NFL Player News

Conley didn't practice Thursday for a reason unrelated to an injury, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The nature of Conley's absence isn't yet clear, but he didn't participate in practice for a second straight day. Whether he's able to suit up Sunday against New England remains to be seen.

Samuel (groin) didn't practice Thursday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Samuel was spotted stretching prior to the session, but once individual drills kicked off he moved to a side field to get in some work, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. With back-to-back absences following his only appearance of the season to date, Samuel appears to have aggravated the groin injury that has plagued him since the offseason program back in June. It's unclear if a DNP is on his docket this Sunday versus the Saints, but his position group also is banged up, with Dyami Brown (knee) and Cam Sims (hamstring) also joining Samuel as non-participants Thursday.

Sims (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday, Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic reports.

Sims sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday's Week 4 win over Atlanta, and he missed a second straight day of practice Thursday. DeAndre Carter could see a slightly increased role if Sims and Dyami Brown (knee) are held out Sunday against the Saints.

Gage (ankle) won't travel to London for Sunday's game against the Jets.

The same applies to fellow wide receiver Calvin Ridley (personal), which sets the stage for Olamide Zaccheaus and Tajae Sharpe to lead the Falcons' Week 5 WR corps, with Christian Blake and Frank Darby in reserve.

Ridley won't travel with the Falcons to London for Sunday's game against the Jets due to a personal matter, Scott Bair of the team's official site reports.

Along with Ridley, the Falcons will be without Russell Gage, who also won't make the trip due to an ankle injury. With his top two wide receivers out, Matt Ryan may just use his tight ends and running backs more than usual, but Atlanta's available wide receivers will be Olamide Zaccheaus, Tajae Sharpe, Christian Blake and Frank Darby.

Cooper (hamstring/rib) participated in individual drills at Thursday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Cooper appears to be doing more than he did Wednesday, when he was called a non-participant and only did resistance work on the side. He's dealing with hamstring and rib injuries at the moment, but he was able to play through them this past Sunday versus the Panthers on his way to three catches (on as many targets) for 69 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys will unveil Cooper's level of activity later Thursday.

Brown (knee) won't participate in Thursday's practice, Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic reports.

Since he's starting the week with a pair of absences from practice, Brown will presumably need to take part in Friday's session in at least a limited capacity just to take a questionable designation into Sunday's matchup with the Saints. With all of Brown, Curtis Samuel (groin) and Cam Sims (hamstring) tending to injuries and having yet to fully practice this week, DeAndre Carter or Dax Milne could see added reps in three-receiver sets alongside Terry McLaurin and Adam Humphries if none of the three banged-up wideouts are able to suit up this weekend.

The Bears re-signed Webster to the practice squad Thursday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Webster handled a special-teams role for Chicago during the first four games of the season, but the team opted to waive him Tuesday. Sticking around via the practice squad will provide Webster a chance to continue his development with the Bears.

Ridley wasn't in attendance during the open portion of Thursday's practice for an unspecified reason, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Ridley didn't appear on the Falcons' initial Week 5 injury report released Wednesday, so the nature of his absence likely won't be known until the team reveals its second report later Thursday. Given that Thursdays tend to be the most rigorous session of the week for teams that play Sunday games, Ridley's absence wouldn't seem to be the result of a pre-planned maintenance day. The Falcons are scheduled to fly to London following Thursday's session and will hold their final practice of the week overseas Friday before playing the Jets on Sunday.

Woods is in line to receive more opportunities in the offense moving forward, according to head coach Sean McVay, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

After averaging 132 targets per season over the past three years with the Rams, Woods has logged just 25 through the first four games of the 2021 season. The veteran WR has turned his looks into a respectable 15 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns, so it's not surprising that McVay is talking up Woods while suggesting the receiver will be more involved in the offense moving forward. It's also worth noting the Seahawks have allowed the fifth most passing yards per game in the league this season, so Thursday's Week 5 matchup against Seattle projects as favorable for Woods and the Los Angeles passing attack.