 2 RB role behind Jacobs, who dealt with nagging injuries throughout much of last year.
Pierce (ankle) was present for Tuesday's practice and took part in individual work off to the side under the supervision of a trainer, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard spoke about Pierce's situation Tuesday, noting that the wideout initially attempted to treat his ankle injury with a platelet-rich plasma injection in January before opting for surgery two months later when the PRP shot didn't yield the desired effect. Ballard added that Pierce has suffered no setbacks and required no follow-up procedures or PRP shots following surgery, which typically carries a recovery timeline that ranges from 4-to-6 months. Any concern about Pierce's ankle didn't deter the Colts from signing him to a four-year, $114 million contract in March, but the fifth-year player still looks like he has a few more hurdles to clear before returning dividends on that investment. He currently remains on the PUP list and won't be eligible to participate in practice until he gets activated.
Love is scheduled to play in Thursday's preseason game at Pittsburgh, though Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday that he reserves the right to change his mind, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
If Love does end up playing, history suggests it'll be his lone appearance of the preseason. He may be stuck with a mixed crew of starters and backups, given that RB Josh Jacobs (groin), TE Tucker Kraft (knee), WR Jayden Reed (ankle) and WR Matthew Golden (toe) have all missed time recently.
Downs (groin) is back at practice Tuesday, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
While the extent of Downs' participation is uncertain, a quick return to practice confirms his groin injury isn't serious. He was held out over the weekend and now seems ready to return after missing just a few days. With Alec Pierce (ankle) still unavailable, Downs is the unquestioned No. 1 WR at Indianapolis practices these days.
McMillan (knee) is doing individual drills at Tuesday's practice, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Even if he isn't a full participant, McMillan's relatively quick return to practice seemingly confirms that his knee injury isn't serious. He's been out for about a week but may now be ready for a preseason appearance. McMillan is the favorite for Tampa Bay's No. 3 WR job, behind returning starters Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin. Competition for snaps primarily comes from Tez Johnson and rookie Ted Hurst.
Smith (hamstring) isn't participating in Tuesday's practice, Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal reports.
Though Smith will sit out his fifth consecutive practice, he appears to be making strides in his recovery from a hamstring injury. According to Tim McManus of ESPN.com, Smith was spotted doing some running on the field prior to Tuesday's session, which he hadn't done in advance of any of the previous four practices. The Eagles continue to view the hamstring issue as a short-term concern and appear to be playing it safe with their No. 1 wideout.
Sadiq (hernia) isn't practicing Tuesday, but he's improved enough to jog on the sidelines while observing practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn said last week that Sadiq had suffered a setback in his recovery but that the rookie was still expected to be ready for Week 1. Coming back from hernia surgery this spring, Sadiq has missed much of the offseason program and all of training camp, making it difficult for him to earn a significant Week 1 role. He nonetheless figures to contribute in some fashion this season after the Jets drafted him 16th overall in April. Mason Taylor will continue to draw first-team reps until Sadiq is cleared to practice.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Nix's deep accuracy has been "off the charts" at training camp, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Through two NFL seasons, Nix has mostly provided value via sack avoidance, scrambling and short-area accuracy. His 36.9 percent completion rate on passes 20-plus yards downfield last season ranked near the bottom of the league, but he also dealt with a number of drops on those throws from his receivers. The Broncos think he has another level to unlock, with new wideout Jaylen Waddle being a big part of that plan.
Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael didn't rule out the possibility of Cook having more involvement as a pass catcher in 2026, Alex Brasky of SI.com reports. "Anytime you can get the ball in [Cook's] hands, you have an opportunity for a big play," Carmichael said Monday. "I think he can bring value not only in the run game but the pass game as well."
Between 17 regular-season and two postseason contests in 2025, Cook took on 348 carries, handily surpassing his previous career high of 273 totes over 19 contests in 2023. The running back ended up leading the league in rushing with 1,621 yards, but head coach Joe Brady has already mentioned the possibility of taking some of that workload off the 26-year-old's plate. One way the Bills could limit the pounding Cook takes between the tackles without sacrificing his overall touches would be to increase his involvement in the passing game, where he's averaged 7.1 yards per target during his four-year career. Ty Johnson has carved out a role as a pass-catching specialist the past three seasons, but he exited Monday's practice with a knee issue. Cook may end up taking on more third-down snaps out of necessity if Johnson's injury lingers into the regular season.
Jets receivers coach Shawn Jefferson implied Tuesday that Mitchell is seen as the team's No. 2 wideout heading into the upcoming season, Antwan V. Staley of the New York Daily News reports. "If he continues on this trajectory, he will be a really good Robin to our Batman [Garrett Wilson]," Jefferson said of Mitchell.
The Jets invested the 30th overall pick in April's draft in Omar Cooper, but he looks set to work in the No. 3 role to begin his career. Mitchell was able to make a positive impression late last season after coming over from the Colts, racking up 59 targets while Wilson was sidelined by a knee injury for the final eight games and producing a 25-312-2 line even with shoddy quarterback play. With veteran Geno Smith directing the offense in 2026, Mitchell should see an improvement in efficiency, though a healthy Wilson remains the unquestioned centerpiece of the Jets' passing game.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that he doesn't expect Maye to play in Thursday's preseason opener versus the Colts, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.
While Vrabel noted that his decision on Maye's status is "subject to change," like most teams during the first week of the preseason, the Patriots are expected to prioritize playing time for players who are still competing for roster spots. After a spectacular sophomore campaign in 2025 in which he finished as the runner-up in the MVP balloting and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Maye will have to contend with a tougher schedule in 2026 but will have an improved pass-catching group to work with after New England lost Stefon Diggs but added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
Pierce didn't require a second platelet-rich plasma injection for his surgically repaired left ankle, contrary to what was previously reported, according to Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star.
A league source previously relayed that Pierce required the second shot, but the source recanted and said it had misspoken. Another source confirmed that the wideout hasn't required any follow-up procedures since undergoing surgery in late March. Even so, Pierce has been sidelined for the entirety of the Colts' offseason program and training camp, and head coach Shane Steichen hasn't provided a firm target date for when he might come off the PUP list. Pierce has been one of the NFL's top vertical threats the past two seasons while averaging 20-plus yards per reception in both years, and after signing a lavish four-year, $114 million deal to remain with Indianapolis, the team is counting on him taking on greater target volume in 2026.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded Dart for sliding inbounds at the end of a third-down run during a drill in Monday's practice, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. "I clapped. I applauded. I applauded when he did that. It was great," Harbaugh said.
While Monday marked the first time that Dart had slid following a run throughout the Giants' first 11 practices of camp, the second-year quarterback at least appears to be more open to modifying his reckless running style. Though that approach helped him compile 487 rushing yards and nine scores in 14 games last season, it also played a part in him being checked for concussions on five different occasions. During a fan event back in May, Dart said that on third and fourth downs and near the red zone, he still expects to run through defenders in pursuit of first downs and touchdowns, but he expressed a willingness to slide in less critical situations. The 23-year-old will still carry plenty of health risk so long as running remains a key part of his skill set, but even a slight decline in his exposure to contact will help his odds of staying on the field.
