NFL Player News

Bowers (knee) will be listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at the Chargers, and Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Friday that the tight end will be worked out pregame before a final decision is made, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.

Kubiak added that he's optimistic about Bowers returning for Week 3 against the Saints. For this coming Sunday, it sounds highly unlikely, but the Raiders aren't ready Friday to shut the door on the possibility. They're scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, and it remains to be seen if they'll actually take a final decision on Bowers down to the wire.

Jennings (not injury related - personal) won't play Sunday in Chicago.

Jennings didn't practice at all this week due to a personal matter and thus now has been ruled out for Week 2 action. The Vikings lean on Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison the most at wide receiver, but some targets seemingly will be available for Tai Felton and even Myles Price in Jennings' absence. Jennings' next chance to suit up will be Sunday, Sept. 27 at Tampa Bay.

Murray (concussion) won't play in Sunday's contest at Chicago.

In Murray's stead, coach Kevin O'Connell said that Carson Wentz will start Week 2, while J.J. McCarthy will serve as the backup QB, per Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. As for Murray, O'Connell relayed to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com that Murray is expected to clear the concussion protocol next week, meaning he has a good chance to be under center at Tampa Bay on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Johnson (illness) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Baltimore

Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice entirely due to an illness, but he ramped up as the week went on, going from limited Thursday to all activity Friday, thereby clearing him for Week 2 action. The status of New Orleans' top WR Chris Olave (hamstring) is in question heading into the weekend, so Johnson could be poised for more looks from QB Tyler Shough on Sunday, even if Olave is able to suit up. Johnson turned his seven Week 1 targets into three catches for 54 yards and one touchdown in an overtime loss at Detroit.

Olave (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Baltimore, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

When Olave went down as a limited participant at Thursday's practice due to a hamstring injury, his early exit was deemed precautionary, according to Underhill. Olave remained limited Friday and thus will enter the weekend as a question mark for the Saints' Week 2 offense. In a Week 1 loss at Detroit, Olave served as Tyler Shough's top pass catcher to the tune of 10 catches for 182 yards on 13 targets.

Olave (hamstring) was present for Friday's practice session, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Olave left Thursday's practice with a hamstring issue, which was deemed a precautionary move afterward. It's not yet clear how much he was able to do Friday, but his presence alone bodes well for his chances of suiting up for Sunday's matchup with the Ravens.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Rush will start Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

At the same time, Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was deemed doubtful to play, and Michael Penix (knee) was ruled out for Week 2 action, per Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site. Rush got the Week 1 nod under center with both Tagovailoa and Penix sidelined, but he didn't fare too well through the air, completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while getting sacked four times.

Tagovailoa (oblique) is doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.

Tagovailoa likely will join Michael Penix (knee) on the sideline this weekend, while coach Kevin Stefanski announced Cooper Rush as Atlanta's starting quarterback for a second straight week, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. As for Tagovailoa, he hasn't been able to practice since sustaining a strained oblique last Thursday,Sept. 10 and likely will need to do so in order to put himself in a position to be available for next Thursday's road matchup with the Packers.

Penix (knee) won't play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.

Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) is listed as doubtful to play, leaving coach Kevin Stefanski to announce Cooper Rush as Atlanta's starting QB for a second contest in a row to kick off the campaign, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Penix has been listed as a full participant in practice going back to last week, and while he's told Falcons media that he feels "really close" to his first game action since tearing his left ACL last November, he still has "some goals" that he needs to meet. Penix's next chance for game action is next Thursday at Green Bay.

Murray (concussion) was present for the start of Friday's practice, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

This marks three consecutive practices for Murray in the wake of suffering a concussion during a Week 1 win against the Packers, though in the first two Wednesday and Thursday, he was a limited participant in both. Even if Murray logs a full practice Friday, he'll still need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist to be able to play Sunday at Chicago. If that doesn't happen, Murray will yield starting duties to backup QB Carson Wentz.