NFL Player News

Denver signed Humphrey off its practice squad Wednesday.

After he was elevated from the practice squad Week 1, Humphrey will get a permanent spot on the 53-man roster after the Broncos placed safety Caden Sterns (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday in a corresponding move. In the team's season-opening loss to the Raiders, Humphrey trailed only Courtland Sutton among Denver's receivers in offensive snap share, taking the field for 71 percent of the plays while recording two catches for 11 yards and a touchdown on two targets. Even if Humphrey continues to work ahead of Marvin Mims (24 percent snap share Week 1) and Brandon Johnson (50 percent), he could still see his involvement take a hit this Sunday against the Commanders if Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) is available to make his season debut after sitting out the opener.

Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said this week that he thinks Addison's role will expand as the season progresses, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The rookie first-round pick debuted as Minnesota's No. 3 receiver in a 20-17 loss to Tampa Bay, playing 56 percent of snaps while Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn both were above 90 percent. The workload was enough for Addison to have a productive day, as he ran 35 routes and caught four of six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Osborn had the same number of targets and a mere 3-31-0 receiving line on 43 routes, but it's nonetheless possible that scheme familiarity and blocking capability keep him in the No. 2 role -- at least in terms of snaps -- for a portion of the season. The Vikings may also promote Addison into a bigger role as soon as Thursday against Philadelphia or Week 3 against the Chargers.

Chark (hamstring) took part in the Panthers' unofficial practice Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Since the Panthers host the Saints on Monday, the team won't release its first Week 2 injury report until Thursday, when the extent of Chark's participation in practice will be revealed. Chark said last week that he thought he was ready to play in the Panthers' eventual season-opening loss to the Falcons, and though he was ultimately inactive for that contest, his participation in practice Wednesday suggests he's tracking toward a return to the lineup Monday. Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall all ran routes on at least 90 percent of Bryce Young's dropbacks in the 24-10 loss to Atlanta, combining for 52 yards on 190 snaps in a game that saw tight end Hayden Hurst and running back Bijan Robinson emerge as the only productive pass catchers for either team. Chark could take snaps from any and all of the three wideouts, with Marshall in particular most vulnerable of being demoted to a backup role.

Wilson will be working with Zach Wilson as his quarterback in Week 2 against the Cowboys and beyond after tests Tuesday confirmed a season-ending Achilles injury for Aaron Rodgers, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.

Garrett didn't catch a single touchdown pass in the nine games Zach started last season, but the Wilsons connected for a pivotal score in the Jets' 22-16 overtime win over the Bills on Monday. Rodgers went down with the season-ending injury in the first quarter before completing a single pass with the Jets, and while predictions of a spectacular sophomore season from Wilson were tied in large part to the expected upgrade in quarterback play, the 2022 first-round draft pick out of Ohio State could still be poised to build on his 1,103-yard rookie season.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus was non-committal Wednesday when asked whether Claypool would see a reduced role this Sunday at Tampa Bay, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports. "We're looking at all possibilities right now," Eberflus said.

Claypool struggled as a blocker and finished without a catch on two targets in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Packers, operating as the No. 3 receiver behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney. The No. 3 role in a run-heavy Bears offense isn't conducive to fantasy value even if Claypool plays well in real life, which is something he arguably hasn't done since the middle part of his 2020 rookie season. Lack of effort as a repeat theme isn't promising, nor is it a good look when one of the largest wideouts in the league -- listed at 6-foot-4, 238 pounds -- repeatedly draws attention for poor blocking. Emma and other Bears beat reporters have hinted at the possibility of Equanimeous St. Brown being active instead of Claypool for Week 2 at Tampa Bay, with rookie Tyler Scott or veteran Trent Taylor likely taking the No. 3 receiver role in that scenario.

Metchie (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Metchie was sidelined for the Texans' loss to the Ravens this past Sunday after not practicing last week, but his return to the field suggests that the wideout could make his NFL regular-season debut Week 2 versus the Colts. If so, Metchie would be a candidate to compete with Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson for snaps at receiver alongside starters Nico Collins and Robert Woods after Noah Brown (groin) was moved to injured reserve Wednesday.

Burks won't practice Wednesday due to a personal matter, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Per Turron Davenport of ESPN.com, Burks is expected to return to practice Thursday. In the Titans' 16-15 loss to the Saints in Week 1, Burks started opposite DeAndre Hopkins and recorded two catches for 18 yards on three targets.

Dell is expected to handle an expanded role after the Texans placed on Noah Brown (groin) was injured reserve Wednesday.

Brown will miss a minimum of four games, which may pave the way for Dell to play consistently in three-receiver sets alongside Robert Woods and Nico Collins. However, the potential return of John Metchie (hamstring) in Week 2 could further alter the pecking order at wideout. In his NFL debut against the Ravens last weekend, Dell had three catches for 34 yards while playing 37 offensive snaps, compared to 52 snaps for Brown. Dell had a productive preseason, and the diminutive rookie has a nice opportunity in front of him, beginning with Sunday's game against the Colts.

Strachan is expected to sign with the Panthers' practice squad Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Strachan was cut from the Colts' practice squad Tuesday, so it didn't take long for the Charleston product to find a new home. The 2021 seventh-round selection appeared in 13 games for Indianapolis last season, recording three catches on nine targets for 59 yards.

The Texans placed Brown on injured reserve Wednesday with a groin injury.

Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Brown's groin injury is viewed as a short-term issue, which suggests that the wideout could be back in action Week 6 after missing the minimum four games. In Brown's looming absence, 2023 third-round rookie Tank Dell is expected to see added snaps alongside Nico Collins and Robert Woods.