Shough has looked noticeably more comfortable and in command of the offense entering his second season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
After competing with Spencer Rattler for the starting job last summer as a rookie, Shough has the keys to the offense headed into the 2026 regular season after he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards and a 10:6 TD:INT over the second half of last season once he took hold of the job from Rattler. The Saints have since added first-round WR Jordyn Tyson and free-agent pickup Travis Etienne to Shough's arsenal, putting the pieces around him to build on his impressive rookie season. Shough is an upside pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. He's got continuity with coach Kellen Moore and is playing in what should be one of the league's fastest-paced offenses.
Purdy and rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling have been starting to connect more frequently at training camp, Marc Adams of 49ers Webzone reports.
Purdy will be operating without Ricky Pearsall (knee) for the entirety of the 2026 campaign, and veterans Mike Evans (quadriceps) and Christian Kirk (calf) have been sidelined at practice recently. As a result, the fifth-year QB has gotten to log some added reps with rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling, most notably connecting on a 50-yard touchdown up the right sideline Monday. Purdy also connected with Deebo Samuel for an explosive play Monday, as the two players look to rebuild their previous chemistry from three seasons together from 2022 to 2024 before Samuel took a one-year detour to Washington in 2025 and then returned to the 49ers as a free agent July 30.
Williams will be without Luther Burden (groin) for the entirety of the preseason, but the Bears believe that the second-year wide receiver will be available for Week 1 at Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 13, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Williams is entering his second season under head coach Ben Johnson and his third NFL campaign overall, and his No. 2 option at wide receiver Luther Burden just suffered a groin injury Saturday that will sideline him for the entirety of the preseason. The quarterback completed 53 passes to Burden for 718 yards and two touchdowns over 15 regular-season contests and two postseason games this past season. Williams has substantial rapport with WR1 Rome Odunze, but he will now have to lean on offseason addition Kalif Raymond, third-round pick Zavion Thomas (knee) and second-year pro Jahdae Walker at practice in Burden's absence.
Herbert has been sharp and on target with his receivers in training camp, seemingly growing more comfortable in Mike McDaniel's offense, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
One of the priorities that Herbert took during the offseason was to improve his footwork, which has seemingly paid off through the first two weeks of training camp. Entering his seventh NFL season, Herbert has looked comfortable with his timing in McDaniel's scheme, connecting on receivers early and in space. It's unclear whether Herbert will play in Thursday's exhibition contest against the Texans, but the Oregon product should see some reps in preseason games to flesh out the details before the Chargers' regular-season opener against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Darnold and the Seahawks offense are adjusting to the scheme of new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Darnold enjoyed a productive 2025 season with Klint Kubiak as the offensive coordinator, with the duo playing a key part in the Seahawks' Super Bowl LX win. After Kubiak left for Las Vegas to be the head coach, Seattle brought in Fleury to take over as the offensive coordinator after four years as San Francisco's tight ends coach. Fleury has no experience calling plays, so he and Darnold have used the offseason to work toward full alignment on how to approach each game and series. The Seahawks also lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Chiefs in the offseason, but Darnold still has Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as well as Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp and tight end AJ Barner. Darnold and the offense will look to iron out the details in training camp and preseason games before starting their title defense in a Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Stroud and the Texans offense got a boost in Monday's training camp practice with the return of fourth-year wideout Tank Dell (knee), John Harris of the team's official site reports.
Both Stroud and Dell were selected by the Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the duo formed an immediate connection in their rookie seasons, connecting for 47 catches (on 75 targets) for 709 yards and seven touchdowns across 11 regular-season games. Dell was one of Stroud's top targets in 2024, but the former suffered major leg and knee injuries late in the season that caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. Dell's return to team drills Monday is a positive sign for his recovery, and his availability for the start of the regular season would be a significant boost for Stroud, who is looking to bounce back from a lackluster 2025 season.
Pierce (anke) received a second PRP injection in his left ankle this offseason, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pierce initially attempted to get over his left ankle issue by receiving a PRP injection following the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, but he ultimately was forced to undergo a "clean-up" procedure in April. The wide receiver has missed the entirety of the Colts' offseason program and training camp to this point, and head coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Pierce doesn't currently have a timetable to return to resume practicing. A platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is a process in which a concentrated dose of a patient's own blood platelets is injected to help heal damaged joints, tendons, ligaments and skin. Pierce received the second injection in late June, per Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis, and Chappell outlined that a second treatment is not abnormal and helps the healing process.
Burrow and the Bengals offense had its best day of training camp Sunday, Paul Dehner of The Athletic reports.
Per Dehner, the Bengals offense this year has shifted from static, pre-snap looks and shotgun formations to a scheme with more under-center motions. There have been some early hiccups in training camp, but Burrow and the offense have been better over the last couple of days, particularly in Sunday's practice when the star quarterback directed two 80-yard touchdown drives that ended with passing touchdowns to Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas. Burrow missed nine of 17 games last year due to turf toe and returned to action Week 13. Over the last six games of the 2025 regular season, Burrow completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,620 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while turning 12 carries into 38 yards.
Hurts has started to establish a good rapport with offseason addition wide receiver Dontavion Wicks at training camp, Geoff Mosher of PhillyVoice reports.
Hurts has long been a target of criticism when it comes to his passing ability, and with the departure of A.J. Brown in the offseason, he will have to prove himself with some new faces in the wide receiver room this season. The Eagles acquired fourth-year pro Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay in April, and Wicks has emerged as the frontrunner to operate as Philadelphia's No. 2 WR in 2026. Hurts and Wicks spent some time together off the field during the offseason, which Wicks credited as a driving force for how the two players have so quickly found alignment in a short time at camp. With DeVonta Smith (hamstring) currently sidelined, Hurts will have the opportunity to lean on Wicks as his de facto No. 1 option as the team's preseason opener approaches Saturday in Baltimore.
Penix (knee) had some nice plays during 7-on-7 drills at Monday's practice, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
After suffering a partially torn ACL in his left knee Week 11 of last season, Penix required a full reconstruction to repair the damage. In the offseason, the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa to provide competition in the QB room. Penix has yet to progress beyond 7-on-7s, but among his throws Monday was a 25-yarder to TE Kyle Pitts down the right sideline that he fit into a tight window. Per Josh Kendall of The Athletic, coach Kevin Stefanski expects to announce by Wednesday who among Atlanta's quarterbacks -- also, Cooper Rush and Jack Strand -- will play in Friday's preseason game against the Broncos, but considering where Penix stands at the moment, he'll likely be in street clothes for that contest.
