NFL Player News

After missing the 2023 season with a back injury, Pettis is likely battling for a depth role in the Chicago offense.

In 2022 with the Bears, Pettis posted 245 receiving yards and three touchdowns, which represented his best season since 2018. Unlike previous Bears teams, Chicago now has a strong trio of wide receivers in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. As a result, Pettis will likely be battling for a roster spot against Tyler Scott, Velus Jones, DeAndre Carter and others.

The Cowboys placed Lamb (holdout) on the reserve/did not report list Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

The transaction is merely procedural to open up a spot on the 90-man roster as Lamb continues to hold out of training camp while seeking a contract extension. He's in line to earn $17.99 million in 2024 on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, but after delivering career bests across the board last season -- a 135-1,749-12 line on 181 targets in 17 regular-season games -- he's looking to strike it big like Justin Jefferson did this offseason. With Lamb away from camp, the Cowboys' top options at wide receiver are Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and KaVontae Turpin.

Milne agreed to a deal with the Raiders on Tuesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Milne spent all of 2023 on injured reserve due to a groin injury, and he was waived by the Commanders on July 31. The 2021 seventh-round pick played in 15 regular-season games with Washington in 2022, registering six catches for 37 yards and one touchdown while adding 611 total return yards. Milne's return experience could help him earn a spot on the Raiders' 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp.

Houston did not participate in Tuesday's joint practice with the Lions due to a hand injury, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

The severity of the injury isn't clear, but it puts Houston's availability for the Giants' first preseason game against the Lions on Thursday in jeopardy. His only playing time in the NFL came with the Cowboys in 2022, when he caught two passes for 16 yards in two regular-season games. Houston spent all of 2023 on the Giants' practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with Big Blue in January in the hopes that he can catch onto the 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp.

Moore (concussion) participated in team drills Tuesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Moore had been working through the concussion protocol, but the wideout is back in action and could potentially see some snaps in Saturday's preseason opener against the Packers. As the roster currently stands, Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell and Jamari Thrash are competing for snaps and targets behind Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy.

With the addition of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to Chicago's wide receiver room, Scott is likely to begin the season as the No. 4 receiver.

Although Scott posted just 168 yards on 17 catches as a rookie, he was on the field for at least 37 snaps in six games beginning in Week 6. After being used often in three receiver sets, it's unlikely that Scott will be used in that role often with DJ Moore, Allen and Odunze on the roster.

Coach John Harbaugh noted Tuesday that the unspecified issue which caused Bateman to exit Monday's practice early is nothing serious, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Bateman landed on the ball during Monday's session, which explains why the wideout appeared to be holding his ribs or midsection afterward. The wideout isn't expected to miss much practice time, and his status for Friday's preseason opener against the Eagles likely hinges on the team's plans in general for its starters.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Pearsall aggravated the shoulder injury that forced him to begin training camp on the active/non-football injury list, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Shanahan said the 49ers only removed Pearsall from the practice field Tuesday as a precaution, but the timing is unfortunate for the 2024 first-round pick. With Brandon Aiyuk currently present at camp but not practicing while awaiting a potential trade, there are first-team reps available in practice for Pearsall, and he could end up being a Week 1 starter alongside Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings. The former Florida standout will need to get fully healthy first, however.

The Steelers and 49ers have re-engaged in trade talks Tuesday regarding a potential deal for Aiyuk, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

It was reported as of Monday night that San Francisco had trade frameworks in place with both the Patriots and Browns, and it appears that Pittsburgh, a destination that Aiyuk previously named as a preference, has jumped back into the mix. All interested teams still have to overcome the hurdle of meeting Aiyuk's contract demands before a trade can be consummated, but if the wideout truly is interested in the Steelers as a landing spot, that could provide extra momentum to get a deal done with them. Previous reports suggested the Browns and Patriots would send a veteran wideout to the 49ers as part of the deal, with Amari Cooper and Kendrick Bourne (knee) being floated, but the only option the Steelers might have to include in a package is Van Jefferson, as the rest of their receiver room is very inexperienced behind George Pickens. That could mean a deal would have to involve additional draft capital. Aiyuk remains present, but is not practicing, at 49ers training camp.

The Ravens signed Gage on Tuesday.

Gage missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon last August, but he's progressed to the point where the Ravens will give him a chance to compete for a WR spot behind top options Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. The 28-year-old last saw regular-season action with Tampa Bay in 2022, when he recorded a 51/426/5 receiving line in 13 regular-season games.