NFL Player News

The 49ers signed Gage to their practice squad Wednesday.

The 28-year-old wideout failed to catch on in Baltimore this past offseason, but he's now found a new home in San Francisco. Gage most recently appeared in 13 regular-season games with the Buccaneers in 2022, catching 51 of his 70 targets for 426 yards and five touchdowns. He could find his way onto the 49ers' active roster if their wide receiver room faces injuries later this season.

Thielen (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

The Panthers haven't said that Thielen has experienced a setback with his hamstring, but he's now sat out two consecutive practices after he was previously a non-participant in last Friday's session before being ruled out ahead of a 23-22 win over the Saints. He resumed practicing Oct. 23 and will need to be activated from injured reserve next week even if he's not ready to play, unless the Panthers want him ruled out for the rest of the season. Thielen's absence from practice to begin Week 10 prep suggests that he doesn't have great odds of playing this Sunday against the Giants in Munich.

The Chargers signed Reagor from their practice squad to the 53-man roster Wednesday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.

Reagor has been elevated from the practice squad for the Chargers' last three contests, and now he's found his way into a more permanent position on the active roster. However, as long as Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer are all healthy, it's not likely that any other Chargers wideout will register on the fantasy radar this season.

The Chargers placed Fehoko (elbow) on injured reserve Wednesday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.

Fehoko injured his elbow during Sunday's win over the Browns and will now miss at least four games. His earliest possible date for a return will be Week 14 at Kansas City, with the upcoming absence potentially freeing up more snaps for Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark (groin), Jalen Reagor and/or Derius Davis. Rookie Ladd McConkey is locked in as the No. 1 target, with Quentin Johnston having also been a regular starter when healthy.

Samuel (pectoral) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Samuel missed Week 8 with the same injury but played in Sunday's 30-27 win over the Dolphins. He's gotten four or fewer targets and no more than one carry in each game this season, and he's played more than 40 percent of the snaps on just one occasion. Samuel typically plays only 25-to-40 percent of the snaps on offense even if the Bills have injury concerns at his position, which is the case this week with both Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman nursing wrist injuries.

Cooper (wrist) was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday's walk-through practice.

Meanwhile, fellow wideout Keon Coleman (wrist) was held out of practice after getting hurt during a 30-27 win over the Dolphins on Sunday. Cooper was inactive for that contest but isn't expected to require a long-term absence, potentially setting him up for a return to the lineup this Sunday at Indianapolis.

Brown (knee) will practice Wednesday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Brown received good news from an MRI after missing the second half of a 28-23 win over the Jaguars on Sunday. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday that the wideout is considered day-to-day, and Brown's practice participation Wednesday confirms that his injury is a minor concern. Even a limited session Wednesday would put Brown on the right track to play this Sunday at Dallas.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't practice Wednesday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster has missed two games and hasn't practiced in any fashion since being forced out of the Chiefs' Week 7 with over the 49ers on Oct. 20 after aggravating a right hamstring injury. The wideout was a popular waiver-wire pickup after turning in a 7-130-0 receiving line on eight targets in a Week 5 win over the Saints, but his opportunities to build on the big game have been stymied by the injury. Even if Smith-Schuster is able to demonstrate enough progress this week to suit up Sunday against the Broncos, he'll likely find himself as more of a secondary option in the passing game with the Chiefs having since acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans to complement tight end Travis Kelce.

Pittman didn't practice Wednesday due to back and finger injuries, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Wednesday absences have been the norm for Pittman since Week 6, but the wideout has managed to suit up for all nine of the Colts' games to date. That said, head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged Wednesday that the team is taking it week by week with regard to determining Pittman's workload in practice, per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis. In this past Sunday's loss to the Vikings, Pittman played 76 percent of the snaps on offense, but he finished with just one catch for 14 yards on four targets. He's been held to three receptions or fewer in four straight outings and in five of his nine appearances on the season.

Collins (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Collins, who was placed on injured reserve Oct.9, has missed four straight games and is thus eligible to return to practice as soon as this week. Per Wilson, Collins hasn't experienced any setbacks with his hamstring injury, with the wideout having reportedly regained his speed and mobility in the process. However, Collins' continued absence from practice casts doubt on his avaiability for Sunday's game against the Lions.