NFL Player News

Hardman was a limited practice participant Wednesday with an oblique injury.

Hardman made it through training camp healthy and played in all three preseason games, but he's now nicked up with the opener against Cleveland just a few days away. He played all 16 games in both of his first two NFL seasons, and there hasn't been any indication the oblique injury is serious. A return to full participation Thursday or Friday would clear up all doubts as Hardman prepares for a larger role after Sammy Watkins' departure in the offseason.

Jones (shoulder) isn't listed on the injury report for the Jaguars' season opener Sunday in Houston, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

With Jones and DJ Chark (finger) both avoiding the injury report, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have his full complement of pass catchers -- minus rookie running back Travis Etienne (foot) -- available for Week 1. Jones, Chark and Laviska Shenault all are realistic candidates to lead the team in targets, and it's possible there's enough volume to keep all three fantasy-viable options if the Jaguars end up chucking the ball around but don't find a major receiving threat at running back or tight end. In any case, Jones starts his Jacksonville tenure with a favorable matchup, facing a rebuilding Houston team that just traded former starting cornerback Bradley Roby to the Saints.

Smith (undisclosed) wasn't listed on the Saints' injury report Wednesday.

Smith was knocked from a training camp session Aug. 3, spending two weeks away from the field. While he rejoined his teammates Aug. 17, the Saints kept him out for their entire preseason slate. Now that he's unhindered at practice again, Smith will team with Marquez Callaway at the top of a wideout depth chart that'll be without Michael Thomas (ankle) for the first month of the season.

Chark (finger) isn't listed on the injury report for Jacksonville's Week 1 matchup with Houston, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Chark's absence from the injury report was expected, after head coach Urban Meyer declared the wideout healthy upon his return to practice Monday. The wideout had been out since the first week of August after requiring surgery to address a hairline fracture in his finger, but the expectation all along was that he would be ready for Week 1. He'll have target competition from fellow wide receivers Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault, but the Jaguars don't have a tight end or running back who demands significant volume from rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The new-look Jags start their season against the AFC South's other rebuilding franchise, traveling to Houston for a Week 1 matchup.

Jefferson (shoulder) isn't listed on the Vikings' injury report Wednesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.

The Vikings held Jefferson out of their entire preseason schedule due to an AC joint sprain that he sustained in his left shoulder Aug. 6. He returned to practice a week and a half later, and he's now back to 100 percent on the eve of the regular season. Despite totaling just five catches for 70 yards in the first two games of his rookie campaign in 2020, Jefferson still finished with a ridiculous 88-1,400-7 line on 125 targets.

Thielen (thigh) isn't listed on Wednesday's initial injury report ahead of the Vikings' Week 1 matchup with the Bengals.

Thielen participated in practice without any reported issue after he left the team's third preseason game due to a thigh bruise. The injury likely was minor, but he missed the team's final exhibition, which he was likely to skip anyway. His absence from the initial injury report offers confirmation that Thielen is good to go for the season opener in Cincinnati, where he should be in store for a fair amount of targets. An already narrow Vikings pass-catching tree became even thinner a couple weeks ago, when top tight end Irv Smith (knee) underwent season-ending surgery to repair his meniscus.

Agholor was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.

The Patriots haven't disclosed whether Agholor is managing a previous injury or if he tweaked his ankle during Wednesday's practice, but for now, consider the projected starting wideout day-to-day as Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins approaches. If available, Agholor is poised to be a key cog in the Patriots' passing attack Week 1, along with fellow receivers Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry.

Smith (shoulder) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.

Smith was forced out of the Panthers' preseason finale Aug. 28 against the Steelers with a shoulder injury, which later was accompanied by a prognosis of 2-to-3 weeks on the sideline. Thus, it's no surprise he didn't take the field for the first session of Week 1, but if he's trending toward the front end of that timeline he still may be able to play Sunday against the Jets. Smith's activity is worth monitoring Thursday and Friday to see if he puts himself in that position.

Hopkins (undisclosed) wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Hopkins sat out the Cardinals' entire preseason slate, the result of an undisclosed health concern. While the nature of the issue never was revealed, he's now back and ready for a Week 1 matchup at Tennessee, whose defense allowed the second-most catches (16.8 per game) to opposing wide receivers last season.

Toney was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Toney is drawing closer to gaining clearance for game action after a summer in which he had a bout with COVID-19 and also missed the preseason with a previously unknown injury. With the release of Wednesday's practice report, it became clear that Toney has been tending to the hamstring issue. In a receiving corps that's banged-up to start the season -- Kenny Golladay (knee, limited), Evan Engram (calf, no practice), Kyle Rudolph (foot, limited) and Kaden Smith (knee, limited) are the players in question -- Toney may be able to eke out his share of targets from Daniel Jones on Sunday against the Broncos, assuming he's available.