NFL Player News

Multiple starting skill players for the Saints are dealing with lingering injuries, which could have Hill primed for a significant workload to start the regular season.

Starting tight end Juwan Johnson has yet to practice this training camp after undergoing foot surgery in mid-June, and it's unclear if he'll be able to play Week 1. Running backs Alvin Kamara (back) and Kendre Miller (hamstring) are also both currently sidelined with injuries. Hill's versatility on offense means he should be one of the first options to pick up the slack if any three of these players miss time this season. The 34-year-old has traditionally been featured at tight end and quarterback -- especially as a rushing quarterback in power formations. Comments from Saints coach Dennis Allen this offseason have emphasized that Hill once again be a key piece of the offense, though Allen has also been unsurprisingly vague when discussing just how he'll fit into the system for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Hill's been spotted working more with the team's running backs and fullbacks during training camp and OTAs, suggesting that he could get even more usage in the backfield, and he also lined up at running back on one of his six snaps during last Saturday's preseason opener. Head coach Dennis Allen recently remarked Miller's extended absence could make it "challenging" for the second-year back to make the roster, according to Patrick Magee of the New Orleans Advocate, or at least hold a significant role early in the season. If that's the case, then Hill and fellow backup running back Jamaal Williams figure to step in as the team's No. 2 and No. 3 rushing options, respectively, to open the 2024 campaign.

Coach Raheem Morris said Penix showed enough in his preseason debut last week that the Falcons didn't feel the need to play him against the Ravens on Saturday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

This was a surprising decision given that Penix is a first-round-pick and expected to ride the pine once the regular season starts, but it perhaps makes more sense in light of the Falcons holding out other highly regarded backups. Both Baltimore and Atlanta largely used Saturday's exhibition to evaluate players at the bottom of the roster or on the wrong side of the bubble, leaving Penix and many others to watch in street clothes. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards the previous week in a preseason loss to Miami.

Williams completed six of 13 passes for 75 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Bengals, adding a seven-yard TD run on a scramble.

The Bears went three-and-out on their first three drives despite using most of their starters against what was mostly the Bengals' second-string defense. Williams then produced a field goal on his fourth drive with the help of a pass-interference penalty, and on the fifth drive he made a trio of spectacular plays to finally get the Bears into the end zone. He already has an impressive highlight reel of difficult throws on the run after seven total drives in two preseason appearances, immediately showing off what many scouts considered to be his best trait. The question now is whether Williams can efficiently direct the Chicago offense so that his scrambles and high-difficulty throws are the dressing rather than the meat and potatoes. He was able to do that for both Oklahoma and USC in college, and he'll certainly have the necessary pass catchers at his disposal in Chicago, working with a deep group led by WRs DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.

Penix appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

With the rookie in street clothes for warmups and Kirk Cousins not expected to play at all this preseason, the Falcons have Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to take QB snaps Saturday afternoon. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards last Friday in Atlanta's preseason opener against Miami.

Mills is dealing with an injury to his ribs and may not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants, Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790 reports.

Mills reportedly missed practice Thursday and was limited throughout the week. An absence Saturday would free up more snaps for Case Keenum and Tim Boyle once C.J. Stroud is removed from the game.

Daniels and other starters are expected to play one or two drives in Saturday's preseason game at Miami, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Daniels played one series in the preseason opener last Saturday against the Jets, completing two of three passes for 45 yards and rushing for a three-yard TD. It sounds like he and the other starters won't play much more than that this Saturday.

Browning (ribs) won't play in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Browning played in the preseason opener but threw for only 52 yards on 18 pass attempts, and he then missed practice this week with a rib injury sustained during the game. Coach Zac Taylor said he expects the QB to "miss some time" but didn't go into further detail.

Burrow and Jake Browning (ribs) aren't expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Logan Woodside is left as the top QB and figures to get a lot of playing time, with undrafted rookie Rocky Lombardi then likely to finish out the game. Burrow played one drive in the preseason opener and capped it off with a TD pass to Tee Higgins.

Stick is slated to start Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Stick also got the start in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Seahawks and will get the nod again this weekend after turning in a good week of practice, according to coach Jim Harbaugh. Of late, Stick has been filling in for franchise QB Justin Herbert, who's working his way back from a plantar fascia injury in his right foot.

The Vikings signed Corral to a contract Friday.

Corral signing with Minnesota corresponds to the team's official placement of rookie No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) on season-ending injured reserve. A 2022 third-round pick, Corral began his NFL career with the Panthers but missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury. He then spent some time developing with the Patriots and saw some action this spring with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions, but he's still waiting on an opportunity to make his official NFL debut. He now gets a chance to compete with Jaren Hall for a role in the quarterback room behind Week 1 starter Sam Darnold and journeyman backup Nick Mullens.