NFL Player News

Chase joked Wednesday that he hopes former college teammate Justin Jefferson doesn't beat him to 2,000 receiving yards this season, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

No player has ever hit 2,000 yards in a season, though Cooper Kupp came close in the first year with the NFL's 17-game schedule (1,947). It won't be too surprising if someone does it in the next few years, with Chase, Jefferson and Kupp being the prime candidates to achieve the feat in 2022. They're also the consensus first-round fantasy picks among wide receivers, with many drafts featuring all three in the top five selections. Chase turned 128 targets into 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie, later adding 368 more yards and another score on 35 targets in four playoff games. Even if there's some efficiency regression, Chase has room to add more volume in his second season.

Lamb (hamstring) is practicing Wednesday on the first day of training camp, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Lamb and new position mate James Washington (foot) both made it back for the start of camp after missing June minicamp. Rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert is also participating, while Michael Gallup (knee) is on the PUP list after having ACL surgery in February. The Cowboys seem optimistic about Gallup contributing early in the season, but he's no threat to Lamb's status as the No. 1 receiver in Dallas.

Burks lost about six pounds this summer and looked good at Wednesday's practice, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Asthma and conditioning issues impacted Burks' participation this spring, but he did well on conditioning tests ahead of training camp and then made a couple big plays on the first day of practice. The Titans hope the rookie first-round pick shows enough this summer to be a Week 1 starter, as the only wideout on their roster with even 1,000 career receiving yards is Robert Woods (knee), who suffered an ACL tear last November.

Washington (foot) participated Wednesday in the Cowboys' first practice of training camp, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Washington made good on his prediction, returning for the start of camp after a sore foot tendon kept him sidelined from June minicamp and some portions of OTAs. He and rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert are the favorites to see snaps and targets behind CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup (knee), the latter of whom could miss the start of the season after having ACL surgery in February. Washington signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with Dallas this spring, getting most of his money guaranteed on a modest deal.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday that Gallup (knee) "has not missed a target yet" and is now in the "fourth quarter" of his rehab process, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dallas still haven't commented on a timeline for Gallup's return to the field, but everything coming from the team has been optimistic since this spring. The timing of the injury nonetheless presents a challenge for Gallup being available for Week 1, as he was forced to wait until February to undergo surgery for a torn ACL. He opens training camp on the active/PUP list along with the other players that aren't ready to practice, but that doesn't mean Gallup will remain there for the regular season, which would rule him out for the first six weeks. The Cowboys seemingly think he has a chance to contribute early in the season, even if it isn't in Weeks 1 or 2.

Samuel is doing conditioning work on the side rather than participating in Wednesday's practice, with his agents still working toward a new contract with the 49ers, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The two sides seem to have reached an agreement that prevents Samuel from being fined without subjecting him to significant injury risk. He reportedly asked for a trade earlier this offseason, but he now seems prepared to sign a long-term deal in San Francisco, where he would serve as newly anointed starting quarterback Trey Lance's No. 1 receiver for the foreseeable future.

Cleveland was present at practice and stretching Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Cleveland suffered an ankle injury at Broncos minicamp in June, but it appears he's put that injury behind him at this point. He'll have to compete to make the roster in a crowded Denver wide receivers room, and it doesn't help his case that the team added Montrell Washington in the fifth round of this year's draft and Travis Fulgham this offseason.

Drummond (groin) was placed on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Drummond joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss in early May. He is one of three UDFA wide receivers who will be looking to land a spot on Dallas' roster in camp.

The Cowboys placed Gallup (knee) on the active/PUP list Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Gallup's status for Week 1 is still in question, so it's not much of a surprise to see him begin training camp on the PUP list, which means he's unable to practice. The 26-year-old wideout can come off the PUP list at any point in training camp if deemed healthy, though the Cowboys seem unlikely to rush him back on the field at less than 100 percent after having recently signed him to a five-year extension. Jalen Tolbert, James Washington (foot) and Noah Brown (hamstring) could handle added reps behind CeeDee Lamb as long as Gallup remains sidelined.

Thomas (ankle) took part in practice Wednesday, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Triplett notes that the wideout -- who had been on the active/PUP list -- did everything but full-team work Wednesday, with Thomas appearing to move around well while running a route. Now that he's back on the field, Thomas is poised to reclaim his role as the top option in a New Orleans wide receiver corps that also includes Jarvis Landry, 2022 first-round pick Chris Olave, Marquez Callaway and Tre'Quan Smith.