Jackson and rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane have quickly built chemistry throughout training camp, Clifton Brown of the Ravens' official site reports.
Lane has been one of the biggest standouts through the first two weeks of training camp, and he showcased his talents Sunday with several big plays in team drills. He was in constant communication with Jackson between plays, and it looks like the Ravens' franchise quarterback views the rookie wideout as an integral piece to the offense. Zay Flowers is considered day-to-day due to a quad contusion, so Jackson will be working more closely with Lane, Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker over the next few practices until Flowers is cleared to return. Jackson struggled through multiple injuries last year and started in only 13 regular-season games, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while turning 67 carries into 349 yards and two scores.
Vidal was listed a co-backup in the the Chargers' first unofficial depth chart Monday, Eric Smith of the team's official website reports.
Vidal and offseason addition Keaton Mitchell were listed as the top backup options behind starter Omarion Hampton ahead of the team's preseason opener Thursday in Houston. Vidal returned to Los Angeles on a one-year deal in the offseason after turning 155 carries into 643 yards and three scores across 13 regular-season contests in 2025, and he's expected to be utilized as a part of a backfield committee in 2026. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel outlined that he will use all three of Hampton, Vidal and Mitchell every game, leaning on the "hot hand," which he described as "bad news" for fantasy managers and good news for him.
Allen has been building chemistry with new WR DJ Moore early on in training camp, Alec White, Mike Maynard and Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
During the Return of the Blue and Red practice Saturday, Allen connected with Moore in stride on a deep ball down the middle of the field for a 50-yard gain. Later, in a two-minute drill, Allen and Moore again hooked up twice to move the offense past midfield. Allen has fallen short of 4,000 passing yards in each of the last two seasons, which coincided with Stefon Diggs' exit from the team, but prior to that the quarterback racked up at least 4,283 yards through the air in four consecutive campaigns working with Diggs. By acquiring Moore this offseason, the Bills have increased the odds that Allen can get back to that threshold with more of an established wide receiver on the roster.
White was listed as the Commanders' No. 2 running back on the team's unofficial depth chart Monday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
White joined Washington in the offseason, inking a one-year deal with the team in March. Head coach Dan Quinn named White as a standout performer from OTAs and minicamp, but at this point, second-year pro Jacory Croskey-Merritt appears to have the edge as the No. 1 option in the backfield heading into the 2026 campaign. White was able to turn 132 carries into 572 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 40 catches and 218 yards over 17 regular-season contests with the Buccaneers in 2025, marking the third time in his four-year career that he was active for the entire regular season.
Hyatt appeared to injure his right ankle at the end of Monday's practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Hyatt had a strong minicamp with the Giants and is making a push to once again be a consistent piece of the team's wide receiving corps. The 24-year-old played snaps in just eight regular-season contests in 2025, and an ankle injury would not help his chances of returning to the Giants' 53-man roster.
Hall is expected to be featured more prominently as the Jets' lead back this season, Connor Hughes of SNY.TV reports.
Hall signed a three-year, $45.75 million contract with the Jets in May, and it now appears as if the 25-year-old's offensive snap share will go up in his fifth campaign with the team. The running back's usage peaked at a 67.5 percent offensive snap share in 2024 before dropping down to 61.1 percent in 2025. With the heightened expectations for Hall, Braelon Allen is set to operate as a clear No. 2 option while Isaiah Davis will play third fiddle in the backfield this year.
Harvey expects to provide a lot of big plays in Year 2 with the Broncos, Susanna Weir of the team's official site reports.
Harvey notched three rushes of over 20 yards in his rookie campaign, two of which were 40-plus yard gains, but he expects more frequent such plays in his second year. The running back believes that big plays are his calling card as an athlete, saying that he feels like that's "his game." Harvey compiled 540 yards and seven touchdowns on 146 carries while also reeling in 47 of 58 targets for 356 yards and five scores over 17 regular-season contests in 2025. The 25-year-old is expected to operate in a timeshare with J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed) again this season, but the oft-injured Dobbins is already dealing with a soft-tissue injury at training camp. If Dobbins is unable to put together a healthy campaign, Harvey would have the opportunity to take command of Denver's backfield for years to come.
Mendoza returned to working with the Raiders' second-team offense at Monday's practice, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
With Kirk Cousins not participating in the team period of Saturday's session due to his scuffle with teammate Maxx Crosby during Friday's practice, Mendoza took first-team reps in place of the veteran signal-caller. However, on Monday, Cousins was back in business and had his best performance of training camp to date, per McFadden. As the regular season approaches, Cousins continues to trend toward drawing the start in Week 1, but beyond that, given that Mendoza was the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it will be only a matter of time before he gets his chance to lead the Raiders offense for good.
With Zane Gonzalez (undisclosed) having been placed on IR, Patterson is now the only kicker on the Dolphins' active roster.
During the 2025 regular season, Patterson started all 17 games for the Dolphins en route to making 27 of his 29 field-goal tries and all but one of his 35 PATs. With Gonzalez no longer in the mix, Patterson is on track to reprise his role as the team's top kicker, with his fantasy relevance linked to how well Miami's offense takes off with new QB Malik Willis at the helm.
Gonzalez (undisclosed) has been has been placed on IR by the Dolphins.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley previously noted that Gonzalez was considered week-to-week after suffering an undisclosed injury during Saturday's practice. In the wake of Monday's move, Riley Patterson -- who Gonzalez had been competing with -- is now the only kicker on the Dolphins' active roster.
Mims (undisclosed) was spotted working on a side field during the individual period of Monday's practice, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Per Gabriel, Mims, who left Friday's practice with an apparent injury and then didn't work Saturday, was present in pads for Monday's session, but it looks like the wideout is being eased back into the mix. Mims thus falls in the day-to-day category as Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons approaches.
The Cowboys signed Williams to a three-year, $105.9 million contract extension Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
According to Rapoport, the totality of Williams' deal is five years and $153.15 million with $101 million guaranteed. Dallas acquired Williams from the Jets ahead of the trade deadline last season, sending Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-rounder to New York. In seven regular-season games with the Cowboys, Williams logged 21 tackles (nine solo), including 1.5 sacks, and an interception. He's expected to anchor the middle of the defensive line for the next several seasons.
Kittle (Achilles) was seen running routes, catching passes and doing conditioning work prior to Monday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
According to Wagoner, it was the most extensive work Kittle has done at practice this summer, as he continues to work his way back from a torn Achilles. Kittle remains on the active/PUP list for San Francisco, but he's continued to say he's on track to play Week 1 against the Rams in 31 days. He'll turn 33 years old in two months but figures to remain a red-zone presence for Brock Purdy. Kittle is no longer a top-tier fantasy tight end, but he should be productive when on the field in an efficient 49ers offense.
