NFL Player News
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A.J. Brown WR | NE
Eagles' A.J. Brown: Nearly blanked in Week 1 win
Brown secured his only target for eight yards in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.
Brown's near shutout was alarming considering his typical importance to the Eagles' air attack, but both passing games were relatively subdued in the opener. While Brown garnered plenty of defensive attention, Dallas Goedert and Jahan Dotson appeared to be the biggest beneficiaries, and Brown finally got on the board with a timely eight-yard grab with 1:51 remaining to set up a game-sealing Jalen Hurts four-yard scramble. Needless to say, stat lines like Thursday's should be few and far between for Brown this season, and he's a virtual lock to be exponentially more involved a Week 2 road Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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CeeDee Lamb WR | DAL
Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb: Bittersweet 100-yard effort in loss
Lamb secured seven of 13 targets for 110 yards in the Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.
The final line is certainly aesthetically pleasing for fantasy purposes, but it's a couple of the targets that Lamb failed to corral that loom largest over the Cowboys' surprisingly close loss. The star wideout couldn't find the handle on a crisp Dak Prescott third-down throw on the first play of the fourth quarter, and he subsequently saw a perfectly timed lob down the left sideline on fourth down skirt through his hands as he dove for the ball just past the two-minute warning. Lamb did quickly get his first 100-yard effort of the season on the board, and despite his untimely drops, he'll naturally be in line for another busy afternoon when the Cowboys host the Giants in their Week 2 home opener on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Dareke Young WR | LV
Seahawks' Dareke Young: Downgrades to DNP
Young (hamstring) did not participate in Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Young opened the week as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, so his DNP is a trend in the wrong direction. He would need to return to practice in at least a limited capacity Friday to have a chance at playing in Sunday's regular-season opener against the 49ers. Young is slated to start the season in a depth role at wide receiver, but he would be in line to see an uptick in offensive snaps in Week 1 if Jake Bobo (concussion) is not cleared to play.
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Jordan Watkins WR | SF
49ers' Jordan Watkins: Back at practice Thursday
Watkins (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
The rookie fourth-rounder is working through a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the 49ers' preseason game against the Broncos in early August. He didn't practice Wednesday, but his ability to practice in a limited capacity Thursday indicates that he is progressing in his recovery. Friday's practice report will provide added clarity on his status heading into Sunday's regular-season opener against Seattle. If he's cleared to play, Watkins could see a fair number of snaps on offense if Jauan Jennings (calf) is sidelined.
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Jauan Jennings WR | MIN
49ers' Jauan Jennings: Another limited showing
Jennings (calf) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Jennings has sandwiched capped sessions around getting $3 million in play-time incentives added to his current contract Wednesday evening. With one of his recent issues resolved, his calf injury continues to hinder his on-field work ahead of Week 1, though he did tell Wagoner on Thursday that it's "been feeling a lot better" and that he's "ready to go" for Sunday's game in Seattle. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not Jennings enters the weekend with a designation for the season opener.
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Alec Pierce WR | IND
Colts' Alec Pierce: Ready for Week 1
Pierce (groin) is not listed on the Colts' Week 1 injury report.
Pierce dealt with a groin issue last month, but is practicing without restrictions and poised to play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Dolphins. The 2022 second-rounder finished the 2024 campaign with career highs in receiving yards (824) and touchdowns (seven) on 37 catches across 16 games. Looking ahead, Pierce is slated to start the season as a key cog in a Colts pass-catching corps that also features fellow WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs, along with TE Tyler Warren, a group that will now be working with Daniel Jones, the team's new QB1.
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Gabe Davis WR | BUF
Gabe Davis: On practice squad injured list
Davis (knee) was placed on the Bills' practice squad injured list Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Davis agreed to sign with the team's practice squad Tuesday, but the wideout will reside on the injured list while he continues to bounce back from a torn meniscus he sustained last season, per Joe Buscagliaof The Athletic. Down the road, Davis could find himself back in the Bills' WR mix, and his familiarity with the offense (the 26-year-old played for Buffalo from 2020 through 2023) would no doubt ease his transition to a return to action in such a scenario.
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Tai Felton WR | MIN
Vikings' Tai Felton: Absent from injury report
Felton (arm) was not listed on Thursday's injury report.
The rookie third-rounder was dealing with arm soreness in the tail end of training camp, but he appears to be past the issue given his absence from Thursday's injury report. Felton is on track to play Monday against the Bears, when he'll make his NFL regular-season debut. With Jordan Addison (suspension) missing the first three games of the season, Felton is in line to see rotational snaps at wide receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Jalen Nailor.
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Jalen Nailor WR | LV
Vikings' Jalen Nailor: Logs full practice Thursday
Nailor (hand) practiced fully Thursday.
Nailor suffered a hand injury in practice Aug. 14 and was sidelined until getting back on the field for Wednesday's unofficial session. With no limitations to speak of one day later, he's set to handle WR reps behind veterans Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen to begin the season due to Jordan Addison's three-game suspension. In a part-time role last year, Nailor gathered in 28 of 42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.
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Justin Jefferson WR | MIN
Vikings' Justin Jefferson: Avoids injury report
Jefferson (hamstring) wasn't listed on the Vikings' initial Week 1 injury report Thursday.
Jefferson suffered a mild left hamstring strain in practice July 24, and while he was able to begin working out on the side with team trainers within one week, he didn't return to the practice field until Aug. 18. The Vikings kept him out of all three of their preseason games with an eye toward him being healthy Week 1. He more or less confirmed as much Thursday, telling Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune that his hamstring feels great entering the season. "Missing the whole training camp and just staying in that training room definitely gets [to be] dark days, being by yourself and competing with yourself, but you got to think about the ending result: having a healthy body, having a strong body to maintain a full season," Jefferson said. He thus is poised to serve as the Vikings' top target for second-year pro and first-year starting QB J.J. McCarthy on Monday in Chicago and beyond.