NFL Player News

Phillips (arm) was not listed on the Panthers' injury report Wednesday.

Phillips was dealing with an arm injury that caused him to miss training camp practices and preseason games, but the sixth-year pro's absence from Wednesday's report indicates that he'll play Sunday against Chicago. Phillips and Patrick Jones (back) will serve as Carolina's starting edge rushers for the upcoming season, with Trevis Gipson and Princely Umanmielen providing depth at the position.

Brown (knee) was not listed on the Panthers' injury report Wednesday.

Brown was limited by a knee injury during training camp, but the 2020 first-rounder practiced Wednesday without limitations and should be available for Week 1 against the Bears on Sunday. The Auburn product put together a solid statline last year, finishing with 73 tackles (33 solo), including a career-high 5.0 sacks, seven pass defenses and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games.

Lloyd (knee) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report.

Lloyd was working through a knee injury toward the tail end of training camp, but his absence from injury report indicates that the fifth-year pro will play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Bears. Lloyd inked a three-year, $42 million contract with the Panthers in March after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Jaguars, and he is slated to start alongside Bobby Okereke at inside linebacker, with both Claudin Cherelus and Jackson Kuwatch providing depth at the position.

Kittle (Achilles) remained limited in Wednesday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Kyle Shanahan has already indicated Kittle will play in Thursday night's season opener against the Rams in Australia, but the team is monitoring his practice reps. The veteran tight end is coming off a torn Achilles and is expected to see his snaps dialed back some against Los Angeles, though he should remain a staple in the red zone. Kittle is probably more of a TE2 than a locked-in TE1 for fantasy in Week 1.

Ogletree (neck) was limited at Wednesday's practice.

The Colts will play the Ravens to begin the season, though it's unknown if Ogletree will be on the field for that contest. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Colts, most recently amassing four catches for 27 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign. While Ogletree isn't expected to see much attention from Daniel Jones in Week 1, his absence could mean an extra target or two for Mo Alie-Cox.

Gardner (calf) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report for Sunday's game versus Baltimore.

Gardner was bothered by a calf issue during the preseason. However, his omission from the injury report indicates he will be good to go for the Week 1 meeting with the Ravens. The 2022 No. 4 overall pick appeared in 11 regular-season games for the Jets and Colts during the 2025 campaign, amassing 36 total tackles and nine passes defended.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Wednesday that Smith is "getting his cleats underneath him," and it's unclear whether the veteran safety will play in Sunday's regular-season opener agains the Packers, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Smith reunited with the Vikings on a one-year contract Saturday after being released by the team in March and not catching on with another organization during the offseason. The 2012 first-rounder is still getting into game shape, and his status for Week 1 will be better known once he gets more practice reps under his belt over the coming days.

Ward (back) was not listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game versus the Ravens.

Ward was battling a back injury. However, his absence from Wednesday's injury report indicates he should be good to go for the opener versus Baltimore. The 30-year-old veteran appeared in seven regular-season games for the Colts during the 2025 campaign, compiling 25 total tackles.

Harris (undisclosed) is not listed on the Week 1 injury report Wednesday.

Harris dealt with an unspecified injury last month but is fine for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals. He's expected to fill the WR3 role behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson this season, but the Chargers also figure to use plenty of TE-heavy sets with Charlie Kolar, Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku.

Jeanty (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.

When Jeanty left practice on Aug. 23, the initial concerns were significant because the running back wasn't able to put much pressure on his right leg as he exited the field. Adam Schefter of ESPN subsequently reported that Jeanty wasn't dealing with a long-term issue, and the diagnosis eventually revealed a low-ankle sprain. After logging all activity at Wednesday's session, Jeanty now is in the clear for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Dolphins, though he may still yield some RB reps to reserves Mike Washington and even Dylan Laube.