NFL Player News

McCloud has been getting regular first-team snaps and "seems to have the inside track on the slot receiver role" in Atlanta's offense, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports.

Multiple Atlanta beat reporters have McCloud working ahead of Rondale Moore, not only during training camp but dating back to spring practices. It sounds like McCloud has even seen a good number of targets from Kirk Cousins, including passes deep downfield. That's somewhat surprising given that McCloud played for four different teams over the past six seasons and amassed more punt returns (138) and kickoff returns (108) than receptions (90). He did have a couple stints as a No. 3 receiver, including most of the 2021 season in Pittsburgh and a chunk of 2022 for the 49ers. There's a good chance McCloud factors in on punt/kick returns even if he's a significant part of Atlanta's offense.

Atwell is competing with Demarcus Robinson for the No. 3 WR role but may ultimately fall further down the depth chart, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.

Atwell lost said role to Robinson down the stretch last season, despite starting the year strong while Cooper Kupp was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Atwell had 246 receiving yards Weeks 1-3, and then just 237 yards over 13 subsequent regular-season appearances (though he did score a 38-yard TD on his lone target in a playoff loss to Detroit). The 2021 second-round pick now seems likely to land in a depth role for the final year of his rookie contract, with some risk of falling behind not only Robinson but also sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington.

Davis went down with a thigh injury at Monday's practice, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports reports.

The undrafted wide receiver out of Western Kentucky, who posted an impressive 41-446-5 line with the UFL's Memphis Showboats this past spring, signed with Carolina earlier this summer after missing all of 2023 with a concussion, and it now appears that he's dealing with another injury. There's no word on the severity of Davis' injury at the moment, but this could definitely hurt the 25-year-old's chances of making Carolina's 53-man roster.

Chase (contract) isn't practicing Monday and isn't likely to practice Tuesday, James Rapien of SI.com reports.

Chase continues to "hold in" due to his desire for a new contract, watching from the sidelines rather than participating. He's coming up on a full week of missed practices, and it's hard to get a good read on the situation given that he's not discussing it with media (or even acknowledging that his absence is contract-related). Bengals owner Mike Brown said last week that it might take a while to finalize an extension, perhaps setting the table for Chase to remain absent from practice into August. The Bengals typically have avoided extensions with players that have multiple years remaining on rookie contracts, but Chase would be a sensible exception in light of three straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his career. He's currently under contract through 2025 via the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

Pearsall (hamstring) has been activated from the active/non-football injury list.

As a result, Pearsall, who the 49ers took 31st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, is in uniform for the team's first padded training camp practice, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Now that the Florida product is back on the field, he figures to compete with Jauan Jennings for slotting behind top WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the latter of whom has been present for practice but not participating as he seeks a new contract.

Dell (leg) is participating in training camp, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.

Dell thus appears fully past both the broken fibula that he sustained last December, as well as a minor leg wound he sustained during an April shooting incident. With training camp underway, Dell has been working with Houston's first-team offense, per Bien-Aime, while in the process seeing his share of looks from QB C.J. Stroud along with fellow wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins. During his rookie campaign, Dell racked up 47 catches (on 75 targets) for 709 yards and seven TDs in 11 regular-season games, and if the 2023 third-rounder is able to stay healthy, he'll remain firmly on the fantasy radar, despite having to share WR targets with both Diggs and Collins.

Austin has continued his momentum from spring practices into training camp, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.

A 2022 fourth-round pick, Austin missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury and then got just 30 targets and 11 carries last year. He's now part of a wide-open competition for WR roles behind No. 1 George Pickens, with the other leading candidates being Van Jefferson and rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson. Austin is one of the smallest players in the league at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds, but he's reportedly been getting some work on the perimeter in addition to expected slot reps.

Ray-Ray McCloud seems to have the "inside track" over Moore to be Atlanta's slot receiver, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

McCloud got a lot of first-team snaps throughout the offseason program and now is getting most of the slot work with Kirk Cousins and the starting offense during the first week of training camp. Moore, meanwhile, reportedly has been one of Michael Penix's favorite targets on the second-string offense, which suggests the 5-foot-7 receiver is at least making a case to earn more reps with the starters. There's still plenty of time for things to change, but it's not a great sign for Moore that he's currently behind a veteran journeyman like McCloud who is mostly known for returning punts and kicks.

Claypool is considered day-to-day with a toe issue, Sal Maioranaof the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

Claypool sustained his toe injury Sunday, but he isn't expected to be out for long. Once he's able to return to practice, Claypool will resume competing for slotting in a re-tooled Bills wideout corps that also includes Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins and rookie Keon Coleman.

Marshall caught a deep pass at Monday's practice, continuing a trend from the first week of training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Multiple Carolina beat writers have mentioned Marshall and Jonathan Mingo as surprise standouts through the first week of training camp. Both are former second-round picks that have disappointed so far, and any fantasy interest in them mostly died out after poor showings in 2023 were followed by the Panthers trading for Diontae Johnson and drafting Xavier Legette (32nd overall). It's still a long shot for Marshall to become useful in fantasy after managing just 767 yards and one TD over his first three professional seasons, but he could at least make it a competition with Legette and Mingo for the third WR spot alongside Johnson and Adam Thielen. Despite being in his fourth professional season, Marshall is only six months older than Legette and 10 months older than Mingo.