NFL Player News

Cooper (hamstring) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Coach Mike McCarthy relayed that the Cowboys will hold a shorter Wednesday practice than usual after playing Sunday evening, so it's possible that Cooper's looming limitations could be maintenance-related. What the wideout is able to do during Thursday's session should therefore provide added clarity with regard to his Week 9 playing prospects. Meanwhile, the status of fellow WR Michael Gallup (calf/IR-R) for Sunday's game against the Broncos has yet to be determined.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday "we'd like to see another week's work" when asked about the chances of Gallup (calf) returning for Sunday's game against Denver, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

"We're really trusting the rehab process and timelines of what's ideal, what's a little early," McCarthy said. Gallup hasn't played since Week 1 due to a calf strain, and while the Cowboys haven't yet ruled him out for Week 9, it looks like the fourth-year wideout may be trending toward one more absence. If Gallup indeed misses Sunday's game against Denver, Cedrick Wilson will once again operate as the Cowboys' No. 3 wideout.

Beckham (shoulder/non-injury-related personal matter) has been excused from practice Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Per Josina Anderson of USA Today, Beckham was reportedly ready to attend the practice, but the Browns may have asked him to stay home after he wasn't dealt ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. As Trotter notes, Beckham's father posted a video on social media Tuesday that appeared to highlight quarterback Baker Mayfield's inability or unwillingness to target an open Beckham during Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Steelers, a game in which the wideout finished with a season-low one reception for six yards. Beckham's participation in practice (or lack thereof) will be worth tracking throughout the week, as the 28-year-old's future in Cleveland looks to be on shaky ground.

Hopkins (hamstring) wasn't present for the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Hopkins, who headed into last Thursday's loss to the Packers as a game-time decision, was able to suit up for the contest, but he was limited to 15 snaps after apparently aggravating his hamstring issue. As a result, the wideout's status is worth monitoring as Sunday's game against the 49ers approaches. If Hopkins is limited or out this weekend, added looks would be available for wideouts A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and Rondale Moore.

Thomas announced Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he won't play this season after experiencing what he described as a "small setback" in his rehab from offseason left ankle surgery.

Thomas' decision to rule himself out for 2021 comes after Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that the wideout suffered a "new and separate" injury to the left ankle that left him without a clear timeline to return. While Thomas didn't elaborate on the severity of his setback, it was evidently significant enough for him to rule out a return to the field in the next two months. After playing only seven games in 2020 due to the same ankle issue that later required surgery, Thomas will head into his age-29 campaign in 2022 with a limited track record of playing with quarterbacks other than Drew Brees.

The Giants signed Bachman (undisclosed) to the practice squad Wednesday, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Bachman spent time with the Giants this offseason before being waived with an undisclosed injury. Now healthy, and with Sterling Shepard (quadriceps) having been forced out of Monday's loss to the Chiefs, the 25-year-old wideout will get another chance in New York.

The Giants are preparing for Shepard to miss time after he suffered a left quadriceps strain in Monday's 20-17 loss to the Chiefs, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Shepard had suited up in only two of the Giants' previous five games while battling a hamstring injury, and he looks set to miss at least Sunday's game against the Raiders in Week 9 while he contends with another lower-body injury. Fortunately for Shepard, the Giants are on bye Week 10, so the wideout presumably will be turning his focus to getting healthy in advance of a Nov. 22 matchup with the Buccaneers in Week 11. Assuming the Giants officially rule Shepard out for the Week 9 contest, the team would be left with Kenny Golladay (knee), Kadarius Toney (hand) and Darius Slayton as their main options at receiver. Golladay has missed the Giants' last three games but at least seems to be trending in the right direction to play against Las Vegas, while Toney exited Monday's loss with a laceration to his hand but should have a decent chance at being ready to go for the weekend.

Thomas recently experienced a "new and separate" injury with his surgically repaired left ankle, making it uncertain when he'll be ready to return from the reserve/PUP list, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Thomas has been sidelined all season after undergoing the ankle procedure in June, but he's been eligible to rejoin the Saints since Week 7 after spending the requisite six weeks on the PUP list. Over the past two weeks, the Saints haven't offered much indication that Thomas is getting closer to practicing, and Rapoport relays the wideout's timeline to return to the field remains "unpredictable" after he recently met with a foot/ankle specialist in the wake of his new injury. If and when he does play this season, Thomas likely will be catching passes from Taysom Hill, after incumbent starter Jameis Winston (knee) suffered a season-ending ACL tear Week 8.

Slayton failed to reel in either of his targets in Monday's 20-17 loss to the Chiefs.

Slayton was a major disappointment for fantasy managers who kept the wideout active in what was expected to be a plus matchup against Kansas City's porous defense. The 24-year-old played the most snaps (52) of any New York pass catcher, but it didn't translate to meaningful target volume. Slayton will look to get back on track Week 9 against the Raiders, especially if Kenny Golladay (knee) remains out and Sterling Shepard (quadriceps) can't go.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said Reagor is on a "short recovery timetable" after sustaining an ankle injury in Sunday's 44-6 win over the Lions, Josh Tolentino of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Reagor can be viewed as day-to-day as the Eagles begin preparing for a Week 9 home game against the Chargers. In the event Reagor can't gain clearance for this Sunday's contest, Greg Ward would likely step into a larger role alongside starting receivers DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins.