NFL Player News

The Bears have claimed Smith-Marsette off waivers from the Vikings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The 2021 fifth-rounder was the odd man out in the Vikings' wideout corps as Week 1 approached, but Smith-Marsette now will add depth to a Chicago wide receiver group that profiles as a work in progress, currently led by top option Darnell Mooney.

Chicago placed Harry (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday.

Harry won't be eligible to come off IR until Week 5 at the earliest, giving him time to recover from an August procedure to address a left high-ankle sprain. When Harry gets back to full health, he could be afforded a solid degree of opportunity in a wide receiver corps needy for a true difference-maker behind Darnell Mooney.

Giants GM Joe Schoen said Thursday that the team does not plan to trade Slayton before the season opener against the Titans on Sept. 11, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Schoen added that the Giants are still "open" to trade possibilities for Slayton after the wideout managed to make the team's 53-man roster to open the regular season. It's likely that the 25-year-old's days in New York are numbered, though he could improve his potential trade value as both a return specialist and receiver during the team's Week 1 matchup against the Titans.

Bowden signed a contract with New England's practice squad Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Bowden was waived by the Dolphins on Monday after he failed to carve out a spot in the team's relatively deep corps of wideouts this preseason. The 24-year-old has played multiple offensive positions -- including quarterback, running back and wideout -- dating back to his college days with Kentucky. Bowden will likely need to work his way into a similar multi-positional role in order to secure a spot on New England's active roster.

The Steelers placed Austin (foot) on injured reserve Thursday.

Austin sat out the preseason due to a foot injury, and he will now be required to miss at least the first four weeks of the regular season as well. That makes the rookie fourth-round pick's first possible return date Oct. 9 versus Buffalo on the road.

Samuel (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Samuel has missed all on-field drills since Sunday, when it was revealed he was tending to a bruise behind his knee. The DNPs were expected, but the fourth-year wide receiver was spotted working on his conditioning Thursday. There's hope Samuel will be ready for a Week 1 matchup with the Bears on Sunday, Sept. 11, but he may need to log at least one limited practice next Wednesday through Friday to put himself in a position to play in the opener. If he's available, he'll be on the receiving end of passes from 2021 first-rounder Trey Lance, who has taken over starting quarterback duties from Jimmy Garoppolo.

Sanders signed with the Dolphins' practice squad Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanders was waived as part of Miami's final roster cuts Tuesday following his inaugural preseason campaign in the NFL. The undrafted wide receiver out of Ole Miss will now get a chance to carve out an emergency role while on the team's practice squad to open the 2022 regular season.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday he's "very, very, very confident" Waddle (lower body) will be available Week 1 versus the Patriots, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.

Waddle returned to practice as a limited participant Tuesday, and he continues to work his way back from an unspecified lower body injury. There don't appear to be any real concerns about the second-year wideout's status for the regular-season opener, and he still has over a week to get fully healthy before Sept. 11. When healthy, Waddle is set to pair up with Tyreek Hill, forming the speediest one-two combo at receiver in the league as he looks to build upon a 104/1015/6 rookie stat line.

The Dolphins signed Cracraft to the practice squad Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Cracraft originally joined Miami on a one-year, $825,000 deal in February, but he was released as part of the team's final roster cuts Tuesday. The 27-year-old, who played 89 special-teams snaps over six games with the 49ers last year, now will look to work his way onto an active roster in 2022.

The Rams signed Trammell to the practice squad Wednesday, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.

Trammell showcased versatility as a receiver and return man during the preseason, so it's not much of a surprise to see him pop back up on the practice squad. He logged two appearances with the Falcons last year but only handled seven special-teams snaps.