NFL Player News
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Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Won't practice this week
Pearsall (shoulder) is not in line to practice this week and remains a non-participant Tuesday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that there was hope Pearsall could make his preseason debut Friday versus the Raiders, but that ship seems to have sailed. The rookie first-round pick has missed roughly all but one week of training camp due to a shoulder issue, so he's been deprived of valuable installation reps in the 49ers' complex offensive scheme, as well as opportunities to establish chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy. That Brandon Aiyuk (contract dispute) has also remained off the practice field in that span only compounds the worth of Pearsall's missed practices. Pearsall still has nearly three weeks to get healthy ahead of San Francisco's regular-season opener against the Jets on Monday, Sept. 9, but at this point it seems unlikely Pearsall is significantly involved Week 1 even if he's back to 100 percent form.
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Amari Cooper WR | LV
Browns' Amari Cooper: Surprisingly absent from practice
Cooper (undisclosed) is not present at Tuesday's practice despite coach Kevin Stefanski stating that he would be on the field, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Stefanski said Tuesday morning that Cooper, who has been sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury during joint practices with the Vikings last Thursday, was in line to return, but the Browns' No. 1 wideout isn't actually on the field. Saturday's exhibition game against the Seahawks represents Cooper's final chance to log preseason reps prior to Week 1, when the Browns will take on the Cowboys at home, but he'll need to return to practice before that will likely be an option.
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DJ Moore WR | BUF
Bears' DJ Moore: Sitting Thursday
Coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday that the majority of Chicago's starters, likely including Moore, will sit for Thursday's preseason finale against Kansas City, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Eberflus specified that quarterback Caleb Williams won't play Thursday, and it seems all but assured that Moore will be included in the group of players held out until the regular-season opener against Tennessee. The wideout has spent the offseason developing chemistry with 2024 first overall pick Williams, whose presence under center promises to notably upgrade Chicago's passing game. Even if the additions of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze threaten Moore's ability to replicate his 28.8 percent target share from last season, an improved offense as a whole should represent a net positive for Moore's fantasy prospects in terms of consistency.
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Devontez Walker WR | BAL
Ravens' Devontez Walker: Back at practice
Walker (ribs) participated in practice Tuesday, Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Walker, who has been managing a rib issue, didn't practice Monday, but the 2024 fourth-rounder's return to the field a day later bodes well for his chances of seeing action in Saturday's preseason finale against the Packers. As the regular season approaches, Walker is looking to carve out a steady role as a rookie in a WR corps that also includes veterans Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor.
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Brandin Cooks WR | BUF
Cowboys' Brandin Cooks: Will miss next two practices
Coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that Cooks (knee) will miss the Cowboys' next two practices for personal reasons, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Cooks, who worked with the rehab group Monday due to lingering knee soreness, will miss sessions Tuesday and Wednesday to fly back to Dallas, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. With CeeDee Lamb (holdout) still away from the team, Cooks' brief absence will provide Jalen Tolbert with another chance to lead the team's wide receiver group during practice.
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Tyquan Thornton WR | KC
Patriots' Tyquan Thornton: Carving out role in third season
Thornton, who Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site projects to make the team's 53-man roster, has been running with New England's top offense this summer.
Per Lazar, the 2022 second-rounder, who is playing at 192 pounds these days, looks more sturdy on the field with the added weight. Thornton struggled to stay healthy over his first two years as a pro, but he now has a chance to emerge as a field-stretcher in the Patriots offense. Whether such a role yields enough volume for him to make a fantasy impact remains to be seen, with DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn and Javon Baker also in the mix for targets in New England's re-tooled WR corps.
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Jaylen Waddle WR | DEN
Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle: Still sidelined at practice
Waddle (undisclosed) did not practice Tuesday, Barry Jackson and Omar Kelly of The Miami Herald report.
Waddle has missed roughly two weeks of practice due to an undisclosed injury which coach Mike McDaniel labeled as minor. It still doesn't seem like Waddle's status for Week 1 is in jeopardy, but the standout wide receiver could be in danger of missing his final opportunity to log preseason game reps, which will come Friday versus the Buccaneers. Tyreek Hill (hand) didn't participate in catching drills during Tuesday's practice, while Odell Beckham (undisclosed) remains on the active/PUP list and has yet to participate in training camp sessions. In addition, potential No. 3 option River Cracraft (upper body) is expected to miss significant time, so the focus for Miami's receiving corps may be on simply getting healthy before the start of the regular season.
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Tyreek Hill WR | MIA
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill: Wearing hand brace
Hill (hand) did not catch any passes at Tuesday's practice and was spotted wearing a brace on his right hand, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Hill appears to be dealing with a minor injury, though as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes, if the star wide receiver were dealing with anything serious he likely wouldn't have participated in individual drills Tuesday. The Dolphins may simply be taking a cautious approach to Hill's health, given that Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) and Odell Beckham (undisclosed) both remain sidelined while River Cracraft (undisclosed) is expected to miss significant time. Miami could extend that cautious approach to Friday's preseason finale against the Buccaneers, and keep Hill off the field if he's anything less than 100 percent.
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Amari Cooper WR | LV
Browns' Amari Cooper: Returning to practice Tuesday
Cooper (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice Tuesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Cooper exited joint practices with the Vikings last Thursday early due to an undisclosed injury, but it looks like he's now healthy. Coach Kevin Stefanski said that Cleveland's starters "should expect to play Saturday" versus the Seahawks, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic, but a decision on Cooper's availability for the Browns' preseason finale won't be made until later in the week.