NFL Player News

The Steelers waived Watts on Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

After being waived by the Packers in training camp last year, Watts joined the Steelers' practice squad in September and signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh in January. He was competing for a depth wide receiver role in training camp, but he only managed to record two catches for 14 yards across three preseason games. Assuming he goes unclaimed off waivers, Watts could be invited back to the Steelers on the practice squad roster.

The Steelers waived Jenkins on Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Jenkins missed all of 2023 after he reached an injury settlement with the Jaguars in September due to an undisclosed injury. He signed with the Steelers in June to compete for a depth spot at wide receiver. Jenkins caught four passes on five targets for 44 yards across three preseason games, but it wasn't enough for him to stick around on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster. He could be invited back to the Steelers' practice squad if he isn't claimed off waivers by another team.

Reynolds (Achilles) is one the candidates to take on a larger role after Denver released Tim Patrick on Tuesday, DNVR Broncos reports.

Reynolds got a lot of first-team snaps this summer and is perhaps the most obvious direct replacement/competition for Patrick, as they're both tall, veteran WRs that primarily work the perimeter and don't tend to be targeted at a high rate. From a fantasy standpoint, young players like Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin are probably more interesting, but that doesn't mean they'll get more playing time than Reynolds to start the season. Coach Sean Payton suggested last week that Reynolds' Achilles injury wouldn't be an issue for the start of the regular season.

Mims is among the candidates to take on a larger role after Denver released Tim Patrick on Tuesday, DNVR Broncos reports.

Patrick, Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds took most of the first-team reps this summer, with Sean Payton favoring his tall, veteran receivers over quicker, younger players like Mims and Troy Franklin. Releasing Patrick is probably more about cap space than anything else, but it nonetheless reduces Mims' competition for playing time in his second NFL season. The 2023 second-round pick had four reception of 38 or more yards in Weeks 1-4 last season, but he then managed only 135 receiving yards over 12 subsequent games while topping 32 snaps on offense just once all year.

The Bengals waived Burgess on Tuesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Burgess, an undrafted rookie out of SUNY Cortland, spent the offseason with Cincinnati but has missed out on a spot on the initial 53-man roster. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the Bengals may opt to bring Burgess back via the practice squad.

The Chargers waived Wooden on Tuesday.

Wooden signed with the Falcons in May as an undrafted free agent, but he was let go by Atlanta early in training camp. He managed to catch on with the Chargers on Aug. 12, and he caught his lone pass for two yards in Saturday's preseason finale against the Cowboys. Wooden will look to join a team's practice squad should he clear waivers.

The Chargers waived Johnson on Tuesday.

The Chargers drafted Johnson in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 253rd overall, and the Michigan wide receiver followed head coach Jim Harbaugh to Los Angeles. Johnson spent the offseason and training camp competing for a depth spot at wide receiver, but he wasn't able to record a catch until the Bolts' preseason finale against the Cowboys, when he finished with three receptions on seven targets for 34 yards. Given the fact that Johnson is a late-round draft pick, he'll likely be invited back on the Chargers' practice squad, assuming another team doesn't pick him up off waivers.

Coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that he expects Chase (contract dispute) to suit up for Cincinnati's regular-season opener against the Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Chase had previously abstained from practicing at all in training camp amid ongoing contract negotiations with the Bengals, but the star wideout suited up alongside teammates at practice Sunday for the first time. Aside from a week-long absence mid-August, Chase at least had been present at practice on the sidelines, and he now has just under two weeks remaining to ramp up before suiting up against New England in Week 1. It's a relief for fantasy managers that Chase isn't at risk of missing any time, but it remains to be seen whether both sides will ultimately agree on an extension that puts all tensions in the rearview. CeeDee Lamb inked a four-year, $136 million deal with the Cowboys on Monday after holding out of camp, and Chase is doubtless vying for a similar top-of-the-market contract of his own.

The Chargers waived Gill on Tuesday.

Gill signed with the Chargers in April as an undrafted free agent. The Fresno State product played in all three preseason games, finishing with three catches on six targets for 27 yards. Gill was unable to make the 53-man roster, but assuming he clears waivers, he could opt to stick around on the Chargers' practice squad.

The Dolphins placed Cracraft (upper body) on injured reserve Tuesday with a designation to return.

Cracraft's placement on IR to begin the year rules him out for at least Miami's first four games, but he could be dealing with an injury that will require a longer rehab period. The Dolphins also moved Odell Beckham (undisclosed) to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, so it looks like Braxton Berrios and rookie Malik Washington will open the year with extra opportunities on tap behind Tyreek Hill (hand) and Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed).