NFL Player News

The Cowboys waived Billy-Johnson on Monday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Billy-Johnson found work in Dallas in late April, but the team has now decided to move on from the Oklahoma State product. His most recent NFL in-game action came with the Raiders in 2022, where he appeared in two games and failed to record a single stat while playing seven total snaps.

The Buccaneers released Shepard on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Shepard inked a deal with the Buccaneers in June after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Giants, but it now appears that Tampa Bay has decided to part ways with the veteran wideout. According to Rapoport, the Buccaneers are holding a spot for Shepard on the team's practice squad if the 31-year-old clears waivers.

Pearsall (shoulder) returned to practice Monday in a non-contact jersey, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Pearsall's participation in practice is a positive step forward, even if he's wearing a blue non-contact jersey. The rookie first-round pick had been sidelined since Aug. 6 due to a shoulder subluxation he's dealt with since college and which caused him to miss all three of San Francisco's preseason contests. Pearsall has two weeks remaining to ramp up his activity level before San Francisco's regular-season opener against the Jets on Monday, Sept. 9.

Hall was waived by the Vikings on Monday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.

Hall joined the Vikings last Monday, but his time with the franchise has come to an end for now. The 25-year-old has shined in the USFL and UFL in each of the last two seasons but hasn't been able to translate that success over to the NFL as of yet.

Brown (shoulder) was present at Monday's practice but didn't participate, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Watching from the sideline might be interpreted as a step in the right direction, but Brown remains uncertain for Week 1 after suffering a sternoclavicular injury Aug. 10 in Kansas City's preseason opener. Reports at the time suggested he'd likely be out 4-to-6 weeks, hinting at a return at some point in September if not in time for Week 1. With Brown unavailable, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson got most of the first-team snaps at wide receiver alongside Rashee Rice in the Chiefs' second preseason game. The team recently added JuJu Smith-Schuster for depth, but he'll have an uphill battle to earn playing time even if Brown misses a game or two at the beginning of the regular season.

Wilson (ankle) did prep work with his teammates Monday but didn't actually practice, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.

The rookie third-round pick sprained his left ankle during the first week of training camp and used a protective boot for a few days thereafter. Wilson did some individual drills last week, suggesting he has a chance to be ready for the regular-season opener Sunday, Sept. 8 against Atlanta, although the month of missed practice presumably ends any hope of being a Week 1 starter. Van Jefferson has taken most of the first-team reps opposite George Pickens this summer, including during preseason games, with Calvin Austin mostly working the slot as Pittsburgh's No. 3 receiver.

Lamb (contract dispute) and the Cowboys agreed to terms Monday on a four-year, $136 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Lamb's contract dispute saw him miss the entirety of training camp and the preseason, but the star wide receiver now gets his new deal with roughly two weeks remaining to ramp up for Dallas' matchup against the Browns in Week 1. In addition to a $38 million signing bonus, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Lamb's new contract includes $100 million guaranteed. The deal makes Lamb the second-highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history and keeps him linked to QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys for the foreseeable future. Fresh off a 2023 campaign in which he tallied 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 scores on 181 targets across 17 regular-season games, Lamb again is in prime position to produce as one of the top wide receivers in the league as the unquestioned No. 1 option in Dallas' uptempo, pass-heavy offense.

Nacua (knee) returned to practice Monday, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

Nacua may not be a full participant immediately, but he'll now have almost two full weeks to gear up before a Sept. 8 season opener at Detroit. Monday marks his first practice appearance since Aug. 4, when he suffered a bursa sac injury in his knee. Coach Sean McVay said Aug. 6 that he wasn't worried about Nacua's availability for Week 1.

Baker logged 27 snaps on offense in Sunday's preseason finale against the Commanders en route to catching two of his seven targets for 33 yards in the contest, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Baker's roster spot is in no danger ahead of cut downs, but the 2024 fourth-rounder's role in the offense early on this season may not be substantial. For now, DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton are the team's healthy wideouts who will likely slot in ahead of Baker as New England's Week 1 matchup against Cincinnati approaches.

Coach Doug Pederson said Monday that Kirk (calf) will resume practicing this week, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Kirk has missed roughly two weeks of practice due to a calf injury described as mild, so it will be encouraging to see him back on the field in at least a limited capacity. The 27-year-old still has just under two weeks remaining to get fully healthy for Jacksonville's regular-season opener against the Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 8, so he figures to be ready to rock by the time Week 1 kicks off.