NFL Player News

Howard (head) announced after Thursday's practice that he has been cleared from concussion protocol, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Howard experienced concussion-like symptoms during last Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to Buffalo, though he still managed to finish the first half. The 2025 sixth-round pick has has yet to play a regular-season snap for the Steelers, and he's unlikely to do so again in 2026 unless both Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are sidelined simultaneously at some point.

The Saints waived Neal (hamstring) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Thursday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Neal picked up a hamstring injury in early August, and while he returned to practice Aug. 19 and suited up for preseason Week 2 on Aug. 22, he left that contest due to a likely aggravation of that issue, ending up on IR on cut-down day. The terms of his injury settlement aren't known, but once they're met, he'll be eligible to sign with a team.

Odunze "should be all good" after leaving Thursday's practice with an apparent right leg injury, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Odunze exited in the first hour of Thursday's session, but despite attempting to stay on the field, he was escorted off of it with team trainers. Wiederer's report seems to back up that Odunze's new health concern isn't a serious one, but he'll still enter Week 1 prep with a question mark regarding his status. With fellow WR Luther Burden also tending to a groin injury, the Bears currently have only Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas and Jahdae Walker as healthy options at the position on the active roster.

Johnson currently is the only healthy running back on the Bears' active roster after D'Andre Swift (abdomen) exited Thursday's practice due to an injury, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Kyle Monangai still in recovery mode from a hyperextended knee, Swift was the unquestioned top healthy back in Chicago before he was seen holding at his midsection as he left the field Thursday. Following cutdown day and its aftermath, Johnson now is the lone player at the position who isn't banged up, while Salvon Ahmed is the sole RB on the practice squad. Since the Bears used a fourth-round pick on Johnson in 2023, his role on offense has dwindled in each subsequent campaign, including just two carries and no targets in seven appearances last season.

Odunze sustained an apparent right leg injury during Thursday's practice session, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Per the report, Odunze did not seem overly concerned about the injury and attempted to stay on the field, but the training staff decided to bring his day to an early end. His status will be updated again when more details are released, but as things stand both Odunze and Luther Burden (groin) are less than 100 percent. Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas and Jahdae Walker are next in line on the depth chart.

Swift left Thursday's practice with an apparent injury and "appeared to be in significant discomfort," Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The initial report did not provide further specifics, but per Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune, Swift exited the field holding his "midsection or core area." Backfield mate Kyle Monangai is already working back from a knee issue, so the top two running backs on the depth chart for the Bears will head into the weekend with an injury designation, and Roschon Johnson will be the only ball carrier on the roster without one.

Dillon secured the third running back spot on Carolina's 53-man roster, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Dillon had been in a preseason battle with Trevor Etienne (ankle) for the third spot on the depth chart, but Etienne was placed on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return, ruling Etienne out for the first four games of the regular season at minimum. Dillon is behind Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) and Jonathon Brooks (soreness) in the backfield pecking order, but Dillon would have a clear path to playing time early in the season if either of the top two running backs missed any game action.

Kraft (knee) appeared to be running without any limitations during Wednesday's practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Though Kraft was held out of action during the Packers' entire preseason slate, he was able to clear a major hurdle in his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained Nov. 2, 2025 by taking contact in a joint practice with the Cardinals last week. Kraft appeared to be in full uniform and pads for Wednesday's session, suggesting that he's on track to be ready to go for the Packers' Week 1 matchup with the Vikings. Green Bay will release its first injury report of 2026 next Wednesday, and if Kraft is listed as a full participant or is off the report entirely, it would provide confirmation that he's been cleared to play in the season opener.

Hall (groin) is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13, Jack Bell of the Jets' official site reports.

Hall is still nursing the groin injury he suffered 17 days ago, but he was originally given a return timetable of 2-to-3 weeks and was spotted running without any noticeable issues on a side field last week. Barring any setbacks, it sounds like Hall should be fine for the season opener. Whether he sees his normal workload is another question, as Braelon Allen has looked the part in practice and during limited preseason action, where he rushed seven times for 48 yards (6.9 YPC) and one touchdown.

Loveland is listed as a starting tight end along with Cole Kmet on the Bears' unofficial depth chart.

The 10th overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Loveland had a slow start to his rookie season, coming out of Week 8 with 11 catches total on the campaign and one DNP due to a hip injury. From Week 9 through the Bears' divisional-round loss to the Rams, though, he ran roughshod over opposing defenses, hauling in 59 of 89 targets for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Loveland capped that stretch with four consecutive contests with double-digit targets, indicating he finished last season as QB Caleb Williams' top option in the passing game. While Loveland still has to contend with WRs Rome Odunze and Luther Burden (groin) for the attention of Williams, the tight end is poised to make a leap to the NFL's best at the position.