NFL Player News

Douglas (hand) didn't sport a red (non-contact) jersey during the initial portion of Friday's practice, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Douglas had been practicing with a red jersey due to what he described as a minor hand injury, but the 2023 sixth-rounder appears to be moving past the issue. As the coming season approaches, Douglas is expected to maintain a steady role in a crowded Patriots WR corps that parted ways with DeVante Parker this offseason but added 2024 second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker, along with veteran free agent K.J. Osborn. Meanwhile, Kendrick Bourne continues to bounce back from a knee injury and returnees JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte are also competing for slotting. While there's plenty to sort out in the coming weeks, Douglas nonetheless figures to be a key target for whichever QB ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) is behind center for the team.

Coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Moore is being evaluated for a concussion after leaving Friday's practice early, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

With Moore having potentially suffered a concussion, consider the wideout day-to-day as the Browns' Aug. 10 preseason opener against the Packers approaches. When available, Mooreand Cedric Tillman figure to complete for slotting behind fellow WRs Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy (leg).

Coach Brian Daboll said Friday that Slayton is "tight" and won't be a full practice participant, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Slayton reportedly was limited Thursday, and he previously dealt with an undisclosed injury during June minicamp. It doesn't sound like anything serious, but perhaps the Giants will provide more details if Slayton isn't back at full strength next week.

Metchie caught one of two targets for four yards in Thursday's 21-17 preseason loss to the Bears.

Metchie, who was in the starting lineup, finished behind Xavier Hutchinson (six targets) and Ben Skowronek (four) as a target. Houston kept its top wide receivers out of the game, and these three figure to battle for the final two spots on the depth chart with Robert Woods and Noah Brown (undisclosed).

Johnson brought in three of six targets for 56 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears' 21-17 preseason win over the Texans on Thursday.

Johnson co-led the Bears in receptions and set the pace in both receiving yards and targets for the team on the night, recording 20- and nine-yard touchdown grabs from Brett Rypien in the second and third quarter, respectively, before the game was called early due to weather. Johnson's first score atoned for a drop on a catchable pass from Rypien earlier in the drive, and the 2020 fifth-round pick of the Jaguars ended up making a solid opening case for a reserve receiver role. Johnson is likely to receive ample opportunity to prove himself over the final three preseason contests, and his experience and downfield prowess should give him a good chance in a job battle with the likes of Velus Jones, DeAndre Carter and Dante Pettis.

Skowronek secured three of four targets for 28 yards in the Texans' 21-17 preseason loss to the Bears on Thursday.

The trade acquisition had been impressing during training camp practices, and Skowronek carried over the momentum into his official in-game debut with the Texans. The 2021 seventh-round pick of the Rams finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night for Houston, with the highlight of his performance a leaping snare of a Davis Mills laser for a 27-yard gain on the Texans' second possession. Skowronek recorded a solid 39-376 line and also scored a rushing touchdown with Los Angeles in 2022, so he certainly has the ability to make a strong play for a reserve receiver role on what is a deep pass-catching corps.

Hutchinson brought in five of six targets for 56 yards in the Texans' 21-17 preseason loss to the Bears on Thursday. He also rushed once for eight yards.

The second-year pro led the Texans in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night due to the top receiver quartet of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Noah Brown (undisclosed) all sitting out. Hutchinson, who started Thursday's game and recorded a six-yard grab on the first offensive play, understandably filled a minor role in Houston's air attack as a rookie (8-90 line on 19 targets), and he'll have to fight for a roster spot again this summer with Robert Woods, John Metchie and offseason addition Ben Skowronek all vying for reserve spots.

Harrison is expected to play in the preseason, Theo Mackie of AZ Central reports.

Harrison noted his desire to play in the exhibition season after practice Thursday, citing both getting accustomed to game speed and simply wanting to engage in competition. Coach Jonathan Gannon echoed Harrison's sentiments, suggesting he wants the star rookie receiver to get into some game action. There's been no formal plan announced for Harrison's involvement, but it would be surprising to see him on the field for an extensive period of time prior to Week 1 of the regular season.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Thursday that Harty (undisclosed) is dealing with a minor soft-tissue injury but is expected to return to practice soon, per NFL.com.

It's not clear where exactly Harty is experiencing the injury, but the sixth-year wideout has been absent from practice all week, per Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun. After playing with the Bills in 2023, Harty signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in April, and he is slated as the primary returner on kickoffs and punts for the upcoming season. On punt returns last year, he registered 323 yards and one touchdown across 16 regular-season games.

Burton exited Thursday's practice early after having his foot/ankle examined, Jason Hoffman of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Per Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com, Burton suffered only an "ankle tweak" and his exit from practice was precautionary. Once the 2024 third-rounder returns to the field, he'll continue to compete with Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin and Charlie Jones for slotting behind top WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.