NFL Player News

The Falcons released Saunders from their practice squad Wednesday, Tori McElhany of the team's official site reports.

Saunders was let go alongside Zay Malone to make room for Andre Smith and Keilahn Harris on Atlanta's practice squad. The 27-year-old will now look to try to catch on with another team.

Brown didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Brown is no stranger to injury reports in his career, and his Week 6 status now is up in the air. Fortunately for Brown, he has chances to practice Thursday and Friday before the Cardinals potentially give him a designation ahead of Sunday's road matchup with the Rams. Brown has been working with quarterback Joshua Dobbs for the entire season, but the wide receiver's production has been on point, resulting in 25 catches (on 42 targets) for 300 yards and three touchdowns in five games.

Metcalf (ribs) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Metcalf has been tending to a rib injury since suffering the Seahawks' Week 2 win at Detroit, but he's been able to play through the pain and entered the Week 5 bye with an 18-268-2 receiving line on 23 targets through four games. He spoke about the injury Wednesday, telling Brady Henderson of ESPN.com that "it hasn't been" difficult to play through the pain. Metcalf logged smaller snap shares than normal Weeks 3 (72 percent) and 4 (71 percent), so the decreased workloads may have been team-imposed rather than him needing more rest than usual. In any case, he opened Week 6 prep with an absence, giving him two more chances to mix into drills before the weekend.

The Broncos released Humphrey on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Since playing a 71 percent of the snaps on offense in the Broncos' Week 1 loss to the Raiders, Humphrey has seen his playing time steadily decline. He's logged snap shares ranging from 12 to 31 percent over the Broncos' subsequent four contests, garnering just three targets during that stretch. His release leaves Denver with just four wideouts on the 53-man roster.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that he doesn't believe Jefferson's hamstring injury to be a season-ending one, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

O'Connell didn't divulge the grade of Jefferson's right hamstring strain, but the injury is severe enough for him to miss at least the team's next four games while on injured reserve. While Jefferson is sidelined, Minnesota's passing attack may become more balanced between tight end T.J. Hockenson, wideouts K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison and running back Alexander Mattison. However, Addison was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury, potentially removing another key pass catcher from the mix if he's unable to overcome the issue ahead of Sunday's game in Chicago.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Wednesday due to a concussion.

Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas exited this past Sunday's blowout loss to the Saints with what the team termed as head injuries, but both wide receivers have been confirmed to have entered the NFL's concussion protocol, per Zack Cox of NESN.com. For now, the Patriots' top healthy wideouts are DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne, with Kayshon Boutte and the versatile Ty Montgomery also on hand. Additionally, Tyquan Thornton (shoulder) is a candidate to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game at Las Vegas.

Berrios (knee) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

Due to the same knee injury, Berrios was a limited practice participant to begin Week 5 prep before upgrading to full participation Thursday and avoiding a designation ahead of the Dolphins' eventual 31-16 win over the Giants on Sunday. He'll look to follow the same practice pattern this week prior to Sunday's game against the Panthers. Through his first five games, Berrios has accounted for 170 yards and one touchdown on 16 touches (15 receptions, one carry).

Addison was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The Vikings are already down top wide receiver Justin Jefferson due to a hamstring injury that isn't believed to be season-ending. However, Jefferson's placement on injured reserve Wednesday opens the door for Addison to step into a major role in the offense. Those plans have taken a slight hit with Addison's appearance on the first injury report of Week 6, but he at least has two more chances to prove his health before Minnesota potentially clears him ahead of Sunday's game in Chicago. Through five games working behind Jefferson and typically K.J. Osborn this season, Addison still put up a 19-249-3 receiving line on 29 targets.

Woods didn't practice Wednesday due to a rib injury.

Woods exited this past Sunday's loss in Atlanta with the same injury but later returned to the game. While the veteran receiver's ability to check back into the Week 5 contest offered some reassurance about his health, it's possible that adrenaline carried him through that game and he's now battling more pain. In any case, Woods will likely need to get back on the practice field by Friday in order to have a chance at being available for this Sunday's home game against the Saints.

Higgins (rib) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Higgins, who was forced out of the Bengals' Week 4 loss to Tennessee with a rib fracture, was able to log a limited practice session this past Friday before sitting out Sunday's win over the Cardinals. With another limited session to start the current practice week, Higgins seems to have a chance to return to action this Sunday against the Seahawks. The wideout will, however, need to practice fully by Friday in order to avoid a Week 6 injury designation.