NFL Player News

Ali (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Panthers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Ali, along with tight end John FitzPatrick (coach's decision) and running back Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh), are the skill players ruled out for Sunday's season opener. Atlanta will roll out a wide receiver corps of Drake London, Mack Hollins, Scotty Miller and KhaDarel Hodge.

Perry (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Tennessee, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The 2023 sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest did enough to make the Saints' active roster but won't be suiting up Sunday. Perry's next opportunity to see the field will be Week 2 against the Panthers.

Washington (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Colts.

Parker was recently the subject of trade rumors with the depth Jacksonville has at receiver after getting selected in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft. Although he remains on the team, he'll be sidelined for Week 1. His next chance to suit up will be Week 2 against the Chiefs.

Cooks (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Colts.

Cooks was able to make the roster as an undrafted free agent, but he'll stay on the sidelines for Week 1. His next opportunity to suit up will be Week 2 against the Chiefs.

Thielen (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen fit in limited practice sessions Wednesday and Friday around an absence from practice Thursday, resulting in him taking a questionable designation into the weekend. The Panthers ultimately were confident enough in Thielen's health to roll him out Week 1, and even though he's entering the season as Carolina's nominal No. 1 wideout, he could be even busier in his team debut than initially anticipated. Carolina is without one of its other starting receivers in DJ Chark (hamstring) for the season opener, and his absence could result in Thielen drawing an extra target or two from rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Hodge (ankle) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

After being limited Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Hodge logged back-to-back full sessions to end the week. However, the depth wideout still received a questionable tag. It's not surprising to see the veteran cleared, but he'll presumably play the majority of his snaps on special teams while Drake London, Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller handle most of the wideout snaps.

Brown (hamstring) is listed as active Sunday at Washington, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Brown now has dealt with a hamstring injury ahead of each of the last three campaigns. This time around, he was limited in practice during the entirety of Week 1 prep, but the issue won't impact his availability for the season opener. He'll thus serve as one of the top pass catchers for expected starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs, which isn't exactly an ideal situation considering the signal-caller only joined the team Aug. 24. In 2022, Brown put together a 67-709-3 line on 107 targets in 12 games while working with four different QBs.

Boutte may be in store for added snaps Sunday against the Eagles with DeVante Parker (knee) listed as questionable for the contest but likely to sit out the season opener, Karen Guregian of The Springfield Republican reports.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne should be locked in as the Patriots' primary receivers in two-wideout sets sans Parker, but Boutte and fellow rookie Demario Douglas should see extra reps in three-wide sets. Meanwhile, Mike Gesicki could also get a bump in playing time in the likelihood that New England makes more use of two-tight-end formations with Parker out of the lineup. Though Douglas drew the more rave reviews of the two rookies during training camp and the preseason, the 6-foot, 195-pound Boutte is more suited to play snaps on the perimeter and may be more capable of filling Parker's role as New England's top downfield threat.

Brown (hamstring) is listed as questionable but is expected to suit up Sunday versus Washington, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Both Brown and tight end Zach Ertz (knee) were given designations heading into the weekend, but the two are both trending toward suiting up in the season opener, which is notable news for an offense that should need all the help it can get. Joshua Dobbs is expected to get the nod at quarterback over Clayton Tune in Week 1, though the Cardinals haven't yet officially named a starter. Confirmation on the availability of Brown and Ertz should arrive when the Cardinals release their inactive list about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Jeudy (hamstring), who is listed as questionable, isn't expected to suit up Sunday versus the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Broncos appear to be taking a cautious approach to Jeudy's recovery from a right hamstring injury suffered Aug. 24. After suffering the injury, he was off the practice field until this week, when he managed to return in a limited capacity. If Jeudy is indeed officially listed among Denver's inactives ahead of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, Courtland Sutton will likely serve as Russell Wilson's top wide receiver, with rookie Marvin Mims operating as the No. 2 man. Brandon Johnson could step up in the No. 3 role, while Phillip Dorsett and Lil'Jordan Humphrey were elevated from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's contest.