NFL Player News
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Brandon McManus K | GB
Packers' Brandon McManus: Manages limited practice Thursday
The Packers listed McManus (quadriceps) as a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
According to Ryan Wood of USA Today, McManus wasn't in full uniform during the open portion of Thursday's practice, nor was he seen doing any kicking after injuring his right quad during Wednesday's workout. Even so, McManus apparently did enough on-field work to garner a limited listing for the second straight day. Though head coach Matt LaFleur expressed some concern about McManus' availability for Sunday's game against the Bengals when he spoke to the media earlier Thursday, the kicker himself said after the practice session that he expects to be ready to play by the time the weekend arrives, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. McManus' activity -- or lack thereof -- at Friday's practice will likely determine whether he takes a designation into Sunday.
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Brandon McManus K | GB
Packers' Brandon McManus: Misses practice, could play Sunday
McManus (quadriceps) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
Before Thursday's session got underway, head coach Matt LaFleur said that McManus was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice after injuring his right quad during the workout, per Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site. LaFleur added that McManus' injury was a "major concern right now," but the Packers aren't yet ruling the 34-year-old out from serving as their kicker Sunday against the Bengals. Though he didn't do any kicking with his injured leg Thursday, McManus was on the field and took part in individual drills, seemingly as a measure to get in some mental reps ahead of the Week 6 contest. He told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com afterward that he plans to play Sunday, though McManus' activity at Friday's session will likely determine whether or not he heads into the weekend with a designation.
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Tyler Bass K | BUF
Bills' Tyler Bass: Practice window not opening yet
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Thursday that Bass (left hip/groin) is among players on IR who will not have their practice windows opened yet, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
McDermott said, "We'll see -- going off the info from the medical team," when asked whether Bass will play this season, per Maddy Glab of the team's official site, though he did acknowledge that the kicker is trending in the right direction. Bass' 21-day practice window was eligible to open as early as Week 5, but at this stage a timetable for him to retake the field remains uncertain. Fill-in kicker Matt Prater has been reliable through five regular-season appearances, having converted 10 of 11 field-goal tries and all 15 of his extra-point attempts, so Buffalo has little reason to rush Bass back to action.
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Matthew Wright K | HOU
Matthew Wright: Joins Titans' practice squad
Tennessee signed Wright to its practice squad Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Regular starting kicker Joey Slye did not participate at practice Wednesday due to a calf injury, so Wright's name will be one to keep an eye on as Sunday's game at Las Vegas approaches. In five games in 2024 with the Chiefs, 49ers and Titans, he made 15 of his 16 field-goal attempts and all six of his extra-point tries.
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Joey Slye K | TEN
Titans' Joey Slye: Misses practice Wednesday
Slye didn't practice Wednesday due to a right calf injury, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Slye made all three of his field-goal attempts and went 1-for-2 on extra-point tries in Sunday's 22-21 win over the Cardinals, but with an absence from practice to start the current week, the kicker's status is worth monitoring ahead of this weekend's game against the Raiders. If Slye is unavailable versus Las Vegas, Matthew Wright is a candidate for a practice-squad elevation.
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Brandon McManus K | GB
Packers' Brandon McManus: Dealing with quad injury
McManus was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a right quadriceps injury.
McManus was one of 14 players listed on the Packers' first injury report following their Week 5 bye. Green Bay has kicker Mark McNamee on its practice squad as an international pathway player, though it's unclear if the Packers would feel comfortable turning to him as a replacement in the event McManus is unable to play Sunday against the Bengals.
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Tyler Bass K | BUF
Bills' Tyler Bass: Uncertain for Week 6
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that the team has not yet decided whether Bass (left hip/groin), who remains on IR, could return for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
Bass was eligible to have his 21-day practice window opened as early as last week, but Buffalo has yet to instigate such a transaction. While the Bills haven't yet ruled Bass out for Week 6, his availability will look increasingly unlikely the longer he remains off the practice field. Bass hasn't yet suited up for regular-season action this year, and until he's fully healthy Matt Prater figures to continue operating as Buffalo's starting kicker.
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Jason Sanders K | MIA
Dolphins' Jason Sanders: Likely out for Week 6
Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Wednesday that Sanders (hip) is not ready to return from injured reserve, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Although McDaniel didn't officially rule out Sanders for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers, the kicker would have to be activated to the team's active roster, which seems unlikely following Wednesday's comments. Expect Riley Patterson to continue operating as Miami's top place kicker until Sanders can return from his hip issue.
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Spencer Shrader K | IND
Colts' Spencer Shrader: Heads to IR
The Colts placed Shrader (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.
His move to IR opens up room on the 53-man roster for Michael Badgley, whom the Colts signed to step in as their new kicker in place of Shrader, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering ACL and MCL tears to his right knee in Sunday's 40-6 win over the Raiders. The Notre Dame product had gotten off to an excellent start to the season, converting 13 of 14 field-goal attempts and 14 of 14 extra-point tries en route to an NFL-leading 53 points through the first five weeks. Shrader is under contract through 2026 and should have the inside track on the kicking job heading into next season if he's able to bounce back well from knee surgery.
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Mike Badgley K | IND
Colts' Michael Badgley: New kicker in Indy
Badgley agreed to a contract with the Colts on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Spencer Shrader (knee) suffering a season-ending injury in Sunday's 40-6 win over the Raiders, the Colts worked out eight kickers Tuesday. Badgley ultimately emerged from the tryout with a contract, and he'll now have the opportunity to kick for a Colts squad that has fielded a surprisingly prolific offense through the first five weeks. Despite having his day cut short by the injury in Week 5, Shrader had racked up an NFL-high 53 points while knocking down 13 of 14 field-goal tries on the season. With a career 82.4 percent success rate on field goals over stops with five different teams in his career, Badgley can't be counted on to match the accuracy Shrader had displayed, but the 30-year-old should at least benefit from playing his home games indoors. Badgley looks like a worthy pickup in fantasy leagues for managers seeking a fill-in for Shrader or a replacement for a kicker who is on bye or isn't tethered to as formidable of an offense as Indianapolis.