NFL Player News

Thomas (foot) wasn't present at the start of Friday's practice, Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune reports.

Thomas and quarterback Jameis Winston (back/hip/ankle) both appear to be missing their third consecutive practice and thus are trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game against Minnesota. The Saints' official Friday injury report will provide Thomas and Winston with game designations, but if both are unavailable it will fall to Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry (ankle) to operate as the top wideouts for Andy Dalton.

Sherfield secured four of six targets for 55 yards during Thursday's 27-15 loss to the Bengals.

Sherfield handled a significant role behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with Cedrick Wilson (ribs) inactive Thursday, recording the third-highest receiving total of his career. If Wilson gets back on the field Week 5 versus the Jets, though, Sherfield will stand to revert to a depth spot. When Sherfield does get opportunities on offense in Miami, his familiarity with coach Mike McDaniel's offense makes him worthy of fantasy consideration in leagues with deep starting requirements.

Boyd secured two of five targets for 47 yards and completed his only pass attempt for 23 yards in the Bengals' 27-15 win over the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Boyd recorded a 43-yard reception that served as his second longest of the season and also made his mark on a trick play as a passer, hitting Ja'Marr Chase for a 23-yard gain down the right side of the field in the first half. The veteran slot man finished third behind fellow wideouts Tee Higgins and Chase in receptions, receiving yards and targets, which is likely to be the case more often than not as the season unfolds, with an occasional exception. Boyd should see some solid volume in what could be an all-hands-on-deck game for the Bengals' air attack a week from Sunday against the division-rival Ravens on the road.

Waddle secured two of five targets for 39 yards in the Dolphins' 27-15 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.

Waddle uncharacteristically checked in third in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Dolphins on the night, with Teddy Bridgewater focusing more on Tyreek Hill and even Trent Sherfield after he entered the game for an injured Tua Tagovailoa (head/neck) in the second quarter. Waddle had produced a stellar 19-342-3 line on 30 targets through his first three games, so there's reason to believe he'll bounce back with stronger numbers irrespective of who's under center during a Week 5 road battle against the Jets a week from Sunday.

Hill secured 10 of 14 targets for 160 yards and rushed once for minus-1 yard in the Dolphins' 27-15 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.

Hill generated game-high reception, receiving yardage and target totals in a resurgent performance after producing just a 2-33 line on four targets in Week 3 against the Bills. However, the head and neck injuries that knocked Tua Tagovailoa out of Thursday's game naturally could have an impact on the overall outlook for the air attack, although Hill and backup Teddy Bridgewater displayed good chemistry during their time together on the field, most prominently on a 64-yard pass in the latter portion of the third quarter that helped set up a Jason Sanders go-ahead field goal. In coming days, Hill should get further clarity on which quarterback he'll work during the Dolphins' next game, which will be an AFC East road showdown against the Jets a week from Sunday.

Chase secured four of six targets for 81 yards in the Bengals' 27-15 win over the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Chase finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets to Tee Higgins for the Bengals on the night, turning in his best yardage total since Week 1 against the Steelers in the process. The 2021 first-round pick's 20.3 yards per reception was a welcome sight after he'd averaged just 7.5 yards per grab over the previous two games, and Chase will aim to keep his momentum going in a key Week 5 AFC North road battle versus the Ravens a week from Sunday night.

Higgins brought in seven of nine targets for 124 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals' 27-15 win over the Dolphins on Thursday night.

The highlight of Higgins' spectacular night came on a 59-yard touchdown grab down the left sideline on which he beat Xavien Howard, and the third-year wideout finished with team-leading reception, receiving yardage and target totals for the night. Higgins also briefly left the game in the second half to have his leg checked out by trainers, per Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer, but after testing it out briefly, he returned to the game. Higgins, and not Ja'Marr Chase, has been the top target for Joe Burrow in terms of receiving yards over the first four games, and he'll take a 20-315-2 line into a Week 5 AFC North clash versus the Ravens a week from Sunday.

Goodwin (knee) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

For the second day in a row, Goodwin had a cap on his reps as he deals with a knee injury. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game at Detroit. If he ends playing, Goodwin will be a distant third to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Seattle's pecking order at wide receiver.

Gray didn't practice Thursday due to a hip issue, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

During the portion of Thursday's session open to the media, Gray wasn't taking part while wearing a sleeve on his right leg, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Now that the reason for his absence is known, Gray's status bears monitoring ahead of Monday's game against the Rams. If he's able to play, the rookie third-round pick still is in search of his first career catch.

Wilson (ribs/toe) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Bengals.

With Wilson sitting this one out, Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft are the top candidates to compete for the Week 4 snaps and targets that don't go to Miami's clear-cut top wide receiver options Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.