NFL Player News

Metchie caught one of three targets for five yards and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Texans.

The 26-year-old journeyman is on his fourth team in the last three seasons, but Metchie has a path to winning a spot on the Panthers' Week 1 roster due to Chris Brazzell (knee) being out for the year, Xavier Legette (ankle) limping as well, and Trevor Etienne -- the team's top kickoff returner in 2025 -- exiting Friday's exhibition early after picking up an ankle issue. Metchie's had plenty of trouble staying healthy himself since being a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by Houston, and he's never topped 29 catches or 256 receiving yards in a season.

Horn caught his only target for five yards and added six yards on his only carry during Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Texans.

The 2025 sixth-round pick also returned two punts, but those gained just two yards. With Xavier Legette (ankle) getting hurt in practice this week, the Panthers' No. 3 receiver job could be open to begin the campaign, but Horn didn't exactly make a strong final case to claim it. Over 14 regular-season games as a rookie, Horn caught 11 of 15 targets for 108 yards and added 69 rushing yards on eight carries.

Dillon carried the ball six times for 12 yards and caught three of four passes for 20 yards in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Texans.

With Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) and Jonathon Brooks getting held out for the final preseason game, Trevor Etienne got the start but was quickly sidelined by an ankle injury. Dillon stepped in and played into the second quarter but didn't make much of an impact. The former Packer is trying to get his career back on track after not playing at all in 2024 due to neck issues and then getting just 12 carries over seven regular-season games in 2025 with the Eagles, but if the injuries to Hubbard and Etienne linger into Week 1, Dillon could have a surprisingly robust role in the Panthers' opener.

Fairbairn converted both his field-goal attempts and his only PAT during Friday's 16-13 preseason loss to the Panthers.

The 32-year-old kicker heads into the regular season having not missed a kick in either of the two preseason contests in which he saw action. Fairbairn has become one of the most reliable placekickers in the league with Houston, converting better than 90 percent of his FGs in three of the last four seasons and finishing in the top five in the NFL in points each of the last two campaigns.

Walker caught three of five targets for 22 yards in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

The five targets tied for the team lead on the night, but Walker didn't do much with the volume as three other Ravens had more receiving yards, and none of the team's three passing TDs went his way. Third-round rookie Ja'Kobi Lane has been the star of training camp and seems to have the No. 3 wideout job locked down, leaving Walker competing with the likes of Elijah Sarratt, Chris Moore and LaJohntay Wester just to find a spot on the 53-man roster.

Sarratt caught one of two targets for only one yard in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

The 2026 fourth-round pick made a splash in the Ravens' preseason opener, but Sarratt managed just two catches for four yards in the final two exhibition games. Third-round rookie Ja'Kobi Lane has been the star of training camp and seems to have the No. 3 wideout job locked down, leaving Sarratt competing with the likes of Devontez Walker, Chris Moore and LaJohntay Wester just to find a spot on the 53-man roster.

Randall carried the ball five times for 25 yards and caught three of four targets for 45 yards in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

After sitting out the Ravens' second preseason game due to an undisclosed injury, Randall got back onto the field for the exhibition finale and flashed his impressive athleticism when he got the ball in his hands. A 2026 fifth-round pick out of Clemson, the converted wide receiver could eventually be a threat to Justice Hill's passing-down role in the backfield, but Randall will need to prove to the coaching staff he can handle his pass-protection duties first.

Ali carried the ball nine times for 28 yards and caught three of four targets for 18 yards in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

The third-year running back got the start in the preseason finale with the Ravens resting their key personnel and led the team in touches on the night, although he didn't make much of an impact. Ali appears set to open the regular season as the third option in the backfield behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, with his main competition being rookie fifth-round pick Adam Randall, who is still learning the nuances of the RB position after mainly playing wide receiver in college before making the switch on a full-time basis in his draft year.

Huntley completed all four of his passes for 61 yards and a touchdown while adding 14 rushing yards on two carries in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

The veteran backup QB was under center for only one possession, but Huntley set the tone for the night by leading an eight-play, 69-yard drive that culminated in a 25-yard TD strike to Chris Moore. Lamar Jackson is the undisputed starter under center for Baltimore, but he missed four games last season due to injury and dealt with significant absences in 2021 and 2022 as well. If Jackson gets banged up again, Huntley offers a reliable fallback option after completing 77.6 percent of his pass attempts (52-for-67) and committing zero turnovers in five appearances last year.

Cuevas caught both his targets for 15 yards in Friday's 41-3 preseason win over the Commanders.

Veterans Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe once again were kept off the field, leaving Cuevas and fellow rookie Matthew Hibner to handle most of the tight-end duties. Cuevas, a fifth-round pick out of Alabama, caught Tyler Huntley's first pass of the night before connecting with Joe Fagnano for a short gain in the second quarter. Neither young TE stood out in the exhibition finale, and their battle for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart could extend into the regular season.