New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said Monday he'll likely use a "hot hand" approach in the backfield this season, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
"Bad news, fantasy owners," McDaniel said regarding the roles for Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell. "Good news is I see all three of those guys producing at a very high level. Bad news is I can't tell you which games those are." Hampton is being drafted in the second round of best-ball drafts currently, which appears to be a rich price for a player involved in what could be a convoluted backfield in 2026. Hampton wasn't handpicked by McDaniel, and the team signed Mitchell to a two-year, $9.25 million deal at McDaniel's request during the offseason. Vidal has the trust of coach Jim Harbaugh after what he did in Hampton's place last season. There are a lot of mouths to feed in this offense as a whole, making Hampton a high-risk, potentially-high-reward fantasy pick.
Dulcich (hand) was a full participant in Monday's practice, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Dulcich had been in a red non-contact jersey at practice last week but appears to be past his hand issue. The 26-year-old is slated to handle TE1 duties for the Dolphins this season after he caught 26 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown over the final nine games last regular season. A catch-first athlete at the position, there's a world in which Dulcich paces this offense in receiving in 2026 due to the lack of proven playmaking at the wide receiver position.
Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said Monday that Mitchell will have an offensive role on game days this season, Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com reports.
McDaniel specifically mentioned all three of Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Mitchell will have roles in the offense. "All three of those guys will start at that point given the nature of the NFL," McDaniel said. "I will use all three of those guys every game." Mitchell signed a two-year, $9.25 million deal with the Bolts in the offseason, and that's not chump change for a running back, so the money itself suggests McDaniel has a vision for him. Armed with a 4.37 40 time and elite burst, Mitchell is a dream fit in McDaniel's offense that is built on speed. The Chargers have already been experimenting with Mitchell in the passing game this summer. He's a high-upside, lottery-ticket pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.
Bo Nix said Monday that Engram has been more involved in the running game and as a blocker during training camp, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Nix singled out Engram's willingness to work on his blocking this summer and said the veteran tight end is "doing well" in that area of his game, and it could lead to Engram playing more snaps and getting more involved in the play-action passing offense. Engram signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Broncos ahead of the 2025 season but went on to play a career-low 42 percent of the offensive snaps across 16 regular-season games. It led to Engram catching just 50 of 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown in those contests. His 28.8 yards per game average was the second-lowest in his nine-year career. If Engram can earn coach Sean Payton's trust as a blocker, it could certainly help boost his playing time and receiving production.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the 49ers are "just managing" McCaffrey (undisclosed), who missed Monday's practice due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kubiak also told Wagoner that McCaffrey is "a little sore," but the standout running back is "doing fine." The 49ers also are dealing with injuries to others in the backfield, namely Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP), meaning Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert currently are the healthy options at the position. Kubiak's comments indicate the team will take a cautious approach with McCaffrey until he's fully healthy.
Sadiq (hernia) is listed as Mason Taylor's backup at tight end on the Jets' first unofficial depth chart Monday, Eric Allen of the team's official site reports.
It's not at all surprising considering Sadiq has barely been able to practice with the team after undergoing hernia surgery in the spring before experiencing a setback with his recovery in the early days of training camp. Sadiq and Taylor, while both listed as tight ends, essentially play different positions also, as Taylor is expected to operate as a block-first traditional tight end while Sadiq plays detached from the line in more of a big slot role.
Cooper is listed behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchellon the Jets' initial unofficial depth chart, Eric Allen of the team's official site reports.
Preseason depth charts can often be taken with a grain of salt, especially when it comes to rookies and it's not especially surprising to see Cooper listed behind a pair of returnees. In any case, the 2026 first-rounder figures to see his share of snaps out of the gate this season in three-receiver sets, with the Indiana product's fantasy upside hinging on how quickly and how well he and veteran QB Geno Smith build their on-field chemistry.
Coach Sean Payton noted Monday that Dobbins has a soft tissue injury, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Dobbins left Monday's practice with a trainer, with his exit due to an unspecified soft-tissue injury. Per DiLalla, Payton thinks that the running back will be fine, but it looks like Dobbins' practice participation could be impacted ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons. If that's the case, added practice reps will be available for RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Lane has been the buzz of Ravens training camp over the first couple weeks, Ryan Mink of the team's official site reports.
According to Mink, Lane is making highlight-reel catches on what feels like a daily basis, and even Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com said Saturday that in his 27 years of covering the team, Lane has had the best rookie training camp he's ever seen. While Lane is doing it all on the practice field, he'll need to replicate it during preseason action if he's going to keep surging for a role in three-wide sets alongside Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Third-round rookie Lane's top competition for snaps appears to be Devontez Walker and 2026 fourth-rounder Elijah Sarratt.
McCaffrey won't practice Monday due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
McCaffrey is the latest 49er to catch the injury bug that has plagued the team in the early stages of training camp, joining fellow RBs Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP) on the sideline. That leaves Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert as the team's healthy options at the position just three days before the team's preseason opener Thursday against the Titans. San Francisco likely will continue to exercise caution with McCaffrey until he's back to 100 percent.
Dobbins exited Monday's practice alongside the training staff with an undisclosed injury, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
The good news is Dobbins jogged into the locker room, but other than that there isn't any news on what the running back is dealing with health-wise. RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman figure to handle the bulk of the first-team reps while Dobbins is tending to his issue.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that the Falcons don't have a timeline to name a starting quarterback for the team's Week 1 game at Pittsburgh, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Tagovailoa seemingly is the leader in the clubhouse to land the gig for the season opener over Michael Penix, who has yet to join in on team drills in training camp due to his ongoing recovery from the torn ACL that ended his season Week 11 last year. While Stefanski wouldn't commit to a Week 1 starter, he added that he'll make a decision on whether or not Tagovailoa will play in Friday's preseason opener against the Broncos by Wednesday.
Coach Todd Monken noted Monday that he hasn't decided whether Watson or Shedeur Sanders will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Whichever of the duo doesn't start Saturday's preseason opener is expected to get the starting nod in the Browns' second preseason game, meaning this battle under center is far from settled. "As long as we're still sharing reps, it's a competition," Monken said. Throughout the summer, it has sounded like neither quarterback has been particularly sharp. After Watson handled most of the first-team reps in practice Saturday, Sanders is working with the ones Monday.
Coach Todd Monken said Monday that Boston will start working with the first-team offense in practice this week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Specifically, Monken said Boston will work as the "boundary" receiver on the outside, allowing Jerry Jeudy to move around the formation more. By all accounts, Boston has been a standout at Browns camp and has earned the increased reps with the starters. His insertion with the ones is likely to hurt Cedric Tillman the most, as Tillman is a holdover from the previous coaching staff and has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason. Boston appears to be a riser up fantasy draft boards headed into the preseason.
Coach Todd Monken noted Monday that he hasn't decided whether Sanders or Deshaun Watson will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Monken did indicate that whichever of the two doesn't start against Chicago will get the nod against the Bills in Cleveland's second preseason tilt. After Watson took starters reps during Saturday's practice, Sanders is slated to work with the first-team offense Monday. On the topic of the ongoing job battle between the two signal-callers, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com relays that Monken said Monday, "As long as we're still sharing reps, it's a competition."
