NFL Player News

Shepard is projected to operate as the No. 2 receiver in Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Saints due to the absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

The veteran wideout started the Week 7 loss to the Lions working as the No. 3 receiver, but he bumped up a notch on the depth chart during the game when Evans exited with his pair of injuries. Shepard wound up with a season-high seven receptions on his seven targets against Detroit, albeit while netting only 25 receiving yards. Sunday, Shepard is due to begin the game as the No. 2 wideout, and he could certainly benefit from the defensive attention likely to be showered on rookie position mate Emeka Egbuka.

Johnson is set to work as the Buccaneers' No. 3 receiver and likely see an increase in snap count and targets during Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Saints due to the absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

The rookie has already been making his mark in the Buccaneers' offense in recent games, recording his first pair of NFL touchdowns and two four-catch tallies in his last three contests. Johnson logged a career-high nine targets in the Week 7 loss to the Lions on Monday night as part of the ripple effect of Evans' early exit and Godwin's absence, and with the same conditions at play Sunday, the Oregon product could capitalize.

Mingo (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game in Denver.

After the Cowboys activated Mingo from injured reserve Tuesday, Mingo was a full practice participant Wednesday through Friday and entered the weekend without a designation. However, his season debut will be delayed at least one week, perhaps to give him a bit more time to complete his recovery from the PCL sprain that he suffered in his right knee in preseason Week 2. Mingo's next chance for game action is Monday, Nov. 3 against the Cardinals.

Eskridge (shoulder) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Eskridge was carted to the locker room in the first half due to a shoulder injury, which is severe enough for him to be sidelined for the rest of Sunday's game. Cedrick Wilson will step into a more prominent role on offense, and Ollie Gordon is set to join Malik Washington on kickoff return duties.

Horn is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bills due to a shoulder injury, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Horn sustained the injury during the second quarter, and he will have his shoulder evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return. With Hunter Renfrow (coach's decision), inactive, Brycen Tremayne is in line to see an expanded role on offense for as long as Horn is out of the game.

Eskridge sustained a shoulder injury during Sunday's game against the Falcons and is questionable to return, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

The injury was severe enough for Eskridge to be carted to the locker room, which has him on the doubtful side of returning to Sunday's game. His absence means Ollie Gordon could join Malik Washington on kick returns, and Cedrick Wilson will step into a more prominent role in the offense.

Nabers is scheduled to undergo surgery later this upcoming week to repair the torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though Nabers sustained the non-contact injury during a Sept. 28 win over the Chargers in Week 4, he needed one month to let the swelling in his knee subside and complete a rehab program before heading in for surgery. Assuming Nabers' upcoming procedure goes as planned, he's expected to be back to full strength for the start of the 2026 season. Before suffering the knee injury, the 22-year-old wideout played only a handful of snaps with rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, who made his first NFL start Week 4 in place of the struggling Russell Wilson after the latter directed the offense for the first three games of the season.

Washington (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Washington has only played three snaps this season, coming in the Dolphins' Week 5 loss to the Panthers. The team's active wide reciever room for Week 8 consists of Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cedrick Wilson and Dee Eskridge.

Cooper (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Cooper was activated from injured reserve Saturday, and the undrafted rookie has been officially cleared to return from a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury he sustained against the Rams in Week 3. Cooper saw the field on both special teams and in a rotational role on offense prior to his injury, but he could see more snaps at wide receiver in Week 8 due to the absence of A.J. Brown (hamstring).

Renfrow (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills, Darin Gantt of the Panther's official site reports.

Renfrow will be a healthy scratch for a second-straight week, which coincides with the return of Jalen Coker from injured reserve. Coker will join Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jimmy Horn and Brycen Tremayne as Carolina's active wide receivers for Sunday's home game against Buffalo. Renfrow's next opportunity to play will be Week 9 against the Packers on Sunday, Nov. 2.