NFL Player News

Downs (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after logging a full practice Friday.

Downs upgraded from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday, but that wasn't enough for him to gain clearance for Sunday. The wideout hadn't practiced for five weeks before his activity this week, and he sat out the regular-season opener against the Texans, so even if he gets the green light Sunday, Downs likely won't have a full workload. Alec Pierce could once again be the main beneficiary in the event of a Downs absence.

The Chiefs placed Brown (shoulder) on injured reserve Friday.

Per Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site, Brown is slated to undergo shoulder surgery Monday. While the Chiefs don't have a specific timetable for the wideout's return to action, head coach Andy Reid told Adam Teicher of ESPN.com on Friday that Brown is set to miss months. In Brown's looming absence, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson are in line to lead Kansas City's wideout corps in the coming weeks, with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman also in the mix to see added snaps and targets.

Slayton (concussion) practiced full Friday and doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Washington, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

In the wake of entering the concussion protocol earlier this week, Slayton was held out of drills Wednesday before getting some non-contact work one day later. His full practice Friday was accompanied by no game status for Week 2, indicating he gained clearance from an independent neurologist. Thus, Slayton will team up with Malik Nabers (knee), Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt at wide receiver for New York's offense this weekend.

Reed practiced in a limited fashion Friday due to shin and calf injuries, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Reed is making a late appearance on the Packers' Week 2 practice report after avoiding it entirely Wednesday and Thursday. His listing for Sunday's game against the Colts remains to be seen, but for the time being, another cloud is hanging over the Packers offense in addition to QB Jordan Love (knee) and RBs Josh Jacobs (back) and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring).

Nabers (knee) practiced in full Friday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Washington, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports

The Giants tacked on Nabers to their Week 2 injury report Thursday as limited due to a knee issue, but coach Brian Daboll spoke on the situation Friday, relaying the rookie wide receiver was "good," and there was "no concern" regarding his status, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Indeed, that has come to pass, and Nabers will join Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton (concussion) and Jalin Hyatt as the top available WRs for QB Daniel Jones this weekend.

Palmer (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Palmer was limited in practice throughout the week. He's coming off a disappointing season opener in which Palmer had just two catches for 15 yards before being ejected in the fourth quarter after getting into a fight with Raiders defensive back Jack Jones. On the bright side, Palmer doesn't appear to be facing any supplemental discipline from the team for his ejection.

Odunze (knee) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Houston.

In addition to Odunze, fellow wideout Keenan Allen (heel) is also listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. Allen didn't practice at all this week after aggravating his heel injury from August during a season-opening win over the Titans, while Odunze returned to practice Friday after suffering an MCL sprain this past Sunday. Both wide receivers should be treated as game-time decisions, although hints about their respective chances of playing may be provided well before kickoff.

Addison (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers.

With Addison out due to soreness in his right ankle, Brandon Powell and Jalen Nailor are candidates to see added work behind Justin Jefferson in Week 2. Addison's next chance to play will arrive Sunday, Sept. 22 against the Texans.

Allen (heel) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Houston after missing another practice Friday.

Fellow wideout Rome Odunze (knee) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and also is listed as questionable. Allen's absences from Wednesday through Friday aren't the best sign, but the Bears at least are leaving the door open ahead of a 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday night. Allen dealt with the heel injury for much of August and aggravated it in the fourth quarter of a Week 1 win over the Titans.

Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance Rick Burkholder said Friday that Brown (shoulder) is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday, per Matt McMullen of the team's official site, and that he's without a timetable to return, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Brown appears destined to land on injured reserve, as initially reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, though the move has not yet been made official. Coach Andy Reid said Monday the wide receiver's potential return to the field is "not going to be weeks, it's going to be more like months," according to Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com. Burkholder said the decision for Brown to undergo surgery was made after recent imaging revealed a bone in his shoulder had moved, with specialists determining it would be too risky for the wideout to suit up for NFL action. Assuming he's placed on IR, Brown's earliest possible return date will be Sunday, Oct. 20 versus San Francisco, but it sounds like the Chiefs don't anticipate him being ready to retake the field until late in the 2024 season, at least. In the meantime, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman will continue to see depth opportunities behind the starting WR trio of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson.