NFL Player News

The Packers didn't activate Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) from injured reserve ahead of Thursday's game at Arizona, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Green Bay thus will be without three of its top wide receivers, including Davante Adams (illness) and Allen Lazard (undisclosed), both of whom are on the reserve/COVID-19 list. With the trio sidelined Week 8, Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor, Amari Rodgers and Juwann Winfree will serve at the team's WR options.

Robinson (ankle) practiced fully Thursday.

After kicking off Week 8 prep with a limited session, Robinson managed to log every rep one day later. Such is the health of his ankle issue, which has allowed him to get on the practice field more and more in recent weeks. While it hasn't inhibited him from playing -- he's logged between 82 and 94 percent of offensive snaps in six of seven games this season -- Robinson has yet to have a breakout performance, as he's managed just a 23-250-1 line on 40 targets.

Toney (ankle) was unable to practice Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

After all of Toney, Kenny Golladay (knee), Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Saquon Barkley (ankle) took part in Wednesday's team stretch while in uniform, only Shepard handled some practice reps one day later. Coach Joe Judge told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post on Thursday that he's optimistic Toney, Golladay and Barkley will get back on the field Friday, which could set up any or all of them on a path to active status Monday at Kansas City. Still, Toney has some work to do to make sure his absence is limited to one game.

Shepard (hamstring) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Shepard has missed three games this season due to hamstring injuries. The most recent absence occurred Week 7 against the Panthers, which he said was the result of a tweak while running a route prior to the contest, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger. Shepard told Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com that he feels "super confident" that he'll suit up Monday in Kansas City, but two sessions remain before the Giants potentially tag him with a designation for Week 8. While Shepard seems to be closing in a return to action, fellow wide receivers Kenny Golladay (knee) and Kadarius Toney (ankle) were unable to practice Thursday.

Winfree is expected to be elevated from the Packers' practice squad for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The Packers will be down their top three wideouts Thursday night, and it appears they will bring up Winfree to bolster the receiving crew. Winfree has played just two snaps for the Packers this season, but he showed some flashes over the offseason, and there's at least a chance he could be involved in the game plan.

Peoples-Jones (groin) didn't practice Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The report notes that Peoples-Jones was working on a stationary bike Thursday, which suggests that the wideout could potentially practice in some capacity Friday. Still, though Odell Beckham (shoulder) and Jarvis Landry (knee) are on the Browns' Week 8 injury report, they appear to be on track to play Sunday against the Steelers, a context that would limit Peoples-Jones' fantasy prospects in the event that he is able to suit up this weekend.

Samuel (groin) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Samuel hasn't practiced since aggravating his nagging groin injury Week 5 against the Saints. The issue has limited the wide receiver to just two of a possible seven games so far this season. On a semi-positive note, he was working on a side field during the portion of Wednesday's session open to the media, per John Keim of ESPN.com, but it remains to be seen if Samuel is able to avoid another stint on injured reserve.

McLaurin (hamstring) practiced in full Thursday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

McLaurin was a late addition to Washington's Week 6 practice report due to a hamstring issue, which has followed him into Week 8 prep. Still, he's played the last two games en route to a combined 11-150-1 line on 20 targets against the Chiefs and Packers. With his hamstring injury seemingly not a concern, McLaurin will continue to act as the Football Team's No. 1 wide receiver Sunday in Denver.

Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) is trending toward an absence for Thursday's game at Arizona, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

If the preceding comes to pass, the Packers will be without their top three wide receivers, as both Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are on the reserve/COVID-19 list and slated to be unavailable as well. Valdes-Scantling is in the later stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury and has missed the requisite three games while on IR, but it appears Green Bay will wait another week before bringing him back to the active roster. With the aforementioned trio out, the Packers' wide receiving corps will be comprised of Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor and Amari Rodgers on Thursday.

Smith (headache) returned to practice Thursday,Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

A headache caused Smith to sit out Wednesday's session, but his return to practice Thursday suggests that the wideout is on track to play Sunday against the Lions. The Eagles' upcoming practice report will clarify whether Smith was limited or practiced fully Thursday.