NFL Player News

Harley's path to a roster spot improved after Jakeem Grant suffered an Achilles injury during Tuesday's practice, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

In addition to Grant's injury, which is feared to be a torn Achilles, sixth-round draft pick Michael Woods will miss time due to a hamstring injury, creating reps and opportunities for receivers like Harley further down the depth chart. Harley is a undrafted free agent out Miami (Fla.) that gained kickoff return experience during his time in college. Since Grant was slated to serve as the club's primary return man on both kickoffs and punts, Harley should be among the many players the Browns audition for either role during the preseason.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't yet decided if Schwartz will play in Friday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Both Schwartz and David Bell are in the same boat with regard to their statuses for Friday's contest. The two receivers both recently returned from injury and are increasing their reps daily, but the Browns could still elect to play it safe and hold out Schwartz and Bell until the second preseason contest.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't made a decision on Bell's availability for Friday's preseason opener versus Jacksonville, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Bell missed the first week of camp due to a foot injury and only recently started participating in drills. He looked sharp Tuesday during red zone 7-on-7 drills, as did Anthony Schwartz, another receiver who recently returned from injury and whose status for Friday is undecided. The Browns have suffered numerous injuries at wideout early in camp, but Stefanski may choose to play it cautious with several players for the first exhibition contest.

Guyton has seemingly been surpassed by Joshua Palmer for the No. 3 role, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Palmer had worked with the starting unit for most of the offseason OTAs, something that has clearly carried over into the early stages of training camp. Popper did note Guyton has put together a solid camp and likely could be used in specific sub packages whenever the team needs additional speed on the field, but it's hardly a ringing endorsement for the 25-year-old after two consecutive seasons as a starter. It doesn't seem as if Guyton is on the roster bubble yet, but special teams standouts such as DeAndre Carter, Joe Reed and Trevon Bradford could provide extra roster utility, which might make the decision a bit more complicated as the preseason progresses.

Palmer has been the No. 3 wide receiver during the majority of the Chargers' practices thus far in training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

It's still relatively early in the preseason, but Palmer has seemingly wrestled away the No. 3 wide receiver duties from Jalen Guyton. Palmer, a second-year wideout, was already playing with the first-stringers during offseason OTAs and has only solidified the rationale with a strong performance during training camp to date. While Guyton has reportedly also had a strong camp, it seems more likely the two-year starter might be relegated to sub packages within the offense whenever the Chargers need additional speed on the field, and that's not even a guarantee given DeAndre Carter has emerged as an intriguing pass catcher in his own right. The team neglected to outright name a starting slot receiver in the first "unofficial" depth chart release, but at this point, the job is clearly Palmer's to lose.

Sutton (shoulder) was present for Tuesday's practice but he didn't participate in wide receiver or team drills, Ellie Kinney of the Broncos' official site reports.

Afterward, coach Nathaniel Hackett relayed that the Broncos' starting wideout is working though "a little shoulder thing." With that in mind, consider Sutton day-to-day ahead of Saturday's preseason opener against the Cowboys.

Williams (undisclosed) didn't participate in Tuesday's training camp session, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

It's been a rough start to the week for Baltimore receivers, as Williams has now logged two straight DNPs, while neither Slade Bolden (undisclosed), James Proche (undisclosed) nor Bailey Gaither (undisclosed) partook in Tuesday's practice. With both Rashod Bateman (undisclosed) and Devin Duvernay (thigh) also coming off their own injuries, the Ravens are dangerously thin at receiver at the moment. There's a chance Williams' status could be in question for their preseason opener Thursday against Tennessee.

Bolden (undisclosed) left Tuesday's practice session with a trainer, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Soon after Rashod Bateman (undisclosed) and Devin Duvernay (thigh) returned to practice from injury, the Ravens' receiving corps took another blow as Bolden joined James Proche (undisclosed), Devon Williams (undisclosed) and Bailey Gaither (undisclosed), who also all missed practice Tuesday. With Baltimore's first preseason game scheduled against the Titans on Thursday, the team might be without Bolden and several other pass catchers if they're not cleared ahead of time.

Grant may have suffered a season-ending torn Achilles during Tuesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The report notes that the Browns are awaiting final word on Grant's injury, but it appears as though the 29-year-old is in for an extended absence. In that scenario, Cleveland's return game would take a major hit, while the depth of the team's wideout corps would also be impacted ahead of Week 1.

Proche didn't practice Tuesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

The absence puts his status in doubt for Thursday's preseason game against Tennessee, though it's possible Proche had already earned the right to sit that one out along with a number of Baltimore starters. He and Devin Duvernay have been getting most of the first-team reps alongside Rashod Bateman in training camp, with reports from multiple Baltimore beat writers pinpointing Proche as one of the stars of camp. Duvernay is approximately the same size, significantly faster and was drafted three rounds earlier than Proche in 2020, but the latter seems to be making a much stronger impression at camp -- in part because Duvernay missed about a week with a thigh bruise. WR usage will be one of the key things to watch with Baltimore this preseason once the team gives its starters some run, likely in the second and/or third games.