NFL Player News

Winfree signed with the Texans on Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The wide receiver was placed on injured reserve with an unspecified issue ahead of the 2024 campaign and did not play during the season. Winfree spent parts of the previous five seasons with the Broncos, Packers and Colts, respectively, catching nine total passes for 75 yards and no scores. Now, he'll look to keep his career going in a receiver room led by Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and 2025 second-rounder Jayden Higgins.

Brown isn't suiting up for Monday's preseason game versus the Bengals, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

Brown was carted off the field during mandatory minicamp in June due to an undisclosed injury and then was eased into training camp before returning to practice without restrictions July 28. He'll miss a second consecutive exhibition, leaving him just one more chance for game action ahead of Week 1, in Saturday's preseason clash with the Ravens. Brown is coming off an injury-shortened 2024 campaign in which he tallied a 35-453-1 line on 56 targets over 11 regular-season games.

Samuel will suit up for the Commanders in Monday's preseason game against the Bengals, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.

He'll see his first action in a Washington uniform following his trade from San Francisco back on March 1. With wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown not playing Monday, Samuel will act as Jayden Daniels' top target for as long as the quarterback is on the field. Samuel has developed a nice rapport with Daniels during training camp, and this will mark their first opportunity to show it off in an actual game setting.

Austin (abdomen) was limited to sideline work during Monday's training camp practice, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Austin continues to work through an abdominal injury from early August that has forced him to miss the Steelers' first two preseason games. He's unlikely to play in Thursday's exhibition contest against the Panthers, and the third-year wideout's status for the Steelers' regular-season opener against the Jets on Sunday, Sept. 7 needs to be monitored. If Austin were to continue to miss time, that would open the door for Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson to fill in as the WR2 behind DK Metcalf.

Hopkins (knee) didn't practice Monday, Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Coach John Harbaugh revealed after Monday's practice that Hopkins is still dealing with a knee injury, per Wacker. Hopkins may continue to have his practice participation impacted by the injury, which also caused him to miss some practice time in July, but there's been no indication that the veteran wide receiver's availability for the regular-season opener against the Bills on Sunday, Sept. 7 is in any danger.

Taylor was waived by the Steelers on Monday.

Taylor had 38 receiving yards in Pittsburgh's first preseason game against the Jaguars and 39 receiving yards in the second against Tampa Bay, but he evidently didn't do enough to convince Pittsburgh's coaching staff to keep him on the team. The undrafted rookie out of Memphis will be free to sign with any NFL team if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer noted Monday that Mingo is in line to undergo additional tests on his knee, Jon Machota of The Athleticreports.

Mingo suffered a PCL injury during Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore, and while he is slated to get further testing, Schottenheimer told reporters, "I don't think it's gonna be terribly serious." When available, the 24-year-old is looking to cement his standing in a Dallas wide receiver room that also includes CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin. The 2023 second-rounder played in 17 regular games last season (nine with Carolina and eight with Dallas), finishing with a combined 167 yards on 17 receptions.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that Nailor (hand) is week-to-week, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Nailor had his hand jammed up during practice last Thursday and missed Minnesota's 20-12 preseason loss to New England on Saturday as a result, and it now looks like he also could be in danger of sitting out the team's preseason finale against Tennessee on Friday. At the very least, with three weeks to get healthy before Week 1 against the Bears on Monday, Sept. 8, Nailor should be a full-go for the regular season. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is returning to practice Monday, but with Jordan Addison (suspension) out until Week 4, Nailor looks in line to kick off the year benefiting from an expanded role on offense.

Jefferson (hamstring) will begin practicing, head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Jefferson has been sidelined since late July by what has been described as a mild left hamstring strain, but the star wide receiver is ready to start ramping up his activity level. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Jefferson will participate in part of Monday's practice. Though Jefferson hasn't yet been cleared to participate in team drills without limitations, this development nonetheless is a step in the right direction. Jefferson's goal is to be ready for Week 1 against the Bears on Monday, Sept. 8, but he's unlikely to suit up for Friday's preseason finale against the Titans.

McMillan did not practice Monday due to a minor hamstring injury, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

McMillan joined Bryce Young and the starting offense for two series during Saturday's 20-3 preseason loss to Houston, in which he failed to haul in his only target and appears to have picked up a hamstring injury. Panthers coach Dave Canales has already stated that McMillan and the starters won't play in Thursday's exhibition finale against Pittsburgh, so the rookie first-round pick will turn his attention toward getting healthy for Week 1 against the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 7, a task the next three weeks (roughly) should be plenty of time to accomplish. Carolina figures to take a cautious approach to McMillan's recovery, given his integral role on offense as Young's immediate No. 1 target.