Kraft (knee) ran routes on air in full pads while catching passes from QB Jordan Love at Monday's practice, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
Most notably for Kraft, he wasn't wearing the sleeve he'd been wearing on his right knee from the first nearly two weeks of training camp. He suffered an ACL tear in that knee Week 9 of last season, and while he sat out Friday's Family Night practice, he was back on the field as of Monday and continues to increase his reps as a Week 1 matchup at Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 13 draws closer. It doesn't appear likely Kraft will play during the preseason, and the question remains whether or not he and the Packers will agree to a contract extension.
Waddle, who left this past Wednesday's practice with muscle tightness, didn't practice Monday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
That's not surprising given that coach Sean Payton said Thursday of Waddle that he thought the wideout would be back in "the next 4-to-5 days," per Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site. With that in mind, consider Waddle day-to-day ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons.
Mims (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
After leaving Friday's practice with an apparent injury, Mims didn't work Saturday, but the wideout is back in pads Monday and will continue to vie for slotting in a WR corps led by Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed). Mims' primary competition this season for snaps/targets that don't go to the top duo are Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.
Williams, per head coach Matt LaFleur, "had a good day" at Sunday's practice session, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site.
Williams saw added opportunities with both Jayden Reed (ankle) and Matthew Golden (toe) sitting out, and he capitalized by hauling in nearly every pass thrown his direction. Williams didn't do a lot in his 2025 rookie season and remains behind both receivers already mentioned as well as Christian Watson in the pecking order, but he is the favorite to head into Week 1 with the fourth spot on the depth chart.
Mays sustained a wrist injury during Sunday's practice and will miss "a significant period," Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
It's unclear exactly how long Mays will be sidelined, but his recovery timeline will extend into the regular season. As such, the Lions will be down their top center -- who signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the club in March -- when the games that count get underway.
Pittman (leg) wasn't spotted at Monday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Per Saunders, Pittman left Saturday's practice with some sort of right leg injury. Meanwhile, with DK Metcalf also not spotted at the session, possibly for a rest day, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com relays that Germie Bernard is in line for added practice reps Monday.
The Raiders returned to their usual QB rotation during Monday's practice, with Cousins working with the first-team offense and Fernando Mendoza with the second unit, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Per McFadden, Cousins didn't participate in the team period of Saturday's session due to his scuffle with teammate Maxx Crosby during Friday's practice, according to McFadden. Following an off day Sunday, things appear back to normal at practice for the team's top signal-callers, and as the regular season approaches Cousins continues to trend toward drawing the start over Mendoza in Week 1.
Daniels, per wide receiver Jaylin Lane, has been "elite" in training camp, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.
The wideout clearly has reason to throw praise at his quarterback, but at the same time it's better than the alternative. The situation has changed for Daniels with Stefon Diggs now in the mix and Laremy Tunsil (triceps) facing an extended absence, but Daniels now has another intriguing target to work with, and since the start of training camp he hasn't had any issues with the elbow injury that cut short his 2025 campaign.
Dell (knee) participated in "full-team drills" Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell practiced in pads last week for the first time since injuring his knee, and after initially being limited to individual drills he has advanced to team work. His status for Week 1 remains uncertain, but if he can avoid any setbacks there's reason to believe he'll be out there when the regular season gets underway.
James Boyd of The Athletic suggests that McGowan has emerged as the Colts' top backup running back.
Per Boyd, with DJ Giddens having been sidelined with a hamstring injury, McGowan has seen added reps of late with the first- and second-team offense. While Jonathan Taylor is the Colts' undisputed top back, and those behind him on the depth chart are off the fantasy lineup radar as long as he's healthy, the pecking order behind him remains of interest in the event that he misses time for any reason. Though Giddens still has a chance to make a push for the RB2 role ahead of Week 1, he'll first need to get back on the practice field to build any momentum toward that end.
Worthy (shoulder) will take part in Monday's practice, Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star reports.
Worthy missed over a week of practice time with a shoulder sprain, but he returned to the mix Monday. According to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star, Worthy worked with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense as a limited participant while the Chiefs managed the wideout's workload coming back from the shoulder injury.
Pacheco is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell believes he will be ready for Detroit's season opener against New Orleans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It's unclear how Pacheco sustained the injury, but it will confine him to the sidelines for the time being. Pacheco's absence will open up some reps for the other running backs on Detroit's roster, but if he recovers as anticipated he remains the clear favorite to back up Jahmyr Gibbs (back) in Week 1.
Smith (hamstring) isn't participating in Monday's practice, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.
Smith and Makai Lemon (hamstring) will both remain sidelined Monday, clearing the way for Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown to see more reps with the first-team offense. Though Smith hasn't practiced in a week, the Eagles haven't expressed any concern about the wideout's availability for the start of the regular season.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that Tunsil will require surgery to repair a torn right triceps and is expected to miss significant time, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Quinn wasn't willing to put a timeline on Tunsil's return, noting that the Commanders should have a better idea regarding when the five-time Pro Bowler might play again once surgery is completed. However, Keim notes that the typical recovery timeline for such procedures is at least four months and as long as six or seven, so Tunsil is projected to miss most of the season and may not be a realistic candidate to suit up for the Commanders until around early or mid-December. Quinn noted that Brandon Coleman will step in as the Commanders' starting left tackle in what amounts to a massive downgrade at the position after Tunsil re-established himself as one of the NFL's top blindside protectors in his first season in Washington in 2025 while allowing just two sacks over 14 regular-season games.
Lemon appears unlikely to start for the Eagles early in the season while he's missed time in the spring and during training camp due to a lingering hamstring injury, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Lemon was expected to be an immediate contributor for the Eagles following a dazzling final season at USC in which he took home the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. Unfortunately for the 5-foot-11, 192-pound wideout, he's had few opportunities thus far with the Eagles to showcase his skills, as he's taken limited reps even on the days that the hamstring issue hasn't kept him off the practice field. Lemon still has time to get healthy and make a case for earning a sizable role Week 1, but at this stage of camp, offseason pickup Dontayvion Wicks may have the early edge on opening the season as the Eagles' No. 2 wideout behind DeVonta Smith.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said Monday that Gonzalez is considered week-to-week after suffering an undisclosed injury during Saturday's practice, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Though he had been competing with incumbent Riley Patterson for Dolphins kicking duties, Gonzalez's injury could effectively take him out of the running for the job. Gonzalez can be ruled out for at least Friday's preseason opener versus the Commanders, and he's not a safe bet to make it back for either of the Dolphins' final two exhibitions.
