NFL Player News
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Devontez Walker WR | BAL
Ravens' Devontez Walker: Returns to practice
Walker (undisclosed) is practicing Sunday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Walker was held out of practice Saturday with what was deemed a soft-tissue injury, but the issue appears to have been minor. That's great news for Walker, who has had a good camp so far and is pushing for Baltimore's No. 4 wideout role behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins. While Walker is in uniform Sunday, he's working off to the side and not taking part in team drills, per Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun, so he may need another day or two to get back to full participation.
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Calvin Austin III WR | PIT
Steelers' Calvin Austin: Deemed day-to-day
Austin (undisclosed) didn't practice Sunday and is considered day-to-day, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
It's not clear what Austin is dealing with or how long he will remain sidelined. The 26-year-old reportedly has a leg up in the competition for Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver role behind DK Metcalf. Austin also is slated to serve as the Steelers' lead punt returner during the upcoming campaign.
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Cooper Kupp WR | SEA
Seahawks' Cooper Kupp: Set to sit preseason opener
Kupp and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Raiders, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
We'll have to wait to see how well Kupp functions with Sam Darnold in the Seahawks' new offense under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Kupp has missed 18 games over the past three seasons, but he still was impressive when healthy last year with three 100-yard performances and six touchdowns over 12 regular-season games. However, he's now 32 years old and is expected to be the No. 2 wideout behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR | SEA
Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Sitting out preseason opener
Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Cooper Kupp also won't play, but it's unclear if any of the other wide receivers will be sidelined considering rookie Tory Horton and veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling are battling for the No. 3 job. Smith-Njigba is coming off a proficient second NFL season where he recorded 1,130 yards and six touchdowns on a Seahawks' record 100 receptions. He's the clear No. 1 receiver now that DK Metcalf (Steelers) and Tyler Lockett (Titans) are out of the picture.
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Nate McCollum WR | ARI
Cardinals' Nate McCollum: Gets chance with Cardinals
Arizona signed McCollum on Saturday.
McCollum signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in May but was waived in early June. He'll now get a look from the Cardinals after the team placed Quez Watkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve. McCollum is a long shot to make Arizona's final roster, but he'll have a chance to make his case for a spot on the team or the practice squad throughout the remainder of training camp.
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Quez Watkins WR | PHI
Cardinals' Quez Watkins: Moved to IR
The Cardinals placed Watkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve Saturday.
Watkins left practice Friday with an undisclosed injury, and he's now required to miss the entire season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Arizona. The Cardinals signed Nate McCollum in a corresponding move to take Watkins' roster spot as wideout depth.
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Jermaine Burton WR | CIN
Bengals' Jermaine Burton: Continued progress
Burton has made some nice plays in training camp so far and more importantly has avoided all the pratfalls that plagued him last year, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
While the Bengals are happy with how Burton has showed up in camp, they are also treating this as a "necessary but not yet sufficient" status for him to elevate his status on the field. Said offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, "That's a prerequisite, right? That doesn't mean you're gonna be a successful pro. That gives you a chance to be a successful pro. He's making the right steps in that direction." Burton remains behind Andrei Iosivas on the depth chart, with Iosivas also having a good camp.
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Michael Pittman WR | IND
Colts' Michael Pittman: Sidelined by groin again
Pittman (groin) didn't practice Sunday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman first hurt his groin in practice Tuesday, though he was able to resume participation Thursday. However, the star wideout was held out again Saturday and Sunday, so it appears he's not fully past the injury yet. The Colts likely want to make sure Pittman is fully in the clear before he resumes practice given that the team is still in the early stages of training camp.
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Josh Palmer WR | BUF
Bills' Joshua Palmer: Working through groin injury
Palmer isn't practicing Sunday due to a groin injury, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Palmer has had a promising start to training camp after signing a three-year contract with Buffalo in the offseason, but he's hit at least a minor roadblock with the groin issue. The Bills also announced Sunday that No. 1 wideout Khalil Shakir is week-to-week due to a high-ankle sprain, per Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo, so Keon Coleman and Elijah Moore are the team's top receivers who are currently healthy. It's not yet clear how many practices Palmer might miss as he works through the groin injury.
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Khalil Shakir WR | BUF
Bills' Khalil Shakir: Week-to-week with ankle injury
Shakir has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Shakir left the field during Friday's practice after having his right ankle examined by trainers. Subsequent evaluation has indicated that the fourth-year wideout is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. That almost certainly means he won't be available for Buffalo's first preseason game Saturday, Aug. 9 and also suggests he could be held out of exhibition contests entirely. It remains to be seen if Shakir will be ready to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season. Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer figure to lead Buffalo's wideout corps for however long Shakir is out.