NFL Player News

The Broncos signed Thomas to the practice squad Tuesday, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.

Thomas spent the offseason with Minnesota and the last two years on the team's practice squad, but he was cut late August and now gets an opportunity in Denver. The 27-year-old wideout is still looking for a chance to make his regular-season debut.

The 49ers signed Valdes-Scantling to the active roster from the practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

San Francisco picked up Valdes-Scantling after he was let go by Seattle last week, and the veteran speedster now joins the 53-man roster in advance of Sunday's road game against the Seahawks team he spent training camp with. It's possible that the 49ers were wary of Valdes-Scantling being poached by another team, were he to be kept on the practice squad. In any case, he'll join Skyy Moore and Jordan Watkins (ankle) as depth options at wide receiver behind Jauan Jennings (calf) and Ricky Pearsall for Week 1.

Harris (undisclosed) isn't listed on the Chargers' initial Week 1 injury report that was released Tuesday.

Harris exited a practice last Wednesday due to an unspecified issue, but his absence from the Week 1 injury report implies that he took every rep during Tuesday's session. The rookie second-round receiver out of Ole Miss will be available for Friday's season opener versus the Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but it's unclear if he'll be able to immediately earn meaningful target volume on the perimeter after the Chargers brought aboard veteran slot man Keenan Allen in August to complement No. 1 wideout Ladd McConkey and third-year man Quentin Johnston.

Johnston (concussion) isn't listed on the Chargers' initial Week 1 injury report that was released Tuesday.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh had already confirmed Monday that Johnston cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, and the third-year wideout's absence from the injury report suggests that he practiced fully Tuesday and will be available for Friday's season opener versus the Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While Johnston projects to begin the 2025 campaign as a starter, the Chargers' offseason additions of veteran Keenan Allen and rookie second-round pick Tre' Harris could cut into Johnston's target share and playing time.

The Steelers released Woods from their practice squad Tuesday.

Woods is 33 years old and has no desire to be on a team's practice squad, and he only wants to play if he's on a 53-man roster, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Woods spent the summer in Pittsburgh but was unable to crack to the Steelers' Week 1 roster.

Bolden signed with the Texans' practice squad Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Texas back in April, Bolden appeared in two preseason games for Minnesota but caught just one pass for three yards across 27 offensive snaps.

The Saints signed Mellott to their practice squad Tuesday, Matthew Paras of NOLA.com reports.

A college quarterback, Mellott was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 Draft by the Raiders and announced as a wide receiver. He failed to make Las Vegas' 53-man roster this summer and will now head to New Orleans, where Taysom Hill made a similar position switch with success. Mellott can continue to work on his development on the practice squad.

Royals (knee) did not practice Tuesday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Coach Andy Reid already said last week that he didn't expect Royals to be available to play in Friday's Week 1 opener against the Chargers. The rookie wideout is dealing with knee tendinitis. With Rashee Rice also out due to suspension, Kansas City's top wideouts against Los Angeles are expected to be Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that Brown (ankle) has been a full practice participant this week and will be available for Friday's season opener versus the Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Brown didn't play in any preseason contests after tweaking his right ankle early in training camp, but he's been able to practice for about two weeks and said that he's feeling "really good" heading into Friday's contest, per Matt McMullen of the team's official site. With Rashee Rice (suspension) set to miss the first six contests of the season, a healthy Brown could see added involvement in the passing game early on. After requiring shoulder surgery last September, the veteran was limited to just two regular-season and three postseason contests in 2024 and struggled to forge a connection with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, reeling in just 14 of 28 targets for 141 yards and no touchdowns over 159 total snaps.

Dike will be the Titans' punt returner this season, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Dike will also return kickoffs, along with Bryce Oliver. While Dike's offensive role remains to be seen behind Calvin Ridley (soreness), Tyler Lockett and fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor, it does sound like he'll at least be counted on to handle plenty of returns for Tennessee.