Burden (groin) is expected to sit out all three of the Bears' preseason games, but the team believes the wideout will be available for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Burden sustained a groin injury during a 1-on-1 drill in Saturday's practice and will need around a month to make a full recovery, but the Bears are optimistic that he'll be able to get enough on-field work in prior to Week 1 to avoid missing any games that count. While the 2025 second-round pick is out for the rest of training camp and the preseason, the Bears will have added reps available at receiver behind Rome Odunze and Kalif Raymond. Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walkerand Scotty Miller are all candidates to see extra opportunities in the next few weeks as they compete for roster spots as depth options in Chicago's wideout corps. When healthy, Burden will have an opportunity to make a mark from a fantasy perspective in 2026, while operating as a key target for quarterback Caleb Williams in a Chicago passing attack that will also feature Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland.
Henry agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Patriots on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
According to Schefter, the deal is worth up to $20 million and includes $14.5 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old Henry played the full 17-game regular-season slate for the Patriots in 2025, reeling in 60 of 87 targets for 768 yards and seven touchdowns and then putting together a 9-112-1 line on 15 targets over four playoff games. He had been entering the final year of his contract in 2026, but the extension will keep him on the Patriots' books through the 2028 campaign. Henry remains atop the Patriots' tight end depth chart and will continue to work as a key weapon for quarterback Drake Maye in the team's passing game, which sets Henry up for a steady weekly fantasy floor in 2026.
Burden (groin) is expected to be sidelined for roughly one month, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.
Burden suffered a groin injury at practice Saturday, and he is now set to be unavailable for the entirety of the preseason. The hope from the organization is that the wide receiver will be back and available for the Bears' regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Chargers. If Burden is forced to miss any regular-season action, offseason addition Kalif Raymond and third-round pick Zavion Thomas (undisclosed) would stand to see an increase in targets while operating opposite of No. 1 wideout Rome Odunze in Chicago's offense.
Mason has been putting together a productive training camp with the Vikings, Will Ragatz of Bring Me The Sports reports.
Mason is expected to operate in a timeshare with veteran Aaron Jones in the backfield for a second straight season. The running back has made an early statement at camp, showing some added burst in his second year in Kevin O'Connell's offensive system. Jones was limited to 12 contests due to injury in 2025, and he'll turn 32 before the end of the upcoming season, so 27-year-old Mason could be asked to handle a larger split of the workload in Year 2 in Minnesota.
Addison (thumb) is expected to be close to a full participant at the Vikings' night practice Sunday, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Addison has been battling a thumb injury at practice throughout the week, but it has been considered to be a minor injury throughout the entire process. The wide receiver appears to be on track to be back to full health in the near future, and the earlier he can be back to 100 percent, the better, as Minnesota is in the midst of accessing who its starting quarterback will be in 2026.
Thomas (undisclosed) exited Sunday's practice early after a 7-on-7 collision, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.
While it has not been disclosed what type of injury Thomas suffered, Adam Hoge of AllCHGO.com reports that the wide receiver briefly grabbed his knee before limping off the field. The rookie third-rounder was set to start the regular season as the primary kick returner for the Bears, so any long-term knee issue would be very bad for the team's versatility. If Thomas must miss time, Jahdae Walker could see an increase in usage, continuing the momentum he built near the end of his rookie season.
Westbrook-Ikhine's stock has risen in training camp as he battles for the Colts' WR3 role behind Alec Pierce (ankle) and Josh Downs (groin), James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
The absences of Pierce and, most recently, Downs, has provided Westbrook-Ikhine with the opportunity to work in an expanded role in the first-team offense. So far, Westbrook-Ikhine has answered the call, and the veteran wide receiver has strengthened his case for the No. 3 job ahead of Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell. Westbrook-Ikhine's best year came in 2024 with the Titans, when he caught 32 passes (on 60 targets) for 497 yards and nine touchdowns across 17 regular-season games.
Dobbs signed a one-year, $1.425 million contract with the Lions on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The contract includes $475,000 guaranteed and gives the Lions a veteran backup behind Jared Goff following Teddy Bridgewater's decision to retire. Luke Altmyer is the other quarterback on Detroit's 90-man roster, but the undrafted free agent will likely revert to the QB3 role now that Dobbs is in the picture. Dobbs served as Drake Maye's backup in New England last season, and the former has appeared in 27 regular-season games (15 starts) since entering the league as a fourth-round selection of the Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic relays that Bell's game-day role will be determined by his performances across the Bills' three preseason games.
Buscaglia notes that Bell is locked in as the Bills' WR5 behind DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer. The Bills could opt to keep Mecole Hardman as a sixth wide receiver and primary punt returner, which would make it more likely that Bell begins the regular season as a healthy scratch without an outstanding effort over Buffalo's three exhibition games. Bell was a fourth-round selection of the Bills in the 2026 NFL Draft following a strong final college season at UConn, when he caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns across 12 games.
Jones is unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Boyd adds that Jones will only participate in Tuesday's joint session against New England, and the veteran quarterback may not any preseason games while in the final stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in December. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson will be the Colts quarterbacks for Thursday's exhibition contest, the first opportunity for the duo to compete for the backup role behind Jones.
Tate was a standout in team drills during Sunday's training camp practice, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.
Tate's explosiveness stood out during red zone and plus-territory team drills in Sunday's practice. He beat out Alontae Taylor and CorDalle Flott for touchdowns in separate reps, with Tate demonstrating a strong connection with second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Tate looks to see plenty of offensive snaps in his rookie campaign alongside veteran wideouts Wan'Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley.
Burden is expected to "miss a little bit of time" due to a groin injury that he sustained during Saturday's training camp practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Burden picked up the injury after colliding with Tyrque Stevenson during a one-on-one drill in Saturday's training camp practice. It would not be surprising if Burden were held out of Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns, with an aim to return for the Bears' second exhibition contest against the Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 22. Kalif Raymond, rookie third-rounder Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Scotty Miller are poised to see more reps in team drills alongside Rome Odunze for as long as Burden is sidelined.
Watson took every starting rep in team drills during Saturday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Shedeur Sanders was scheduled to work with the first-team offense Saturday, but he ended up splitting second-team reps with Dillon Gabriel while Watson ran with the starters. Watson made the most of the opportunity with a productive practice, when he made nice connections with Isaiah Bond and Denzel Boston during team drills. Head coach Todd Monken will use Sunday's scheduled off-day to deliberate whether Watson or Sanders will start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears.
Head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Downs (groin) could potentially be available for Tuesday's joint practice with the Patriots, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Downs was held out of Saturday's practice due to a groin injury, but the positive news is that he is considered day-to-day. Participating in Tuesday's joint practice would be a step in the right direction for the fourth-year wideout, though he may be held out of Thursday's preseason opener against New England.
