NFL Player News

Collins (groin) returned to a full practice Thursday.

Collins was limited Wednesday, but his return to a full session one day later puts him on track to suit up and start opposite Brandin Cooks (hip/wrist) on Sunday versus the Commanders. In the Texans' Week 10 loss to the Giants, Collins caught five passes on a team-high 10 targets for 49 yards and a touchdown, and he'll once again be a focal part of the team's passing game Week 11 against a Washington defense that is allowing an average of 212.7 passing yards per game to date.

Samuel (shin) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

The Commanders may be exercising the utmost caution with Samuel after he was limited to five appearances with the team in 2021, capping his reps so far this week. He'll have one more chance to get back to all activity Friday before he potentially is handed a designation for Sunday's game in Houston. In 10 games this season, Samuel has combined for 617 yards from scrimmage and three receiving TDs on 69 touches.

The Packers activated Cobb (ankle) from injured reserve Thursday.

Cobb will miss the minimum four games on IR following the high right-ankle sprain that he suffered back in Week 6. He'll rejoin a Packers receiving corps that is down rookie Romeo Doubs due to his own high-ankle sprain, which will leave Allen Lazard, Christian Watson, Cobb and Sammy Watkins as the top four wideouts available to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In six games this season, Cobb has gathered in 18 of 26 targets for 257 yards, but he's still in search of his first TD connection with Rodgers.

Cooks (hip/wrist) was a full participant at Thursday's practice.

After playing 65 percent of the Texans' snaps on offense while finishing with 42 total yards on five touches in his return from a one-game absence in last Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Giants, Cooks showed up on Houston's first Week 11 injury report as a non-participant. Though the Texans are now listing Cooks with a hip issue in addition to the lingering wrist injury, his ability to take every rep at Thursday's practice confirms that his absence Wednesday was most likely for maintenance purposes. He looks on track to fill his typical high-volume role in the Houston passing attack this weekend against the Commanders.

Benson (knee) was listed as a non-participant on the Lions' injury report Thursday.

Benson was signed off the Broncos' practice squad Nov. 9 and was forced out with a knee injury during his Lions debut against the Bears on Sunday. The 25-year-old wideout has been sidelined for each of the first two practices to open Week 11, so it appears he's in line to remain out against the Giants this Sunday. Benson will have one more practice to improve his status before Friday's final injury report, or else Detroit's active roster could be limited to just four healthy wide receivers versus New York.

Reynolds (back) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Reynolds returned to the practice field for the first time since Nov. 2, after missing both of the Lions' previous two games on account of the back injury. He'll likely need to upgrade to full participation at Friday's practice to avoid carrying an injury designation for the Lions' Week 11 game against the Giants, but Reynolds' return to the field Thursday in any capacity looks to be a positive sign for his availability. If available this weekend, Reynolds should take on a starting role alongside top target Amon-Ra St. Brown, but Reynolds could be pushed further down the pecking order at receiver if DJ Chark (ankle) and Jameson Williams (knee) are able to return from injured reserve and the non-football injury list, respectively, in the weeks to come.

McKenzie (illness) didn't practice Thursday.

McKenzie practiced fully Wednesday, but the wideout's absence from practice Thursday makes his status worth monitoring in advance of Sunday's game against the Browns. If McKenzie is unable to play this weekend, Khalil Shakir would figure to see an uptick in snaps Week 11 while working behind top wideouts Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.

Cleveland signed with the Broncos' practice squad Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Cleveland was let go by Denver on Tuesday after appearing in six games for the team this season, when he recorded two catches on seven targets for 28 yards. He'll now try to work his way back to the 53-man roster.

Head coach Nathaniel Hackett said Jeudy (ankle) won't practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

The third-year wideout will miss his second straight practice on account of the left ankle injury and is considered day-to-day as Sunday's game against the Raiders draws closer. Jeudy will likely need to get back on the practice field in some capacity Friday to have a realistic shot at suiting up this weekend.

Hinton (shoulder) won't practice Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

DiLalla notes that Hinton's absence from the practice field Thursday is part of the Broncos' plan this week to help the wideout take care of his shoulder ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders. If Hinton practices Friday, he seemingly would have a decent chance to suit up this weekend, though he probably will need to practice in full capacity to avoid an injury designation.