NFL Player News

Watson (ankle) was limited at Thursday's practice.

Since sitting out Week 5 at the Rams due to a sprained left ankle, Watson has suited up the last two games, combining for five touches for 73 yards from scrimmage and one receiving TD. Most of that production occurred on a 44-yard scoring connection with QB Jordan Love in Week 6 against the Cardinals, but Watson has a favorable matchup on tap Sunday versus a Jaguars defense that has allowed the second-most YPT (8.7) to opposing wide receivers this season. Friday's injury report will unveil whether or not Watson goes into the weekend with a designation.

Hill (foot) was limited at practice Thursday, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Hill worked fully Wednesday, so his addition to Miami's injury report a day later is notable. Meanwhile, fellow WR Jaylen Waddle (quad) was also limited Thursday, which sets the stage for Friday's injury report to loom large in terms of the duo's availability for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. If Hill is able to face Arizona this weekend, his fantasy prospects could be boosted by the potential return to action of top QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion).

Reed (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Reed continues to deal with the ankle injury that forced a brief exit during a Week 6 win against the Cardinals. He hasn't been too productive the last two games, turning 10 touches into 38 yards from scrimmage and one receiving TD, but he has a nice on-paper matchup Sunday against a Jaguars defense that has yielded the second-most YPT (8.7) to opposing wide receivers this season. Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not he carries a designation into the weekend.

Downs (groin/toe) practiced fully Thursday.

Downs and Michael Pittman (back) were deemed non-participants Wednesday, but both players practiced fully a day later, which sets the stage for the duo to be available alongside fellow WR Alec Pierce on Sunday against the Texans. In five games to date overall, Downs has compiled a 28-242-2 line on 38 targets, though in QB Anthony Richardson's return to action in the Colts' Week 7 win over the Dolphins, the 2023 third-rounder caught just one of his three targets for three yards. An uptick in Downs' production this weekend is plausible, though it remains to be seen if he'll be able to match the pace he put up while Joe Flacco worked as the team's signal caller.

The Rams activated Nacua (knee) from injured reserve Thursday ahead of a Week 8 matchup with the Vikings, but he remains questionable for that contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, there's an expectation that Nacua will be able to play Thursday, but the Rams won't make a decision until they see how he fares in pregame warmups. Nacua made a speedy recovery from the PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered Week 1, but both he and Cooper Kupp (ankle) should be back in action for the Rams in Week 8.

Pittman (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Last week, Pittman sandwiched missed practices Wednesday and Friday around a full session Thursday before playing in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins and finishing with three catches on 63 yards on five targets. He may be following a similar path this week, as he sat out Wednesday's session before logging every rep Thursday. The Colts will wait and see what Pittman is able to do during Friday's practice before determining whether he'll avoid a designation or take a questionable tag into this Sunday's matchup with the Texans.

Ridley (foot) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Ridley missed Wednesday's practice, so what the wideout is able to do Friday will be pivotal with regard to his chances of playing against the Lions on Sunday. With DeAndre Hopkins having been traded to the Chiefs, Ridley has a chance to pick up the pace in terms of his production in the coming weeks, but first he'll need to move past his foot issue.

Thielen (hamstring) was limited in practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Since Carolina designated him for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Thielen has managed a pair of capped sessions as he closes in on his recovery from the right hamstring injury that he suffered back in Week 3. Fellow WR Diontae Johnson hasn't practiced this week due to a rib issue, so the team may feel compelled to get Thielen back in the lineup Sunday in Denver if Johnson isn't able to suit up. Ultimately, the Panthers will need to activate Thielen from IR by Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET for him to have a chance to play this weekend.

Johnson didn't practice Thursday due to a rib injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Johnson was listed as a non-participant Wednesday for non-injury-related/rest reasons in addition to the rib issue, but the Panthers' latest practice reports attributes his absence Thursday only to the injury. He'll still have another chance to log some practice reps before the Panthers potentially make a decision on his availability for Sunday's game at Denver. For his part, Johnson said after Thursday's practice that he believes he'll be ready to play this weekend, per David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Toney (undisclosed), who is a member of the Browns' practice squad, is back at practice Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Toney has practiced both Wednesday and Thursday, and he looks healthy after having missed over a month due to an undisclosed injury. With Amari Cooper now a member of the Bills, Toney may be a candidate to elevate from the practice squad and bolster Cleveland's wide-receiver corps as early as Sunday versus the Ravens.