NFL Player News

Downs briefly left Saturday's practice after landing hard on his back, per Andrew Moore of SI.com, but he later returned to the session, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Downs was among the Colts' key skill players who didn't see action in Thursday's preseason opener. However, given that he was able to return to Saturday's practice after the exit, he could suit up for the team's next exhibition tilt this coming Saturday against the Falcons, should coach Shane Steichen elect to give his starters some reps next weekend.

Benson has been getting more reps with the first-team offense, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.

"[Benson's] earned those reps but he's got to stay humble and stay hungry," head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters after Sunday's training camp practice. Benson, a sixth-round selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, played 20 snaps on offense during the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday and caught two passes (on four targets) for 26 yards while returning one kickoff for 21 yards. There are still a few weeks to go before the regular season gets underway, but for now, it appears as though Benson is pushing Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton (undisclosed) for the WR3 role behind Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor.

Adams did not play in the Rams' 20-12 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday.

Adams and several other Rams skill-position players, including Puka Nacua (groin), Jordan Whittington and Kyren Williams, observed Saturday's exhibition contest from the sidelines. Adams is coming off a strong 2025 campaign, when he led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns across 14 regular-season games and added another score in the Rams' loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Nacua and Adams will once again work as one of, if not the top wide receiver duos in the NFL for the 2026 season.

Jennings played four snaps on offense and didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Vikings' 13-10 preseason win over the Giants on Saturday.

Jennings and the rest of the Vikings' top skill-position players saw minimal work in Saturday's exhibition game, with Justin Jefferson being a healthy scratch. Jennings signed a one-year contract with the Vikings in May after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the 49ers. He's coming off a 2025 campaign when he caught 55 passes (on 90 targets) for 643 yards and nine touchdowns across 15 regular-season games. Jennings is slated to serve as Minnesota's WR3 behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday that Marcus Mariota has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee, which puts Hartman in position to be the Commanders' backup quarterback for the rest of the preseason.

Mariota picked up the injury during the Commanders' 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday, and follow-up tests confirmed a sprained MCL. Hartman didn't have the best performance in the Commanders' preseason opener, completing eight of 15 passes for 80 yards and an interception while turning three carries into 13 yards. Given that he's been Washington's emergency QB3 since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in April 2024, Hartman figures to be ahead of Athan Kaliakmanis to be the team's backup quarterback behind Jayden Daniels while Mariota is sidelined, though the Commanders may bring in a veteran quarterback to compete for the QB2 job.

Hockenson played five snaps on offense and didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Vikings' 13-10 preseason win over the Giants on Saturday.

Hockenson saw the least amount of offensive snaps among Vikings tight ends Saturday, with Bryson Nesbit (25) leading the position group in that category. Hockenson is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he logged 51 catches (on 66 targets) for 438 yards and three touchdowns across 15 regular-season games. He hasn't been the same player since his career year in 2023, which ended in late December by a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. The Vikings added wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the offseason to be the WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and while that may reduce Hockenson's target share, he's still the top tight end on the depth chart, with Josh Oliver and Ben Yurosek operating in complementary roles.

Monangai did not play in the Bears' 34-10 preseason win over the Browns on Saturday.

Both Monangai and D'Andre Swift observed Saturday's game from the sidelines while 2023 fourth-rounder Roschon Johnson led all Bears running backs with 22 snaps on offense. Monangai, a seventh-round selection of Chicago in the 2025 NFL Draft, is coming off a productive rookie campaign in which he logged 169 carries for 783 yards (4.6 YPC) and five touchdowns while adding 18 catches (on 30 targets) for 164 yards across 17 regular-season games, two of which he rushed for 130-plus yards. The Rutgers product is expected to serve in a complementary role behind Swift for the upcoming season.

Mariota is expected to miss the rest of the preseason due to a sprained MCL in his knee, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mariota sustained the injury in the first quarter of the Commanders' 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday. Sam Hartman and undrafted rookie Athan Kaliakmanis are the other two reserve quarterbacks on the training camp roster, so the Commanders could look to acquire another QB via free agency or trade to provide depth behind Jayden Daniels. Mariota will focus on rehab and recovery over the next few weeks, and head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism Sunday that Mariota will be available for the Commanders' regular-season opener against the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Kraft (knee) will participate in 11-on-11 team drills during Sunday's training camp practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Kraft opened training camp on the active/PUP list but has slowly increased his workload over the course of the last couple of weeks. His clearance to work in team drills is another positive step in his recovery from a torn ACL that he sustained in Week 9 of the 2025 season. Kraft is unlikely to play in either of the Packers' last two preseason games but appears to be on track to suit up Week 1 against the Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Odunze did not participate in Saturday's 30-14 preseason win over the Browns.

Odunze was joined by fellow wideouts Luther Burden (groin), Kalif Raymond and rookie third-rounder Zavion Thomas (knee) on the sidelines, along with tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland. Odunze saw his production dip from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign, though that was partly due to him missing the final five games of the 2025 regular season due to a heel injury. This year, Odunze has the opportunity to live up to his potential as a former top-10 pick, given that DJ Moore now is in Buffalo.