NFL Player News

Waddle (undisclosed) is wearing a non-contact jersey Monday at practice, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.

Waddle's participation in any fashion is a good sign for the Dolphins, 13 days ahead of their regular-season opener against Jacksonville. The WR room has been hit by injury after injury this summer, but it seems Waddle and Tyreek Hill (hand) are on track to be ready for Week 1, leaving the lower portion of the depth chart as the bigger question mark.

Crowder didn't play in Sunday's 20-10 preseason win over New England.

It's a good sign for his odds of having a spot on the initial 53-man roster, and Crowder might even get some early season snaps on offense after the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles and left themselves with an extremely thin WR room. Crowder mostly seems to be around for punt returns at this point in his career, but he could get a look in the slot as well, especially if the Commanders want to play Olamide Zaccheaus on the perimeter.

Brown didn't play in Sunday's 20-10 preseason win over New England.

Neither did Olamide Zaccheaus, who seems to be Brown's primary competition for the No. 2 receiver spot after Jahan Dotson was traded to the Eagles last week. Dotson mostly worked the slot during Washington's first two preseason games while Zaccheaus and Brown split perimeter snaps with the first-team offense. One possibility is moving Zaccheaus to the slot and keeping Brown on the perimeter, although that wouldn't necessarily give Brown all the playing time in two-wide sets. Jamison Crowder and rookie third-round pick Luke McCaffrey also could enter the mix despite not getting playing time with the starting offense this preseason. Regardless of how the snaps shake out, it'll be surprising if any of the team's WRs besides Terry McLaurin see more than a handful of targets per game.

Zaccheaus didn't play in Sunday's 20-10 preseason win over New England.

Zaccheaus, Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey and Jamison Crowder all were held out of the game with no injury reported, suggesting they're in good position for spots on the initial 53-man roster. The question is how snaps will be divided after McLaurin, with the No. 2 and 3 roles seemingly up for grabs after Jahan Dotson was traded to Philadelphia last week. Zaccheaus and Brown split perimeter snaps with the first-team offense during the first two preseason games while Dotson mostly manned the slot.

Tolbert didn't suit up for any of Dallas' preseason contests this year.

Dak Prescott and the rest of the team's first-string players were kept out of the preseason entirely, with Tolbert counting among that group. The 2022 third-round pick could be poised for a big role to begin the season with CeeDee Lamb still holding out and Brandin Cooks (knee) not 100 percent, as Tolbert looks to build on the 22-268-2 line on 36 targets he compiled over 17 regular-season games last year.

Turpin didn't see action in any of Dallas' three preseason games this year.

That's good news for the TCU product, as Turpin is locked in as the Cowboys' top kick returner and had nothing to prove during the exhibition schedule. Teams avoided putting the ball in Turpin's hands last year, and his total return yards dropped from 811 in his rookie campaign to 371 in 2023, but the NFL's new kickoff rules should give the 28-year-old more opportunities to break away for his first career kick return touchdown. With CeeDee Lamb still holding out and Brandin Cooks (knee) not 100 percent at the end of training camp, Turpin could also see more snaps on offense early in the season after he scored four TDs on only 23 offensive touches last year.

Flournoy caught all three of his targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to the Chargers.

The 2024 sixth-round pick hauled in a TD in both of the last two preseason games, which may have been enough to lock him into a spot on the 53-man roster. Flournoy isn't likely to see much volume in the regular season, but with CeeDee Lamb still holding out and Brandin Cooks (knee) banged up, Dallas' depth at wideout could be tested early in the year.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that he's not sure if Beckham (undisclosed) will start the regular season on the reserve/PUP list or active roster, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Week 1 availability may be an uphill battle, but Beckham apparently still has some chance to avoid the automatic four-game absence that comes with a PUP stint to start the year. He's been on active/PUP since the start of training camp, yet to practice with his new teammates this summer. Braxton Berrios is the favorite for the No. 3 receiver role in Beckham's absence, with rookie Malik Washington and third-year pro Erik Ezukanma (foot) also candidates to take some WR snaps behind Tyreek Hill (hand) and Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed). The Dolphins have dealt with a glut of injuries at the position this summer, but there hasn't been any indication of Hill or Waddle being in serious danger of missing Week 1 against Jacksonville.

Smith-Schuster is signing with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Kansas City was his first stop after a five-year stint in Pittsburgh, with Smith-Schuster catching 78 of 101 targets for 933 yards and three TDs in 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2022. He had only 89 yards in three playoff appearances in that year and then managed only 260 yards in 11 games last season after signing a three-year contract with the Patriots. Released by New England after a couple weeks of training camp, the 27-year-old now will try to reestablish himself in Kansas City, where he'll likely start off in a depth role and may even have to prove he's worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.

Osborn recorded two receptions (on four targets) for 17 yards in Sunday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Commanders.

Osborn was a starting outside receiver alongside Tyquan Thornton and was second on the team with 21 snaps on the first 31 offensive plays. He was targeted deep regularly, and he did connect with Drake Maye on a 48-yard catch -- only for it to be nullified by a penalty. The Patriots appear set to rotate their wide receiver corps early in the season, and Osborn is in the group that should see the field plenty Week 1 against Cincinnati.