NFL Player News

Carter is expected to serve as the Chargers' No. 3 receiver Thursday against Kansas City with Keenan Allen (hamstring) ruled out for the contest.

Carter stepped up after Allen's departure from the season-opening win over Las Vegas, catching three of four targets for 64 yards and a touchdown to outproduce both Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. Those two played at least three-fourths of offensive snaps, however, while Carter finished at 37 percent. Now on his fifth team in five seasons, Carter has enjoyed flashes of deep-league fantasy relevance but hasn't yet reached even 300 receiving yards in a single season.

Palmer could have a heightened role in the Chargers' passing attack Thursday against the Chiefs with teammate Keenan Allen (hamstring) ruled out for the contest.

Palmer profiles as the Chargers' No. 2 receiver in a game with one of the highest expected point totals of Week 2. He managed just five receiving yards on four targets in a 24-19 win over Las Vegas in Week 1, but Palmer's 75 percent snap share in the contest was third-largest of his career. The Chargers used Palmer as their No. 2 receiver and DeAndre Carter as the No. 3 after Allen was injured last week, while Jalen Guyton barely got off the bench (five snaps).

Robinson (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Head coach Brian Daboll said Robinson is day-to-day after an early exit from Sunday's win over the Titans, though Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes that the wide receiver has a brace over his knee and appears likely to miss some time. If so, candidates to see extra snaps include Richie James, Kadarius Toney and David Sills.

Allen (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Chiefs.

Allen will thus target a potential return to action Week 3, when the Chargers face the Jaguars on Sept. 25. In Allen's absence Thursday, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter are in line to lead the team's wideout corps.

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday that Smith will operate as the team's primary punt returner while Andre Roberts (knee) is on injured reserve, Schuyler Callihan of SI.com reprots.

Roberts was diagnosed with a PCL sprain and will be forced to miss at least four games after landing on IR, leaving Smith to take over as the punt returner and Chuba Hubbard to handle kick returns. Smith didn't return any punts as a rookie, but his skill set figures to fit the position well.

Isabella is dealing with a back injury ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Raiders, Howard Balzer of SI.com reports.

Isabella caught one of three targets for 10 yards during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs and apparently picked up a back injury as well. His status for Week 2 remains unclear, but Wednesday's official injury report should provide further clarity on his availability for Sunday's matchup against Las Vegas.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said Lazard (ankle) will return to practice Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Lazard sat out last Sunday's loss to Minnesota due to an ankle injury that he sustained when he got stepped on in practice between the final week of the preseason and the week leading up to the season opener. His absence was felt in the Week 1 loss, but getting back on the field Wednesday puts him on a path to suiting up this Sunday versus the Bears. Lazard's activity level will become known later Wednesday.

Washington failed to play a single offensive snap in the Monday's 17-16 loss to the Seahawks.

After and impressive training camp, Washington secured his role as the Broncos' returner on both kickoffs and punts. He returned three kickoffs for 51 yards, adding one punt return for three yards. The rookie wideout did not see any action with the offense as Denver's No. 4 receiver. One should assume this will likely be the case moving forward barring injuries to fellow wideouts Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Washington should remain off the fantasy radar as the Broncos host the Texans in Week 2.

Head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins is making good progress through the NFL's concussion protocol, but the wideout will be a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Higgins will have two more opportunities to upgrade to full participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Cowboys, and it appears as though he's trending in the right direction on that front. Prior to his exit from the Bengals' Week 1 loss to the Steelers, Higgins logged 26 snaps while catching both of his targets for 27 yards.

Woods (illness) didn't practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Woods is apparently still too sick to participate after missing Week 1 at Carolina with the same ailment. Cleveland will hope he can get well in time to provide some depth at receiver when the Browns host the Jets in Week 2.