NFL Player News

Coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday he expects Williams (leg/suspension) to miss "a day or two" of practice due to a leg injury, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Williams suffered the leg injury in practice Tuesday, so it's encouraging that he won't have to miss much of the early portion of training camp. The second-year pro needs all the reps he can get, as his recovery from ACL surgery limited him to a depth role in just six appearances as a rookie, and he will be suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season for violating the NFL's gambling policy. The 2022 first-round pick is expected to handle a starting role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown once he's served his suspension, and if Williams is going to hit the ground running he'll likely need to make the most of his time in camp.

Lazard (undisclosed) didn't practice Tuesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Per coach Robert Saleh, Lazard had some muscle tightness, which led to the wideout sitting out the session. Saleh didn't indicate which muscle(s) were the issue though, and it doesn't sound serious. Once he returns to practice, Lazard will look to solidify his role in a Jets WR corps that also includes Garrett Wilson, Mecole Hardman and Corey Davis. Working in Lazard's favor from a fantasy perspective is his established chemistry with the team's new starting QB, Aaron Rodgers.

Toney underwent a procedure Tuesday to clean up some cartilage in his knee, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

As for a timetable for Toney's recovery, coach Andy Reid noted that "there's a chance" he will be available for Week 1. "We'll just see. He's determined that he's going to be there," Reid added. The wideout is slated to have a key role in Kansas City's offense this coming season, but with him now set to miss some time, added training camp reps and preseason opportunities are available for the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Richie James, Justin Watson and Justyn Ross.

Coach Dennis Allen said Thomas (toe) will be a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas, who has been limited to just 10 appearances over the last three seasons, will begin training camp at 100 percent health after taking part in OTAs and minicamp on a limited basis. After a March restructure, Thomas is currently with the Saints on a one-year, $10 million contract that can go up to $15 million via incentives heading into his age-30 season. While Chris Olave may well be the true No. 1 option for new quarterback Derek Carr, Thomas' ability to contribute shouldn't be overlooked if he can stay on the field consistently. He began the 2022 season with a 16-171-3 receiving line in three games, before subsequently missing the rest of the year due to a dislocated second toe.

Mooney (ankle) has received medical clearance to resume practicing Tuesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Mooney went down in Week 12 last season due to an ankle injury which ultimately required surgery, so it's encouraging to see him cleared for training camp. He no longer faces the pressure of operating as Chicago's No. 1 wideout with DJ Moore having joined the team, but the speedster still figures to be Justin Fields' go-to deep threat. That said, Mooney's per-game target total could dip even if the Bears make an effort to pass more frequently, as Cole Kmet and Chase Claypool will also demand looks in what should be a run-first offense led by the dual-threat Fields.

General manager Ryan Poles confirmed Tuesday that Claypool (undisclosed) is "good to go" and will practice Wednesday, Zack Perason of 247Sports reports.

Poles said Claypool's placement on the PUP list was because he "just needed an extra day or two" to get right," per Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site. Claypool, who joined the Bears midseason last year, should benefit from a full offseason to get up to speed with the playbook and build chemistry with Justin Fields. He figures to operate as the team's No. 3 wideout behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney.

Coach Bill Belichick has indicated that Smith-Schuster (knee) is ready to go for training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster, who missed practice this spring as he bounced back from a knee issue, will now have an opportunity to solidify his key role in the Patriots' wide receiver corps this coming season. In 16 games in 2022, his lone campaign with the Chiefs, the 2017 second-rounder recorded 78 catches (on 101 targets) for 933 yards and three TDs. As long as he can stay healthy in 2023, the 26-year-old should see enough targets from presumed starting QB Mac Jones to maintain weekly fantasy utility, particularly in PPR formats.

Cooper (undisclosed) is missing a second straight day of practice Tuesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cooper continues to manage an undisclosed tweak sustained Sunday. Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reiterates that the issue is minor, and reports that Cooper has made progress. The wideout doesn't appear in danger of missing significant time, but for now Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cedric Tillman and David Bell will continue seeing increased first-team reps.

Thomas (toe) is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens Wednesday, NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill reports.

Thomas took part in OTAs and minicamp on a limited basis, and having him ready for training camp has always been the goal. It's another positive step in Thomas' return from three straight injury-ruined seasons. Thomas is now 30 years old but should be one of the focal points of the Saints' passing game as long as he's healthy. He went 16-171-3 in three games to begin last season before missing the rest of the year.

The Bears activated Claypool (undisclosed) from the active/PUP list Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports.

Claypool closed out the offseason program in mid-June with absences related to a soft-tissue injury, which presumably resulted in his inability to pass a physical Sunday and land on the PUP list in the first place. With that step behind him, though, he'll now be able to participate in Chicago's first practice of training camp Wednesday. Claypool is slated to serve as the team's No. 3 wide receiver behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney this season.