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Sunday that Goff and other key starters will not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Bengals, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Although Goff won't see action Thursday, he could see some action in the Lions' second exhibition game against the Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 22. With Teddy Bridgewater stepping away from the team Sunday, Luke Altmyer is the only other quarterback on the 90-man roster, so the Lions will work out some veteran QBs to compete for the backup job behind Goff, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Bridgewater was placed on the Lions' reserve/retired list Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Bridgewater inked a one-year deal with the Lions in March after serving as the Buccaneers' backup quarterback to Baker Mayfield in 2025, but Bridgewater has now decided to step away from football. With undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer the only quarterback other than starter Jared Goff on the 90-man roster, the Lions will work out some quarterbacks to bring in competition for the backup job. Bridgewater was selected by the Vikings with the No. 32 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. The Louisville product suited up for seven different NFL teams during his career and appeared in 83 regular-season games, with a 33-32 record over 65 starts. He completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 15,182 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
Golden did not practice Sunday due to a toe injury, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
The 2025 first-rounder can be considered day-to-day due to his toe issue, though it wouldn't be surprising if he were held out of Thursday's preseason opener against Pittsburgh. Golden is coming off an underwhelming rookie season but has generated some positive buzz in training camp, including Saturday night's training camp practice, per Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site. Golden is pencilled in as the Packers' WR3 behind Christian Watson and Jayden Reed (ankle), with Savion Williams, Bo Melton and Skyy Moore all in the mix for rotational reps.
Reed did not participate in Sunday's training camp practice due to an ankle injury, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Matt LaFleur relayed to reporters that Reed's ankle injury isn't considered a long-term concern. The fourth-year wideout can be considered day-to-day for now, though he may be held out of Thursday's preseason opener against the Steelers for precautionary reasons. Reed suited up for only seven regular-season games last year, as he missed time due to a fractured foot and broken collarbone, but he is on track to suit up for Week 1 against the Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters Sunday that Young and the Panthers starters will play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bills, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
Canales added that the starters will get about 10-to-20 reps in Buffalo. Young, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, is coming off the best year of his three-year career. Across 17 regular-season games in 2025, he completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 216 yards and two scores on 54 carries. Young's fifth-year rookie contract option was picked up for the 2027 season, and it looks like any contract negotiations between the 25-year-old quarterback and the Panthers won't take place until after the 2026 campaign.
Nabers (knee) has taken part in nine of the Giants' first 10 practices of training camp and appears on track to be ready to play Week 1 against the Cowboys, barring a setback, Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com reports.
Nabers' ability to avoid a stint on the PUP list to begin camp had already been a promising sign that he was bouncing back well from his Oct. 28 surgery to address a torn meniscus and ACL tear in his right knee and a follow-up procedure in April to remove scar tissue. The Giants have come away even more encouraged by Nabers since camp has gotten underway, with Ranaan noting that the wideout has looked "better as the summer progressed" while running routes and making cuts without any noticeable issues. Ranaan relays that Nabers is slated to take part in 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills at "some time in the next couple weeks," which will provide the Giants with a better gauge of the 23-year-old's health. The Giants haven't indicated whether Nabers will be in line to see action in any of the team's three preseason contests, but all signs continue to point to him being available for the start of the regular season.
Jordan is dealing with a hip flexor strain and will be sidelined for "roughly a week," Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Per Wilson, Jordan has been having a good camp, but he'll have to take some time off due to the injury. That likely rules him out of Houston's first preseason game (Thursday, Aug. 13, versus the Chargers), but Jordan could still get a chance to show off his skill set in game action before the start of the regular season. As it currently stands, he's expected to work as the Texans' third running back this season behind David Montgomery and Woody Marks.
Price (lower body) didn't practice Saturday, but coach Mike Macdonald said the rookie running back should be back in a matter of days, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
Price has missed the past two days of practice due to what Macdonald has called soreness in his lower body, but the head coach suggested Saturday that the issue is minor. That doesn't necessarily mean Price will play in the team's first preseason game next Saturday versus Dallas, but he's expected to be back at practice before then. Price is ticketed for a big role in Seattle's backfield as a rookie, and he could be the team's Week 1 starter at RB if Zach Charbonnet (knee) isn't ready to suit up.
Tunsil tore his triceps during practice Saturday and is expected to need surgery, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
According to Garafolo, it is likely that Tunsil will miss "at least a significant portion" of the 2026 season. It's a brutal blow for the Commanders' offense, as Tunsil is regarded as one of the league's top left tackles and was signed to a two-year, $60.2 million contract extension in March, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. For as long as Tunsil is sidelined (which is likely to be at least several weeks into the regular season), Andrew Wylie figures to take over the starting role at left tackle.
Johnson left practice early Saturday due to an apparent right knee injury, Matt Parrino of NYup.com reports.
Johnson was participating in 1-on-1 drills when he went down and immediately grabbed his right knee. The running back was escorted to the sideline, and then to the locker room, by team trainers. There's no word yet on the exact nature or extent of Johnson's injury, but any absence lingering into the regular season would be a blow to Buffalo's backfield depth, as the versatile tailback is expected to again work in a dual-threat role behind James Cook and Ray Davis.
Kirk (calf) remained sidelined at Saturday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
With Ricky Pearsall (knee, IR) out for the season, Kirk is a candidate to be involved early and often in the 49ers' passing game in his first season with the club, but a calf injury has kept him out of drills for nearly two weeks. Fellow WRs Mike Evans (quadriceps) and Jacob Cowing (hip) also sat out Saturday, so the current top healthy options at the position are Deebo Samuel, rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins.
Price didn't practice Friday due to "lower-body soreness," Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
In the early stages of training camp, Price has been handling first-team reps along with fellow RB George Holani. The breakdown of reps in the Seahawks backfield to start the season remains up in the air with Zach Charbonnet in recovery mode from his January ACL tear and Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City. The team invested a first-round pick in Price back in April, presumably with the expectation that he'd be the lead runner while Charbonnet is sidelined, but Holani and even free-agent pickup Emanuel Wilson also may be a part of game plans for Week 1 and beyond.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers continue to "be smart with" Evans (quadriceps), who didn't practice Saturday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans was able to work out on the side Saturday and looked close to 100 percent, per Wagoner, but as Shanahan clarified they won't press the veteran wide receiver back into action prematurely. Evans has been sidelined this week due to a minor quad strain, and with San Francisco's season opener still more than a month away Thursday, Sept. 10 against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, he has plenty of time to prove his health for games that matter. Meanwhile, fellow WRs Christian Kirk (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hip) remain sidelined as well, leaving Deebo Samuel, rookie second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins as the top available players at the position.
Head coach Sean McVay said Saturday that Simpson will "definitely" play in the Rams' preseason opener against the Chiefs on Saturday, Aug. 15, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Matthew Stafford may get some work in the first series of work, and there's uncertainty over whether Stetson Bennett will play. As such, Simpson figures to see the bulk of the reps on offense for the Rams' first preseason game, with undrafted rookie Matthew Caldwell also in the mix for some playing time. Simpson was a first-round pick of the Rams in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Bennett has taken the bulk of second-team reps in training camp, so the rookie out of Alabama could operate as the Rams' QB3 for the upcoming season, per Nate Atkins of The Athletic.
