NFL Player News

Hutchinson should have a regular role in three-receiver sets after Stefon Diggs (knee) was diagnosed Tuesday with a torn ACL, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

With top wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) having played just four snaps over the Texans' last four games, Hutchinson had already been handling an expanded role. He played north of 60 percent of offensive snaps in three of those four contests but produced a meager 4-61-0 receiving line on seven targets over that stretch. Collins is set to miss one more game Thursday versus the Jets before potentially returning from injured reserve in Week 10, but the season-ending injury Diggs suffered in Week 8 keeps a spot open for Hutchinson. However a healthy Collins, along with Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz, should still dominate targets from C.J. Stroud, making Hutchinson is risky fantasy option.

Dell is expected to step into a larger role in the Texans' passing game Thursday against the Jets with Nico Collins (hamstring) still sidelined and Stefon Diggs (knee) having been ruled out for the season, ESPN.com reports.

Collins has already missed the Texans' past three games, with Dell producing an 11-92-2 receiving line on 17 targets over that span. Diggs has drawn 23 targets over that same stretch, but after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Colts, the door is open for Dell to carve out a bigger role, along with Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and John Metchie as well as tight end Dalton Schultz. Collins is reportedly on track to come off IR when first eligible in Week 10, but Diggs' absence for the rest of the season should still guarantee Dell sizable target volume in the second half of the season. Dell thrived as a rookie last season as the top complement to Collins before breaking his leg in Week 13.

The Colts cut Fernea from the practice squad Tuesday.

Fernea hasn't yet suited up for a game this season, but he logged four regular-season appearances with Indianapolis between 2022 and 2023. The depth wide receiver could be a candidate to reunite with the team later in the 2024 campaign.

Burton caught one pass for 41 yards in the Bengals' loss to the Eagles in Week 8. He played a season-high 24 snaps and had three total targets.

The 2024 third-round pick hasn't asked to do too much yet in the Bengals' offense, but with Tee Higgins (quad) out Sunday, Burton saw his role increase. No. 3 wideout Andrei Iosivas hasn't been getting open consistently, so it's possible that Burton could start to earn more playing time in the second half of the season.

Iosivas was held catchless in Sunday's Week 8 loss to the Eagles despite playing 51 snaps. He was targeted three times.

Iosivas just doesn't get open very often, and that really hurt the Bengals this week with Tee Higgins (quad) out against the Eagles. Instead, the Bengals went more often to tight end Mike Gesicki, who often was lined up in the slot. Even rookie Jermaine Burton chipped in with a big reception in limited reps. Iosivas' hold on the No. 3 receiver job appears tenuous.

The Browns signed Darden from the practice squad to the active roster Tuesday.

Darden had already reached his maximum of three elevations from the practice squad, meaning he had to be inked to the 53-man roster in order to contribute Sunday against the Chargers. The 25-year-old will continue working as a key punt returner for the Browns, as well as playing a depth role on offense.

The Ravens acquired Johnson (ribs) and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick from the Panthers on Tuesday in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Baltimore will get a big upgrade to its receiver room at the modest cost of a one-round pick downgrade. Carolina is also expected to cover a portion of the salary remaining on the 28-year-old wideout's expiring contract, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. After the Panthers acquired Johnson from the Steelers in March, he had been serving as the team's No. 1 wideout, compiling a 30-357-3 receiving line on 58 targets. He missed the Panthers' Week 8 loss to the Broncos due to a rib issue, but assuming he's able to pass a physical, Johnson could be on track to make his Ravens debut as soon as this Sunday, coincidentally versus Denver. Though he will benefit from a major improvement in quarterback play, going from Andy Dalton (thumb) and Bryce Young to reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, Johnson is likely to see a reduction in targets as part of a run-oriented Baltimore offense that already features quality pass-catching options in Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Tuesday that Diggs suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday's 23-20 win over the Colts and will miss the rest of the season, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diggs suffered the non-contact right knee injury late in the third quarter of Sunday's win, and after he was sent in for an MRI on Monday, the Texans confirmed that he suffered structural damage to his knee. Both the nature and timing of the injury are brutal developments for Diggs, who was playing out the 2024 campaign on a one-year, $22.52 million restructured "prove-it" contract with the Texans. Diggs is now scheduled to hit free agency while facing a recovery timetable that may put his availability for the start of the 2025 campaign in jeopardy. As for the Texans, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and John Metchie are left as the team's top four receivers for a Week 9 matchup with the Jets, though No. 1 wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) appears poised to return from injured reserve Week 10 when first eligible.

Jefferson secured four of five targets for 62 yards during Monday's 26-18 win over the Giants.

Jefferson has been inconsistent for most of the 2024 season, but he racked up a season-high 62 receiving yards during Monday's primetime win a week after reaching the end zone for the first time this year. The 2020 second-rounder has had more success with Russell Wilson than he had with Justin Fields, and Jefferson played 80 percent of the team's offensive snaps Monday. Over the first half of the season, he has secured 14 of 21 targets for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Brown secured his only target for six yards during Sunday's 18-15 win over the Bears.

Brown, who played 32 percent of the offensive snaps, continues to mix in with Luke McCaffrey (36 percent) and Olamide Zaccheaus (35 percent) for No. 3 wide receiver reps behind top options Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown. The 2021 third-round pick has now logged seven straight games with at least one catch, but he's averaging just 19.1 yards per contest in that span. Brown will look to do more with his opportunities in Week 9 against the Giants.