NFL Player News

Valdes-Scantling was not in uniform ahead of Thursday's preseason finale against the Packers, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

The same applies to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is dealing with a knee issue. Once the season starts, both players are in line to see key roles in Kansas City's passing attack along with fellow wideouts Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.

Samuel is slated to play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Texans, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The same applies to QB Trey Lance, TE George Kittle and WR Brandon Aiyuk, with David Lombardi of The Athletic having previously noted that the 49ers plan to give key healthy starters some playing time Thursday. Look for their reps to be capped, however.

Aiyuk is in uniform and appears set to play in Thursday's preseason game at Houston, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The same goes for quarterback Trey Lance, fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, meaning coach Kyle Shanahan is setting up the 49ers for a dress rehearsal before Week 1. It's unlikely Aiyuk and company will log more than a series or two, but he'll be seeing his first in-game reps since January's NFC Championship Game loss to the Rams.

Foster (hamstring) was removed from injured reserve with an injury settlement by the Giants on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Foster was set to miss the entirety of the 2022 campaign after being placed on IR with an unspecified hamstring issue last Friday. Once he gets healthy, the 28-year-old wideout will be free to join a new team heading into the regular season.

Cooks isn't expected to play in Thursday's preseason game against the 49ers, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

It'll be a third straight week with Cooks held out while QB Davis Mills and most of the other starters play. The 28-year-old wideout should easily lead the Texans in targets again unless he misses a bunch of games, and it might actually help him if WR Nico Collins or TE Brevin Jordan can step up as a legitimate second option. Cooks will open his ninth NFL season with a Week 1 home game against the Colts, likely running most of his routes against veteran corners Stephon Gilmore and Kenny Moore.

London (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, coach Arthur Smith noted last week that the right knee injury London sustained in the team's preseason opener was not a "long-term" concern. However, with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft still not practicing at this stage, it appears as though London's next chance to see game action won't arrive until the start of the upcoming regular season.

Meyers has been having a strong training camp, according to Zack Cox of NESN.com.

With that in mind, Meyers, who recorded a team-high 83 catches (on 126 targets) for 866 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 17 games in 2021, is poised to maintain a key early-season role in a New England wide receiver corps that also includes newcomer DeVante Parker, as well as returnees Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor. The Patriots also roster a pair of capable pass-catching tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, but even in the context of QB Mac Jones having multiple target options available, Meyers figures to log steady enough snaps and looks in his team's offense to make a fantasy mark in 2022, particularly in PPR-friendly formats.

Woods said Thursday that his surgically repaired knee is "not even a thought" anymore, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website reports.

Woods has been practicing on at least a limited basis since May OTAs, with the goal all along to be ready for Week 1 against the Games. He seems to have progressed a bit faster than most players coming back from ACL tears, but it's nonetheless possible his snaps will be scaled back whenever he takes the field for the first time since last November.

Head coach Pete Carroll noted Eskridge (hamstring) is in line to play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys, Corbin K. Smith of All Seahawks reports.

Dating back to June, the 2021 second-rounder has been bothered by a hamstring injury. However, Eskridge's looming return to game action indicates that the issue is a thing of the past, as he also logged a solid week of practice, per John Boyle of the team's official site. Heading into the regular season, the 25-year-old is slated to compete with Freddie Swain and Marquise Goodwin for WR snaps behind presumed starters Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Burks (undisclosed) didn't practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Per Wyatt, Burks left Wednesday's practice with an unspecified issue, so until further details are available, consider the rookie wideout day-to-day ahead of Saturday's preseason finale against the Cardinals. The 2022 first-rounder has a chance to play a key role in a Tennessee wide receiver corps that also includes Robert Woods (knee), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips, but in order for that to translate to fantasy utility, Burks will need to consistently avoid the sort of health issues that have impacted his practice attendance thus far.