NFL Player News

Mooney (ankle) has received medical clearance to resume practicing Tuesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Mooney went down in Week 12 last season due to an ankle injury which ultimately required surgery, so it's encouraging to see him cleared for training camp. He no longer faces the pressure of operating as Chicago's No. 1 wideout with DJ Moore having joined the team, but the speedster still figures to be Justin Fields' go-to deep threat. That said, Mooney's per-game target total could dip even if the Bears make an effort to pass more frequently, as Cole Kmet and Chase Claypool will also demand looks in what should be a run-first offense led by the dual-threat Fields.

General manager Ryan Poles confirmed Tuesday that Claypool (undisclosed) is "good to go" and will practice Wednesday, Zack Perason of 247Sports reports.

Poles said Claypool's placement on the PUP list was because he "just needed an extra day or two" to get right," per Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site. Claypool, who joined the Bears midseason last year, should benefit from a full offseason to get up to speed with the playbook and build chemistry with Justin Fields. He figures to operate as the team's No. 3 wideout behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney.

Coach Bill Belichick has indicated that Smith-Schuster (knee) is ready to go for training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster, who missed practice this spring as he bounced back from a knee issue, will now have an opportunity to solidify his key role in the Patriots' wide receiver corps this coming season. In 16 games in 2022, his lone campaign with the Chiefs, the 2017 second-rounder recorded 78 catches (on 101 targets) for 933 yards and three TDs. As long as he can stay healthy in 2023, the 26-year-old should see enough targets from presumed starting QB Mac Jones to maintain weekly fantasy utility, particularly in PPR formats.

Cooper (undisclosed) is missing a second straight day of practice Tuesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cooper continues to manage an undisclosed tweak sustained Sunday. Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reiterates that the issue is minor, and reports that Cooper has made progress. The wideout doesn't appear in danger of missing significant time, but for now Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cedric Tillman and David Bell will continue seeing increased first-team reps.

Thomas (toe) is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens Wednesday, NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill reports.

Thomas took part in OTAs and minicamp on a limited basis, and having him ready for training camp has always been the goal. It's another positive step in Thomas' return from three straight injury-ruined seasons. Thomas is now 30 years old but should be one of the focal points of the Saints' passing game as long as he's healthy. He went 16-171-3 in three games to begin last season before missing the rest of the year.

The Bears activated Claypool (undisclosed) from the active/PUP list Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports.

Claypool closed out the offseason program in mid-June with absences related to a soft-tissue injury, which presumably resulted in his inability to pass a physical Sunday and land on the PUP list in the first place. With that step behind him, though, he'll now be able to participate in Chicago's first practice of training camp Wednesday. Claypool is slated to serve as the team's No. 3 wide receiver behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney this season.

Ford and the Bears agreed on a contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Ford will join the Bears after spending the 2022 season as a free agent, last appearing in an NFL game two year ago. In 2021, the wide receiver caught 12 passes for 161 yards and two scores over 13 games with the Dolphins. Ford will likely be vying for a practice squad spot with Chicago ahead of the 2023 campaign.

The Vikings waived Knowles with a non-football injury designation Monday, Tyler Forness of USA Today reports.

Knowles dealt with a PCL injury following the 2022 campaign, but Minnesota still signed him as an undrafted free agent just hours after the draft concluded. It's unclear if his current injury is related to the PCL issue, but the rookie out of Kansas State will have to prove he's healthy before landing another NFL opportunity.

Davis (undisclosed) passed his physical Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Saints will presumably activate Davis off the active/non-football injury list now that he's healthy. The rookie UDFA out of South Carolina caught 45 passes for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final collegiate campaign.

The Ravens have placed Bateman (foot) on the active/PUP list to start training camp, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Hensley notes that Bateman, who was reinstated and activated from the reserve/did not report list Sunday, is still dealing with a foot issue that he dealt with last season. While there isn't a timetable for the wideout's return to practice, Hensley suggests that Bateman may miss the first 1-to-2 weeks of camp.