NFL Player News

The Commanders signed Jackson to a contract Wednesday.

Jackson has been fully cleared from the serious knee injury that forced him to miss all of 2024 and half of the 2023 campaign, and he's now set to handle a reserve role on defense for Washington. The 2022 second-round pick's first opportunity to debut for his new team will come Sunday on the road against the Cowboys.

Panthers coach Dave Canales didn't answer Wednesday when reporters asked him if Dowdle will start Sunday's game against the Jets, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Chuba Hubbard (calf) returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant after Dowdle ran for 389 yards over the past two weeks. Hubbard was excellent last season and didn't do anything this September to warrant a benching, but the massive extent of Dowdle's recent production nonetheless creates questions about what the Carolina backfield will look like moving forward. The split for Week 7 won't necessarily be the split for the rest of the season, of course, and there may be room for multiple RBs to put up solid numbers against a subpar Jets defense.

Slayton (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Slayton injured his hamstring during the Giants' Week 5 loss at New Orleans and hasn't practiced in the meantime, sitting out last Thursday's win against the Eagles in the process. He'll have two more chances this week to mix into drills before New York potentially makes a ruling on his status for Sunday's game at Denver.

Fant is primed to handle additional snaps, routes and targets beginning with Thursday's game versus the Steelers after Cincinnati placed Mike Gesicki (pectoral) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Fant played 50 percent of offensive snaps and secured all four of his targets for 27 yards during the Bengals' loss to the Packers in Week 6, showing solid chemistry with new quarterback Joe Flacco. Gesicki played just two offensive snaps before being forced out versus Green Bay, so it's reasonable to project Fant to take on another sizable snap share at home against Pittsburgh on Thursday. With reserve tight end Tanner Hudson (concussion) ruled out for Thursday, the Bengals will have Drew Sample and Cam Grandy as the available depth options behind Fant.

Jaguars coach Liam Coen said Wednesday that he plans to design and call more plays with Hunter as the first read, ESPN's Michael DiRocco reports.

Hunter had career highs for snap share (79 percent) and route share (88 percent) in Sunday's loss to Seattle, but his seven targets largely came near the line of scrimmage (4.0 aDOT) and led to a meager 4-15-0 receiving line. He's already getting a few schemed touches each week yet has a much lower per-route target rate (19 percent) than teammates Brian Thomas (24 percent), Parker Washington (25 percent), Travis Etienne (23 percent) and Bhayshul Tuten (29 percent). The Jaguars could look to get Hunter more deep/intermediate targets, but that won't necessarily be easy to do against a tough Rams defense this Sunday in London.

Sanders (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday.

Sanders now has logged three limited sessions and a full practice in his last four chances to do so, indicating he's nearing the end of his recovery from a high right-ankle sprain that has sidelined him the last three games. His status will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of if he's trending toward a return to action Sunday at the Jets.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Dodson remains in the concussion protocol but is trending in the right direction, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Dodson's absence proved a notable blow for Miami's defense during the team's narrow loss to the Chargers in Week 6, but he could have a chance to return to the lineup in time for Sunday's road matchup against the Browns. In order to retake the field, of course, Dodson will need to fully clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. If Dodson misses any more time, K.J. Britt will stand to again step into a starting role at middle linebacker.

Hubbard (calf) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday.

This marks Hubbard's first on-field work since Week 4 prep, as he sat out Weeks 5 and 6 due to a calf injury. Coach Dave Canales told Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday that Hubbard looked "great," but he likely will need to string together multiple practices in a row in order to put himself in a position to play Sunday at the Jets. Assuming Hubbard is back in action this weekend, the Panthers are expected to keep both him and Rico Dowdle, who has sprung for 473 yards from scrimmage and two total TDs on 60 touches the last two games, involved in the offense, though who would have the upper hand between them remains to be seen, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.

Colts coach Shane Steichen said Ward (concussion) will not practice Wednesday, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Ward missed Indianapolis' win over the Cardinals in Week 6 due to a concussion suffered during pregame warmups, and he isn't yet ready to resume taking practice reps. He'll need to gain full clearance from the NFL's concussion protocol before being eligible to return to game action, making Ward's status uncertain for Sunday's road matchup against the Chargers.

Moore (Achilles) will return to practice Wednesday and participate in individual drills, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Moore has missed Indianapolis' last three games due to an Achilles injury, but he appears to be making progress with a chance to return to action Week 7 against the Chargers. In order to be cleared to play Sunday on the road against Los Angeles, however, Moore may have to practice in full Thursday or Friday.