NFL Player News

Cowing accrued zero targets during Monday's 23-17 win against Washington.

Despite the absence of Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and the premature exit of Mike Evans (Achilles), Cowing went without a catch for the fifth time this season. With neither Samuel nor Evans a lock to suit up in Week 7 versus the Falcons, Cowing might see more snaps alongside Brandin Cooks and Jordan Watkins. However, that may not be the case if Demarcus Robinson (ankle) can manage to get on the field after spending time on injured reserve since the Week 2 win over Miami.

Brown hauled in his only target for six yards during Monday's 23-17 loss versus San Francisco.

Despite Terry McLaurin (knee) exiting early in the loss to the 49ers, Brown wasn't on the field more than usual. He wasn't any more productive, either, catching just one pass for the second straight contest. McLaurin will miss the remainder of the 2026 campaign after it was announced Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with a torn left patellar tendon. However, that doesn't mean Brown will be more involved moving forward, considering the Commanders still have Antonio Williams, Stefon Diggs and Treylon Burks in the mix.

Adams (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

As a result, Adams is slated to miss at least four games, although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously suggested that the wideout was hoping to return not too long after the Rams' Week 11 bye. In his absence, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwellare candidates to see added looks behind top WR Puka Nacua.

Brown (ankle) was spotted on the practice field Tuesday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Brown, who returned from a four-game absence this past Sunday against the Jets, was listed as limited on Monday's estimated practice report. It remains to be seen how the Patriots list his Tuesday participation level, but at this stage there's no reason to believe that the wideout's availability for Thursday night's game against the Bears is in any danger.

Coach Dan Quinn noted Tuesday that McLaurin tore his left patellar tendon during Monday's loss to the 49ers, according to John Keim of ESPN.com.

With McLaurin done for the season as the result of the injury, Stefon Diggs profiles as the Commanders' top wideout going forward. Also in the mix to see added reps in McLaurin's absence are Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey. Additionally, the team could look add depth at the position in the coming days. McLaurin, who is under contract with Washington through 2028, faces a lengthy recovery in in the coming months. Prior to sustaining his injury, McLaurin logged a team-high 230 receiving yards on 15 receptions (27 targets) with a TD over the course of five games.

Burks finished with four receptions for 66 yards on six targets in Monday's 23-17 loss to the 49ers.

The reception, yardage and target totals were all season-best totals for Burks, whose heightened involvement in the passing game may have been a byproduct of No. 1 wideout Terry McLaurin (knee) exiting the game late in the first quarter. Though Burks didn't see a major spike in playing time compared to prior weeks -- he was on the field for 37 of 67 offensive snaps (55.2 percent) -- he should be able to maintain a regular role in three-receiver sets alongside Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams with McLaurin expected to miss time and potentially even being sidelined for the rest of the season.

McLaurin is slated to undergo an MRI on Tuesday after sustaining what the Commanders fear was a season-ending left knee injury in Monday's 23-17 loss to the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After recording a 27-yard reception on the Commanders' opening drive, McLaurin went down with the injury on the team's second possession of the first quarter, when he lost his balance and fell awkwardly to the field while running a route on a third-and-9 play. McLaurin was carted off the field and fitted for an air cast before the Commanders quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game. The upcoming imaging will reveal the extent of McLaurin's injury, but head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged after the game that the Commanders are bracing for their No. 1 wideout to miss time, per John Keim of ESPN.com. If McLaurin is in fact sidelined for any stretch of action, Stefon Diggs would presumably settle in as Washington's new top wideout, with tight end Chig Okonkwo, running backs Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler and receivers Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks also potentially benefiting from added opportunities in the passing game.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said after Monday's 23-17 win over the Commanders that Evans' early exit was due to right Achilles tendinitis, but he doesn't believe the wideout will require further testing or imaging, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. "I hope he recovers throughout the week, but you don't think it's a long-term thing, but right now it ended up costing him two quarters and hopefully he'll be able to play [Sunday in Atlanta]," Shanahan said.

Listed as questionable heading into Monday after failing to practice all week while nursing the Achilles issue in addition to fractured ribs, Evans suited up but lasted just two quarters before aggravating the Achilles injury. He still delivered for fantasy managers with three receptions for 94 yards on five targets, but the veteran wideout's latest setback on the health front could put him in danger of missing his first game of the season. Before deciding on Evans' status for Sunday's game, the 49ers will likely continue to rest him during practices throughout the week and see how he bounces back from the Achilles tendinitis. With a bye on tap in Week 8, the 49ers may be incentivized to hold Evans out against the Falcons to ensure he's in optimal health for the second half of the season.

Cooks brought in one of two targets for 13 yards in the 49ers' 23-17 win over the Commanders on Monday night.

Cooks unsurprisingly played a minor role in the air attack as one of four players with one catch on the night. The veteran wideout has two receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown on five targets over the three games for which he's been active to date, and with Demarcus Robinson (ankle) not likely to return from injured reserve until Week 8, Cooks is likely to suit up again in a Week 7 road matchup against the Falcons on Sunday.

Williams brought in three of four targets for 50 yards in the Commanders' 23-17 loss to the 49ers on Monday night.

Williams finished with the third-most receptions on the Commanders for the night, and the rookie posted the second-highest receiving yardage total of his nascent career. Williams has maintained a steady complementary presence in Washington's air attack while recording at least three catches in all but one game, and the third-round pick out of Clemson should continue filling a similar role when the Commanders return from a Week 7 bye in a home divisional battle against the Eagles on Sunday night, Nov. 1.