NFL Player News

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he's "optimistic" that Austin (shoulder) will be able to play in Sunday's game against the Packers, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Austin has missed the Steelers' last two games with a shoulder injury, but Tomlin noted that the wideout has made enough progress in his recovery to be integrated back into practices this week. The extent of Austin's participation in practice will ultimately dictate whether he plays Sunday, but if the 26-year-old is able to turn in at least one full session by Friday, he'll have good odds of gaining clearance to suit up. Through four appearances this season, Austin has recorded 10 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets.

Sills didn't record a target across 28 offensive snaps during Sunday's 20-10 loss to the 49ers.

Despite playing 74 offensive snaps over the past three games, Sills hasn't garnered a single target. The only time he's made a dent in the box score came during Week 3, when he caught one of two targets for nine yards across 25 offensive snaps against the Panthers.

Washington caught one of two targets for 17 yards during Sunday's 20-10 loss to the 49ers.

Washington played a season-low 11 offensive snaps Sunday, fourth most among Atlanta's wideouts. He's garnered multiple targets in every game he's suited up for this season, but his only multi-catch game came in Week 1, when he secured three of six receptions for 33 yards against Tampa Bay.

Thornton reeled in one of his two targets for 39 yards during Sunday's 31-0 victory over the Raiders.

Despite a strong start to the season in which Thornton turned in three touchdowns in the first four weeks, he has seen his playing time fall off from Week 4 on, as he's played less than half of the offensive snaps in each of the past four contests. With Rashee Rice back in the mix for Kansas City, the Chiefs don't have as much playing time to go around in the wideout room, so it's unlikely Thornton will see his role grow unless injuries hit the position group.

Bachman returned one punt for six yards in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Chiefs.

Bachman battled back from an ankle injury earlier in the week to suit up as the Raiders' punt returner Sunday, though he was mostly uninvolved as a receiver, logging just two offensive snaps despite Jakobi Meyers' (knee) absence. Heading into the Week 8 bye, Bachman has totaled just one reception for nine yards on two targets across six games played.

Lovett logged all 11 of his snaps on special teams Monday in the Lions' 24-9 win over the Buccaneers.

A rookie seventh-round wideout of Georgia, Lovett has suited up for each of the Lions' first seven games but has played just seven total snaps on offense. Unless Detroit's depth at receiver takes a hit, Lovett should continue to see the overwhelming majority of his playing time on special teams, where he has a role on the Lions' coverage units.

Thornton was unable to haul in any of his three targets in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Chiefs.

Thornton actually had a pair of would-be first down receptions wiped out by penalties, but he ended the contest with a zero in the box score because of the flags. Nonetheless, his playing time surged with Jakobi Meyers (knee) and Brock Bowers (knee) sidelined, as Thornton logged 86 percent of the Raiders' offensive snaps. Meyers is tracking to return after the Week 8 bye, so Thornton figures to continue competing with Jack Bech for the WR3 role.

Bech caught two passes on as many targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 31-0 loss to Kansas City.

Bech's two receptions were good enough to make him the Raiders' second-leading receiver behind Tre Tucker, but quarterback Geno Smith completed just 10 passes all game. Las Vegas plans to have Jakobi Meyers (knee) and Brock Bowers (knee) back in the lineup following a Week 8 bye, capping Bech's fantasy upside as the WR3 on a struggling offense.

Sherfield went without a target while playing nine of the Broncos' 81 snaps on offense in Sunday's 33-32 win over the Giants.

Sherfield has suited up for all seven of the Broncos' games to date, but he remains buried on the depth chart at receiver and will continue to offer most of his contributions on Denver's special-teams coverage units. He's yet to play more than half of the offensive snaps in any game this season and has recorded three catches for 21 yards on four targets.

Bryant hauled in one of his four targets for a six-yard reception in Sunday's 33-32 win over the Giants.

The four targets were a season high for the rookie third-round pick out of Illinois, who had totaled four catches for 40 yards on six targets through the Broncos' first six games. Bryant took the field for 41 of the Broncos' 81 offensive snaps Sunday and has now seen his share of playing time hover between the 45- and 60-percent range for four straight weeks, but he'll need an uptick in involvement in the passing game before he garners more serious consideration as an option for fantasy lineups.