NFL Player News

Sims (back) was listed as a DNP on Wednesday's injury report.

Sims suffered a back injury in the leadup to the Texans' Week 7 game against the Packers, which was severe enough for him to be sidelined. He'll have two more chances to practice in some capacity this week ahead of Houston's Week 8 AFC South clash against Indianapolis on Sunday.

Whittington (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Vikings, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Whittington earned some sway in a Rams passing game missing Puka Nacua (knee) since Week 1 and Cooper Kupp (ankle) since Week 2, culminating with 13 combined catches (on 18 targets) for 151 yards between Weeks 4 and 5. However, Whittington emerged from a Week 5 loss to the Packers with a shoulder injury, and even with the benefit of a Week 6 bye, he handled just nine offensive snaps and wasn't targeted this past Sunday versus the Raiders. Now that Whittington is out Week 8, Kupp will be available, Nacua is listed as questionable but remains on injured reserve, and Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith all are healthy, which may not leave much work for Whittington once he gets healthy.

Douglas (illness) isn't listed on the Patriots' Week 8 injury report released Wednesday.

An illness limited Douglas to 20 snaps in this past Sunday's 32-16 loss to the Jaguars, but the wideout is evidently back at full strength, given that he avoided the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets. As a result, Douglas should return to his normal workload this weekend and serve as one of quarterback Drake Maye's preferred targets. While playing roughly six quarters of the two games that Maye has started, Douglas has turned in an 8-106-1 receiving line on 12 targets.

Waddle was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to a quadricep injury, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Waddle still has two opportunities to upgrade to full practice participation, which would put him in position to avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since Week 2, and the expectation is that he'll clear the five-step concussion protocol and return from injured reserve to start Sunday. Waddle would stand to benefit substantially from Tagovailoa's return under center. The receiver had 150 receiving yards across Tagovailoa's two starts this season, and just 119 receiving yards in the four games Tagovailoa missed.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Brown (shoulder) is "on schedule, or a little but ahead" in his recovery from September surgery, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

That said, Reid cautioned that it's "going to be a while" before Brown plays, though the receiver is a "relentless worker" who seems to be doing well up to this point in his recovery. Around the time he had surgery, multiple reports suggested Brown was unlikely to play in the regular season, with any shot to return dependent on the Chiefs making another playoff run. The team's wideout corps has changed considerably since Week 1, first losing Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury and then adding DeAndre Hopkins via trade.

Watson (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Both Watson and fellow wideout Jayden Reed continue to tend to their respective ankle issues, but the former hasn't experienced much of a change in his workload. Having said that, Watson turned his two touches into five yards from scrimmage this past Sunday versus the Texans, so he'll be aiming for a stronger performance Sunday at Jacksonville, assuming he's active.

Davis (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Davis suffered a hamstring injury during practice leading up to Monday's game against the Cardinals, which was severe enough for him to be sidelined. His DNP on Wednesday isn't a good start to the week, but he'll have two more chances to practice in at least a limited capacity ahead of the Chargers' Week 8 contest against the Saints on Sunday.

Reed (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Both Reed and fellow wideout Christian Watson continue to have practice reps managed due to their respective ankle issues, but the former hasn't experienced much of a downturn in his workload on game days. Reed is coming off a season-low three touches for just 10 yards from scrimmage this past Sunday against the Texans, so he'll be looking to bounce back this weekend at Jacksonville, assuming he's able to suit up.

Ridley sat out Wednesday's practice with a foot injury, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Ridley handled his usual workload in a 34-10 loss at Buffalo on Sunday, leading the Titans in targets (nine) and route share (77 percent) but catching just three passes for 42 yards. With the Titans trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs on Wednesday, Ridley could end up drawing a few more targets, although volume has been the least of his problems in what's been a dismal Tennessee offense through six games.

Woods (foot) didn't practice Wednesday.

Woods missed Houston's last two games due to plantar fasciitis, and while he's reportedly making progress in his recovery, the receiver still isn't ready to resume practicing. If Woods doesn't play Sunday against the Colts, Xavier Hutchinson would continue to have a role in three-receiver sets, though Hutchinson was working ahead of Woods even before the veteran wideout got hurt.