NFL Player News
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Ladd McConkey WR | LAC
Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Records first catch of preseason
McConkey caught his only target for five yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Rams.
McConkey made his debut for the Chargers against the team's cross-town rivals after sitting out last week's exhibition. The 34th selection in this year's draft didn't get a ton of burn with the rest of the starters Saturday, but he registered the first preseason catch of his career from the arm of backup quarterback Easton Stick. McConkey's fantasy upside in 2024 is tied to the rookie's ability to earn, maintain and flourish as one of starting quarterback Justin Herbert's top targets.
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Marvin Harrison Jr. WR | ARI
Cardinals' Marvin Harrison: Healthy scratch Saturday
Harrison (coach's decision) did not play in Saturday's 21-13 preseason loss to the Colts.
Harrison was held out of the Cardinals' second preseason tilt after receiving no targets in one series with the starters in last week's exhibition. Fans and fantasy managers alike may have to wait until the start of the regular season if Arizona's coaching staff continues to handle its new talent with kid gloves in games of no consequence. Harrison will be healthy and ready to roll come Week 1, providing massive fantasy upside as Kyler Murray's likely top target.
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Jamari Thrash WR | CLE
Browns' Jamari Thrash: Three grabs Saturday
Thrash caught three of five targets for 25 yards in Saturday's 27-12 preseason loss to the Vikings.
The Browns sat all their starters and key reserves, and none of Amari Cooper (undisclosed), Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman were on the field. That created opportunities for the team's depth wideouts, and Thrash, a 2024 fifth-round pick out of Louisville, finished the day tied for the team lead in targets with running back D'Onta Foreman. With David Bell (quadriceps) currently sidelined, there could be an opening for Thrash to win the No. 5 spot on the wide receiver depth chart to begin the season.
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Davante Adams WR | LAR
Raiders' Davante Adams: Not suiting up Saturday
Adams isn't in line to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Cowboys, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Adams missed the Raiders' first exhibition at Minnesota due to the birth of his son, and he now will remain on the sideline for the second iteration. While he has 11 games of experience working with one of the players (Aidan O'Connell) currently vying to be the Week 1 starting QB for Las Vegas, Adams has yet to get any in-game reps with offseason signing Gardner Minshew. No matter who is under center for the team in the regular season, Adams remains productive on a per-game basis, having averaged 78.2 receiving yards and scoring 22 touchdowns in 34 regular-season games as a Raider.
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Malik Knowles WR | SF
Vikings' Malik Knowles: Suits up Saturday
Knowles caught his only target for a one-yard touchdown and returned one kickoff for 24 yards in Saturday's 27-12 preseason win over the Browns.
The undrafted receiver out of Kansas State missed all of last season with an undisclosed injury, and he also began training camp dealing with an injury that kept him out of the Vikings' preseason opener. Knowles was in the lineup Saturday, however, and looked pretty healthy, leaping high to snag a one-yard corner fade from Jaren Hall at the back of the end zone on Minnesota's first possession of the second half. Knowles' ability to return kickoffs -- he had 1,254 return yards over his final two years at Kansas State -- could give him an edge on winning at least a spot on the practice squad given the NFL's changes to the kickoff rules this season.
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Trishton Jackson WR | ARI
Vikings' Trishton Jackson: Gets start Saturday
Jackson caught three of four targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 27-12 preseason win over the Browns. He also gained six rushing yards on one carry.
The Vikings sat starting wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (ankle) on Saturday, but Jackson surprisingly got the start in 11 personnel alongside Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell over veteran Trent Sherfield. Jackson capitalized on the opportunity, hauling in a back-shoulder throw from Nick Mullens and getting his toes down in bounds for a 14-yard touchdown on the team's first possession. The undrafted player out of Syracuse suited up for seven games last season -- his first NFL action -- as he bounced between the practice squad and the game-day roster, but he would find himself with a more consistent role in 2024 if he wins the No. 5 receiver job.
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Kearis Jackson WR | HOU
Titans' Kearis Jackson: Hurts knee in exhibition game
Jackson suffered a knee injury in Saturday's preseason contest against Seattle and is questionable to return, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.
Jackson played only three snaps on offense and didn't see a target before getting hurt. However, he made an impression on special teams with a 30-yard punt return. Jackson is battling for a spot on the 53-man roster with a host of other wideouts, including fellow returner Jha'Quan Jackson. As such, it could be a major blow to Kearis' chances of making the cut if the knee issue keeps him out of the Titans' final preseason contest Sunday, Aug. 25 against New Orleans.
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Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: One long gain Saturday
Collins caught one of two targets for 24 yards in Saturday's 28-10 preseason win over the Giants.
The first-team offense was only on the field for two possessions and came away with zero points, but Collins and C.J. Stroud still got a chance to show off their chemistry, as the wideout's big gain on the first drive put the Texans in the red zone. Collins is coming off a breakout 2023 campaign, and even with Stefon Diggs now in the mix for targets along with holdovers Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz and others, the 25-year-old could still be Stroud's top downfield option.
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling WR | DAL
Bills' Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Ruled out Saturday
Valdes-Scantling (neck) won't return to Saturday's preseason contest at Pittsburgh.
Valdes-Scantling had his neck stabilized after a catch in the second quarter and eventually was carted to the locker room. Considering he's lagged behind in the WR competition in training camp and now is dealing with a health concern, he could be in danger of not making the Bills' initial roster after cut-down day Tuesday, Aug. 27.
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Stefon Diggs WR | NE
Texans' Stefon Diggs: One grab against Giants
Diggs caught his only target for nine yards in Saturday's 28-10 preseason win over the Giants. He also gained two rushing yards on one carry.
The Texans' first-team offense was only on the field for two possessions and came away with zero points, but Diggs was still able to build on his rapport with C.J. Stroud. Houston played both series in 12 personnel, with Diggs and Nico Collins being the two starting wideouts, and that appears as though it might be the team's base package during the regular season. Diggs is coming off a four-year run in Buffalo during which he caught more than 100 passes and topped 1,100 receiving yards in each season, but the 30-year-old will have a lot more competition for targets in Houston.