NFL Player News

Toney (thumb) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Toney didn't play Week 7 due to an ankle injury but returned to action this past Monday in Kansas City. During that contest, he spent some time on the sideline and the locker room receiving treatment for what head coach Joe Judge later revealed to be a laceration on his hand. The injury won't keep Toney from practicing to kick off Week 9 prep, which is more than can be said for fellow wideouts Kenny Golladay (knee) and Sterling Shepard (quadriceps).

Shepard (quadriceps) was held out of practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The same can be said for Kenny Golladay (knee), while Kadarius Toney (thumb) was a limited participant. The top of the Giants' receiving corps has been hindered by injuries for most of the season, while Saquon Barkley has been sidelined since Week 5 due to a sprained ankle. Shepard has been heavily utilized when available, averaging 8.6 targets in his five outings this season en route to a 32-324-1 receiving line. He'll likely need to practice in some capacity over the next two days to make his sixth appearance of the season Sunday against the Raiders.

Koski was signed by the Rams on Wednesday.

Koski was waived by the Rams ahead of the initial 53-man roster deadline, but he has rejoined the team after they released DeSean Jackson. The 24-year-old hasn't played a snap in the NFL, so his role will likely be initially limited to special teams.

Peoples-Jones (groin) will return to practice Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Peoples-Jones, who injured his groin in pregame warmups Week 7 and was unable to play a snap in the Browns' win over the Broncos, was inactive this past Sunday in Cleveland's loss to Pittsburgh. His return to practice suggests that he could return to action this weekend against the Bengals, and if that's the case, Peoples-Jones could potentially step into an expanded role, as the status of fellow wideout Odell Beckham (shoulder/personal) is currently unclear.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that general manager Andrew Berry and Beckham's (shoulder) representatives are in the process of discussing the wideout's status with the team after he was excused from Wednesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Stefanski wouldn't confirm that Beckham asked to be released after the Browns didn't move him elsewhere ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, but the coach said the matter would be something the front office and the wideout's reps would address, per Cabot. Beckham has been playing through a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder for the past two weeks and has struggled to make an impact in the passing game, generating a 3-29-0 receiving line across seven targets during that span. The injury doesn't look to be anything that will affect Beckham's ability to play Week 9 against the Bengals, but his relationship with the organization may be fraying after his father posted a video and a comment on social media Tuesday that appeared to criticize quarterback Baker Mayfield. Beckham remains under contract for two more seasons with no guaranteed money left on his deal, though it may be more prudent for the Browns to move on from him in the offseason, when the team would be able to save $15 million against the salary cap.

Saints head coach Sean Payton acknowledged Wednesday that Thomas could require another procedure for his left ankle, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports. "I think this isn't anything he can control," Payton said when asked about the wideout's potential need for surgery, after Thomas announced earlier Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he wouldn't play this season.

Payton said that Thomas had been "working his tail off" to return at some point during the second half of the season after spending the first eight weeks of the campaign on the reserve/PUP list, but those hopes were dashed after the three-time Pro Bowler recently experienced what Ian Rapoport of NFL Network described as "a new and separate" injury to the same ankle. Thomas initially injured the ankle early Week 1 of last season and proceeded to miss the next six games, only to aggravate the injury coming out of Week 13. He returned for the playoffs, but he didn't look to be in top form before ultimately opting for surgery in June to repair multiple ligaments in the ankle after rest and rehab didn't resolve the matter. In light of his latest setback, the prospect of another procedure clouds the long-term outlook of Thomas, who will turn 29 in March and has yet to get integrated in the New Orleans offense during the post-Drew Brees era.

Cooper (hamstring) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Coach Mike McCarthy relayed that the Cowboys will hold a shorter Wednesday practice than usual after playing Sunday evening, so it's possible that Cooper's looming limitations could be maintenance-related. What the wideout is able to do during Thursday's session should therefore provide added clarity with regard to his Week 9 playing prospects. Meanwhile, the status of fellow WR Michael Gallup (calf/IR-R) for Sunday's game against the Broncos has yet to be determined.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday "we'd like to see another week's work" when asked about the chances of Gallup (calf) returning for Sunday's game against Denver, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

"We're really trusting the rehab process and timelines of what's ideal, what's a little early," McCarthy said. Gallup hasn't played since Week 1 due to a calf strain, and while the Cowboys haven't yet ruled him out for Week 9, it looks like the fourth-year wideout may be trending toward one more absence. If Gallup indeed misses Sunday's game against Denver, Cedrick Wilson will once again operate as the Cowboys' No. 3 wideout.

Beckham (shoulder/non-injury-related personal matter) has been excused from practice Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Per Josina Anderson of USA Today, Beckham was reportedly ready to attend the practice, but the Browns may have asked him to stay home after he wasn't dealt ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. As Trotter notes, Beckham's father posted a video on social media Tuesday that appeared to highlight quarterback Baker Mayfield's inability or unwillingness to target an open Beckham during Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Steelers, a game in which the wideout finished with a season-low one reception for six yards. Beckham's participation in practice (or lack thereof) will be worth tracking throughout the week, as the 28-year-old's future in Cleveland looks to be on shaky ground.

Hopkins (hamstring) wasn't present for the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Hopkins, who headed into last Thursday's loss to the Packers as a game-time decision, was able to suit up for the contest, but he was limited to 15 snaps after apparently aggravating his hamstring issue. As a result, the wideout's status is worth monitoring as Sunday's game against the 49ers approaches. If Hopkins is limited or out this weekend, added looks would be available for wideouts A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and Rondale Moore.