NFL Player News

Grant may be needed in an expanded role after teammates Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opted out of the 2020 season, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Grant missed the final six games of 2018 and the final five of 2019, first suffering an Achilles injury and then a high-ankle sprain. He also dealt with a hamstring injury, a shoulder injury and a concussion over the past two years, but when healthy, he typically served as Miami's third or fourth option at wide receiver while also handling kick returns and sometimes punt returns. With Wilson and Hurns out of the picture for the upcoming season, Grant and Isaiah Ford appear to be the top candidates for the No. 3 receiver spot, while DeVante Parker and Preston Williams (knee) look like the top two options. There's even some chance for both Grant and Ford to stay regularly involved, especially if Williams struggles to come back from the ACL tear he suffered last November.

Ford has a nice opportunity ahead of him after teammates Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opted out of the 2020 season, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Ford handled the No. 3 receiver role over the final four weeks of last season, grabbing 21 of 29 targets for 235 yards. He could now enter training camp with a top-three spot in Chan Gailey's offense, as the only other Miami wideouts with significant NFL experience are DeVante Parker, Preston Williams (knee) and Jakeem Grant. Even if the Dolphins add a few bodies in the coming weeks, Ford should have a role in the Week 1 game plan.

Wims could compete for the No. 3 receiver spot in training camp, but he may also be on the roster bubble, Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns of The Athletic report.

The Bears will likely have an open competition for snaps behind Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller, with Wims, Ted Ginn, Cordarrelle Patterson, Riley Ridley and Darnell Mooney all in the mix. Wims made six starts last season, but he averaged only 26.8 yards in those games and finished the year with 18 catches for 186 yards and one touchdown on 39 targets. Ginn and Patterson have more experience, while Ridley and Mooney are backed by more draft capital. A poor showing at training camp could push Wims off the roster.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson believes Bowden could take some snaps as a quarterback, the Raiders' official site reports.

The Raiders view their third-round pick as a running back first and foremost, but it isn't clear he'll be able to earn a Week 1 backfield role in an offense that already has Josh Jacobs and Jalen Richard slated for carries and targets. Wildcat packages would be one way to get the ball in Bowden's hands, perhaps mimicking what he did last season as an option quarterback at Kentucky. Bowden completed only 35 of 74 passes (47.3 percent) for 5.4 yards per attempt and three touchdowns, but his 185-1,468-13 rushing line helped Kentucky win six of its final eight games. He also caught 30 passes for 348 yards and a score, with all of his receiving production occurring in the first five games of the season before he moved under center full time. Bowden could eventually move to wide receiver if things don't work out in the backfield, and he also may get a look on kickoff and punt returns.

The 49ers placed James (wrist) on the active/non-football injury list Tuesday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

One day removed from coming off the reserve/COVID-19 list, James moves over to the NFI list as he recovers from a broken wrist. He suffered the injury in June, and was expected to be sidelined for at least two months. Thus, James' current standing on the roster is of no surprise.

The Vikings activated Jefferson (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

Jefferson spent roughly one week on the COVID list after either testing positive for the virus or having contact with someone who did before reporting to the Vikings. With the situation behind him, the rookie first-rounder can focus on locking down the No. 2 wide receiver spot behind veteran Adam Thielen.

Sills was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday morning, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Undrafted last year, Sills spent much of the season on the Giants' practice squad. He'll now have a chance to compete for a back-end roster spot.

Taylor (foot) went through physicals on Saturday and was not placed on the PUP list, indicating that he is healthy heading into training camp, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Taylor missed the entire 2019 season due to multiple procedures on his ailing foot. With a clean bill of health, the 26-year-old will compete for the 49ers' slot receiver job with several other options including, but not limited to, Brandon Aiyuk, Jalen Hurd and Richie James during training camp.

James (wrist) was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

It's been a difficult past two months for James, who broke his wrist in June before either testing positive for COVID or being in contact with someone who did as he reported to the 49ers. With the addition of 2020 first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk and the return to health of Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back), James may be on the outside looking in at a regular-season roster spot. Working in James' favor, though, is his work as a returner.

The Steelers have placed Washington on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The report notes that the list was "created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person." Washington is expected to compete for targets in 2020 with Pittsburgh's No. 1 wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, second-year man Diontae Johnson and second-round pick Chase Claypool.