NFL Player News

Metchie is competing for a depth role in Carolina, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

With rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell (knee) ruled out for the season, Metchie might have a chance to push Xavier Legette for the No. 3 job, though this report suggests Metchie is also on the roster bubble. Metchie and Legette offer contrasting styles, which could work in Metchie's favor on a team where the top two wide receivers (Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker) look a lot more like Legette. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Metchie figures to take a lot of snaps in the slot if he ends up earning a role in the Carolina offense. He recorded three receptions on six targets for 38 yards and a 36-yard kick return Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game against Arizona.

Fields has "made an early claim for the No. 2 receiver spot" in the Giants' offense, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

The rookie third-round pick isn't without competition, as the Giants also have veterans Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin competing for snaps behind No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers (knee). At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Fields offers a physical element the others can't match, and he's reportedly making a good impression so far at training camp. That doesn't mean he'll be a Week 1 starter, but he's at least throwing his hat in the ring.

Lemon (hamstring) isn't practicing Friday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Lemon and DeVonta Smith first missed practice Tuesday, both due to hamstring injuries. Neither has returned yet, and while reports don't suggest anything serious, Lemon previously dealt with a hamstring injury during the offseason program. In three seasons at USC, he missed just one game due to injury (a concussion in Sept. 2024).

Smith (hamstring) isn't practicing Friday, Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Fellow wideouts Makai Lemon and Britain Covey also are absent due to hamstring injuries, leaving Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown as the team's top healthy wideouts. Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper should also see more first-team snaps as a result. Reports suggest Smith's hamstring injury is minor; he's been absent from practice since Tuesday.

Allen (shin) returned to practice Friday morning, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

The rookie fifth-round pick was one of Kansas City's early standouts at training camp, building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes while taking some snaps on the first-team offense. Allen then suffered a shin bruise Saturday and missed most of the week, but he's back in action Friday to continue making his case for a Week 1 role.

Doubs (personal) returned to practice Friday, Karen Guregian of MassLive.com reports.

With his two recent absences being for non-injury reasons, Doubs should pick up where he left off at Patriots training camp, building chemistry with Drake Maye. The team has a deep WR room, also featuring A.J. Brown, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins.

The Texans activated Noel (finger) from the active/non-football injury list Friday morning.

After missing the first two weeks of training camp, Noel will hope to join the job battle for the No. 3 WR role in Houston. Noel's main competition is Tank Dell (knee) and Xavier Hutchinson.

Virgil secured five of six targets for 66 yards in the Cardinals' 33-30 preseason loss to the Panthers on Thursday.

The rookie fifth-round pick led the Cardinals in receptions and targets while finishing second in receiving yards on the night to Jalen Brooks. Virgil is battling Brooks and veterans such as Devin Duvernay and Simi Fehoko for a spot on the latter portion of the wide-receiver depth chart, and Virgil got his quest off to an excellent start Thursday. Given the promise he showed, Virgil should continue seeing plenty of snaps in the Cardinals' preseason game on the road against the Raiders next Thursday.

Dillon rushed three times for 18 yards and a touchdown and secured his only target for 18 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 preseason win over the Cardinals on Thursday.

Dillon's first three touches came in consecutive fashion early in the second quarter, as he rattled off his 18-yard reception and then gained four yards on his first run of the night. The veteran back followed it up with a one-yard touchdown run on the next play, and his final rush attempt of the night resulted in a game-long 13-yard run to start the following possession. Dillon was the second back in the game behind Trevor Etienne, and the former will look to continue making a strong impression in the Panthers' second preseason game on the road against the Bills on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Knight rushed 12 times for 60 yards in the Cardinals' 33-30 preseason loss to the Panthers on Thursday. He also fumbled once but recovered.

The journeyman back is looking to run it back with the Cardinals after making a positive impression during an injury-riddled 2025 for the Arizona backfield. Knight started Thursday's game and saw action into the first drive of the second half, fumbling at the end of his longest run of the night -- 15 yards -- late in the second quarter but falling back on the ball. Knight finished as the team leader in rushing yards, but he figures to have an uphill battle to stick on the final roster in a very crowded running back room headlined by rookie first-round pick Jeremiyah Love along with Tyler Allgeier, James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson.