NFL Player News

Beasley worked as the Giants' No. 1 slot receiver during Thursday's practice, Ryan Novozinksy of NJ Advance Media reports.

Beasley's role Thursday must be taken with context, as Parris Campbell -- who has been occupying the No. 1 slot position during training camp -- was sidelined due a knee issue and Sterling Shepard and Wan'Dale Robinson are both working back from ACL tears. Still, it can only help Beasley in his quest to make the team and play a meaningful role this season that he had such a prominent opportunity to show that he still has gas left in the tank, especially since he reportedly has looked good in camp so far. The Giants have a crowded receiver room, especially in the slot, and it's too early to make any assumptions about how things will shake out, but Beasley appears to have at least a decent chance to secure a depth spot with New York in his age-34 campaign.

Bell brought in both targets for six yards during the Browns' 21-16 preseason win over the Jets in Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game.

The 2022 third-round pick tied with several teammates for third in receptions on the night, but all of Bell's yardage actually came on one catch. The 24-year-old logged a team-high 236 snaps out of the slot last season and was in on 493 plays from scrimmage overall across 16 games, but he had a modest 24-214 line to show for it. The Purdue product is fighting to carve out a spot on the latter portion of the Browns' receiver depth chart, and he was notably outperformed by rookie third-round selection Cedric Tillman, one of his primary competitors, on Thursday. Bell will aim to make up ground during Cleveland's second preseason tilt, a home clash against the Commanders a week from Friday.

Tillman secured two of three targets for 35 yards during the Browns' 21-16 preseason win over the Jets in Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game.

The 2023 third-round pick tied with Austin Watkins for the team lead in receiving yardage while also recording the Browns' second-longest catch of the night (20 yards). Tillman was a 1,000-yard receiver at Tennessee in 2021 before being limited to six games as a senior, and with Marquise Goodwin (illness) on the NFI list indefinitely, the rookie could carve out a No. 4 receiver role with a strong enough summer.

Brownlee brought in two of five targets for 17 yards during the Jets' 21-16 preseason loss to the Browns in Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game.

The undrafted rookie, who's been turning heads since OTAs, put together a solid showing relative to his playing time and the quarterback play overall. Brownlee's catch total tied him with two other players for the team lead on the night, while his target tally encouragingly set the pace for the Jets as well. While his numbers don't exactly jump off the page, Brownlee's solid target volume suggests he consistently gained some separation, giving him something to build on in a road preseason battle against the Panthers a week from Saturday.

Sexton has signed a contract with the Falcons, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Sexton worked out with Atlanta on Monday and apparently showed enough to get an opportunity with the team. He is coming off a stint in the XFL with the Vegas Vipers, where he accumulated 364 yards on 23 receptions across 10 games. The 26-year-old will now compete for a depth wide receiver role in Atlanta in what is already a crowded room.

Brown has made numerous impressive plays in the Eagles' first few training camp practices, EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Brown and Jalen Hurts are picking up where they left off after the star receiver produced 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season with the Eagles. The quarterback-receiver duo worked together in the offseason to further improve their chemistry, and that work seems to have paid off.

Skowronek (back) returned to practice Thursday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Skowronek has been banged up from the offseason program and into training camp, first dealing with a foot issue during mandatory minicamp in June before missing practice Tuesday due to a sore back. It's unclear how much activity he'll be able to handle Thursday, but the Rams may ease him back in with the regular season more than a month away.

Lazard isn't in line to play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Browns, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

In his first chance to get some game action with quarterback Aaron Rodgers with their new team, Lazard won't be on the field along with fellow wide receivers Garrett Wilson (ankle), Corey Davis and Mecole Hardman. Lazard's next chance for some exhibition action lands on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Carolina.

Moore is among the key Browns' players not slated to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Jets, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Other top skill players not in line to see action Thursday night are QB Deshaun Watson, RBs Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, WRs Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones and TEs David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. Moore's next chance to see preseason action will arrive Friday, Aug. 11, when the Browns face the Commanders.

Johnson has been "quietly shining" during the first week of training camp, Nick Farabaugh of SteelersNow.com reports.

Johnson had an early exit during practice late last week due to the heat but returned a day later and has made an impression within the Steelers' offense. Farabaugh said that Johnson made some contested catches Thursday and hasn't been running backwards as much in camp, an issue that plagued the receiver last year. The 2019 third-rounder secured 86 of 147 targets for 882 yards while rushing seven times for 25 yards in 2022, but he was held without a touchdown for the first time in his career. However, it seems likely that Johnson will be able to maintain a sizable target share in 2023, even with George Pickens and new acquisition Allen Robinson also in the fold.