Stribling (hamstring) participated in 11-on-11 team drills during Saturday's training camp practice, Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's an encouraging sign for the rookie second-rounder, whose practice reps have been limited this past week while he's been recovering from a hamstring injury. With Ricky Pearsall (knee) out for the 2026 season, Stribling will have the opportunity to earn a consistent role for himself in the 49ers' offense, even with veterans Mike Evans (quad), Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk (calf) ahead of him on the wide receiver depth chart. The absences of both Evans and Kirk give Stribling the chance to showcase his skills with the first-team offense alongside Samuel.
Head coach Jesse Minter said Saturday that Flowers is considered day-to-day due to a quad contusion that he sustained during training camp practice, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Flowers was looked at by trainers after his left leg collided with Jaylinn Hawkins during 7-on-7 drills. Flowers didn't practice for the rest of the day, but the positive news is that he has avoided a serious injury and should be back at practice over the coming week. His absence will allow veteran Chris Moore and rookies Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt to work more with the first-team offense alongside Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker.
Flowers left Saturday's training camp practice early due to a left leg injury, Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Flowers sustained the injury when he collided with safety Jaylinn Hawkins during 7-on-7 drills. Flowers was able to limp off the field under his own power but did not participate in the rest of Saturday's practice, and his status over the next few days will be closely monitored ahead of the Ravens' preseason opener against the Eagles on Saturday, Aug. 15. The 2023 first-rounder inked a four-year contract extension worth up to $140 million earlier this week and is looking to build off a strong 2025 campaign, when he registered career highs in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,211) across 17 regular-season games.
Waddle worked on the side at Saturday's training camp practice and was not wearing a sleeve on his leg, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Waddle was sporting a sleeve on his left earlier in the week, and he looked to be running more easily since leaving Wednesday's practice due what was reported at the time as "some muscle tightness," per Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. There doesn't appear to be any long-term injury concern for Waddle, though he'll continue to have his practice reps limited and could see minimal action in exhibition games, with the Broncos' preseason opener taking place Friday against the Falcons. Marvin Mims (undisclosed) is also sidelined for Saturday's practice, so Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Lil'Jordan Humphrey are slated for more work with the first-team offense alongside Courtland Sutton.
Mims (undisclosed) is not participating in Saturday's training camp practice, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Mims appeared to sustain the injury while running a go route during Friday's practice, though the exact nature of his injury is unclear. He'll join Jaylen Waddle (leg) on the sidelines Saturday. With the duo sidelined, more first-team offense reps will be available for Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy. Tyler Badie, RJ Harvey and Bandy should also see some additional work as returners in special teams drills due to Mims' absence.
Burden left Saturday's training camp practice due to a lower-body injury, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times reports.
Burden sustained the injury after colliding awkwardly with Tyrique Stevenson during a one-on-one drill in Saturday's practice. Burden went with a trainer to the team's facilities to undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury. The 2025 second-rounder has been a standout in offseason programs and training camp and is lined up for an expanded role in his sophomore campaign following the departure of DJ Moore, who was traded by the Bears to the Bills in early March.
Downs did not participate in Saturday's training camp practice due to a groin injury, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
It's unclear when Downs picked up the injury or the severity of the issue, but his status will be worth monitoring over the coming week ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. The 2023 third-rounder is lined up for an expanded role in the Colts' offense this season after Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers in March. Downs is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 58 passes (on 88 targets) for 566 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games.
Dell said, "I'm taking it one day at a time" when asked Friday about his potential availability for Week 1 of the regular season versus Buffalo, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
Dell practiced with pads Wednesday for the first time in training camp, though at this point he's limited to individual drills. The Texans have so far not committed to a timeframe for when Dell will be ready to play during the regular season, but the good news is that doctors have deemed his knee "100 percent stable." When Dell gets into a contest, it will be his first game action since he tore multiple knee ligaments and dislocated his kneecap against the Chiefs in Week 16 of the 2024 campaign.
Spears is dealing with some soreness and irritation, which caused him to depart practice early Friday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
There's no indication Spears is dealing with anything serious, but he may be held out of practice until his current soreness subsides. The 25-year-old is expected to serve as Tennessee's No. 2 RB this season, and the could be more of a "1B" to starter Tony Pollard than a pure backup. Spears has 1,048 regular-season rushing yards and 873 receiving yards through three NFL campaigns, so he has the potential to make an impact in fantasy as a dual-threat asset.
Jacobs (groin) isn't practicing Friday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
It's the second straight day that Jacobs is being held out of practice due to a groin injury. At this point, there doesn't seem to be any concern that the veteran running back is dealing with a serious issue, but Green Bay doesn't figure to rush him back onto the field at this early stage of the preseason. Chris Brooks (hamstring) also isn't practicing, so Marshawn Lloyd should get plenty of first-team reps.
Ayomanor (shoulder) is practicing Friday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Ayomanor exited Thursday's practice early due to an issue with his left shoulder, but he apparently dodged a serious injury. The second-year wideout is competing for slotting in Tennessee's wideout pecking order, so it's important that he didn't have to miss much time.
Jesse Newell of The Athletic indicates Johnson has been fourth in the team's RB pecking order behind top option Kenneth Walker, as well as both Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith to this point in training camp.
While Newell indicates that the Chiefs were thrilled to land Johnson in the fifth round of April's draft and suggests that the rookie's long-term prospects with the team remain unchanged, it looks like he may have some ground to make up ahead of Week 1. Things could of course change as the summer progresses and Johnson continues to develop, but for now, his role behind Walker has yet to be determined, while the team's RB2 job remains up for grabs. The Chiefs' preseason opener is Aug. 15 against the Rams, with added context regarding backfield slotting presumably set to arrive via the release of the team's first unofficial depth chart prior to that contest.
Coach John Harbaugh said Skattebo's early exit from Friday's practice is "nothing serious at all," Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
According to Duggan, Skattebo went down in the middle of Friday's session and appeared to be stretching out his hamstring, after which he didn't mix into drills the rest of the way. Harbaugh also told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News that Skattebo is merely working his way back from last season's dislocated right ankle. How Skattebo fares the rest of training camp and the preseason will determine his ultimate workload once Week 1 arrives, with Tyrone Tracy and, to a lesser extent, Devin Singletary also on hand for backfield reps.
Mims (undisclosed) left Friday's practice with an apparent injury, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
With Jaylen Waddle dealing with a muscle strain and Mims having left practice Friday, the Broncos' top healthy WRs at the moment are Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant. Following the high-profile offseason addition of Waddle to work alongside Sutton, however, Mims' path to steady volume is murky as he competes with Franklin and Bryant for slotting behind the top duo.
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