NFL Player News

Jefferson (arm) isn't listed on the Rams' injury report Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Sean McVay didn't unveil the first-team skill-position players this preseason, but Jefferson may have missed time anyway due to what was initially believed to be a false positive test for COVID-19 and a right arm issue that caused him to wear a brace. Now healthy in advance of the regular season, Jefferson is set to serve as L.A.'s No. 3 wide receiver behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. However, Jefferson may have to contend for reps with free-agent addition DeSean Jackson and 2021 second-round pick Tutu Atwell.

Lockett (groin) isn't listed on the Seahawks' injury report Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Head coach Pete Carroll kept the key pieces of his offensive arsenal -- Russell Wilson, Chris Carson, DK Metcalf and Lockett -- on the sideline this preseason, but only Lockett was dealing with an injury. Now that the regular season officially is in session, however, Lockett is unhindered on the practice field. He'll look to put up a third consecutive 1,000-yard season and fifth straight year playing an entire regular-season slate.

Eskridge (toe) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Eskridge picked up a toe issue in mandatory minicamp in mid-June and kicked off training camp on the PUP list. Since Seattle activated him Aug. 17, he made one preseason appearance Aug. 28, recording one catch (on one target) for 19 yards and one nine-yard carry. The team still appears to be managing Eskridge's health, perhaps to keep him as fresh as possible for game action. He'll have two more chances to bump up to full participation before week's end.

Aiyuk (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday, Keiana Martin of the 49ers' official site reports.

Aiyuk was limited to just one appearance during exhibition season, gathering in one of three passes for three yards Aug. 22 versus the Chargers. Thereafter, a hamstring injury has been bothering him, but it's apparently dissipated enough for him to partake in all drills in the first practice of Week 1. Aiyuk will pair with Deebo Samuel to serve as the top two wide receivers in San Francisco's offense in the coming campaign.

Beckham (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday.

That said, Beckham, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Week 7 of last season, has progressed to the point that he's expected to be available for Sunday's season opener against Kansas City. It's possible that he'll head into the weekend with a questionable tag, but assuming he's active for Week 1, look for Beckham and Jarvis Landry to headline Cleveland's wideout corps.

Mooney was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a back issue.

It's the first report of a back injury this summer, with Mooney's limited participation suggesting it isn't serious. Assuming he checks out fine later this week, Mooney is locked in as Chicago's No. 2 receiver, though it may be a distant second to Allen Robinson. The 2020 fifth-round pick showed impressive speed and route running as a rookie, but he and Mitchell Trubisky struggled to complete plays. The Bears hope it'll be a different story this year with Andy Dalton, who starts the season with a road game against the Rams. It's a tough matchup for the Chicago passing game overall, but it might prove favorable for Mooney's target volume if the Rams put star cover man Jalen Ramsey on Robinson.

Hardman was a limited practice participant Wednesday with an oblique injury.

Hardman made it through training camp healthy and played in all three preseason games, but he's now nicked up with the opener against Cleveland just a few days away. He played all 16 games in both of his first two NFL seasons, and there hasn't been any indication the oblique injury is serious. A return to full participation Thursday or Friday would clear up all doubts as Hardman prepares for a larger role after Sammy Watkins' departure in the offseason.

Jones (shoulder) isn't listed on the injury report for the Jaguars' season opener Sunday in Houston, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

With Jones and DJ Chark (finger) both avoiding the injury report, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have his full complement of pass catchers -- minus rookie running back Travis Etienne (foot) -- available for Week 1. Jones, Chark and Laviska Shenault all are realistic candidates to lead the team in targets, and it's possible there's enough volume to keep all three fantasy-viable options if the Jaguars end up chucking the ball around but don't find a major receiving threat at running back or tight end. In any case, Jones starts his Jacksonville tenure with a favorable matchup, facing a rebuilding Houston team that just traded former starting cornerback Bradley Roby to the Saints.

Smith (undisclosed) wasn't listed on the Saints' injury report Wednesday.

Smith was knocked from a training camp session Aug. 3, spending two weeks away from the field. While he rejoined his teammates Aug. 17, the Saints kept him out for their entire preseason slate. Now that he's unhindered at practice again, Smith will team with Marquez Callaway at the top of a wideout depth chart that'll be without Michael Thomas (ankle) for the first month of the season.

Chark (finger) isn't listed on the injury report for Jacksonville's Week 1 matchup with Houston, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Chark's absence from the injury report was expected, after head coach Urban Meyer declared the wideout healthy upon his return to practice Monday. The wideout had been out since the first week of August after requiring surgery to address a hairline fracture in his finger, but the expectation all along was that he would be ready for Week 1. He'll have target competition from fellow wide receivers Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault, but the Jaguars don't have a tight end or running back who demands significant volume from rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The new-look Jags start their season against the AFC South's other rebuilding franchise, traveling to Houston for a Week 1 matchup.