NFL Player News

Downs (hip) didn't practice Wednesday.

In his return from a concussion in the Colts' Week 8 win over the Titans, Downs was on the field for 64 percent of the team's snaps on offense en route to catching all three of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. He now has two more chances to practice fully before the Colts' final injury report is posted head of Sunday's game against the Steelers. Also missing practice Wednesday was fellow wideout Anthony Gould (knee), which currently leaves Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Ashton Dulin and Adonai Mitchell as Indy's top healthy options at the position.

Burden (concussion) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice.

Burden didn't return to this past Sunday's loss at Baltimore after being concussed early in the third quarter. He was joined as a non-participant Wednesday by fellow WRs Rome Odunze (heel), DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Olamide Zaccheaus (knee). Burden himself will need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to have a chance to play Sunday at Cincinnati, but a DNP to begin Week 9 prep isn't exactly a great sign for upcoming active status.

Zaccheaus (knee) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.

The Bears' top four wide receivers all also logged DNPs to begin Week 9 prep: Rome Odunze (heel), DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Luther Burden (concussion) in addition to Zaccheaus. On Monday, coach Ben Johnson termed Zaccheaus "day-to-day" due to a knee injury, per Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network, so he seemingly has a good chance to mix into drills before week's end. Nevertheless, Chicago's situation at the position bears watching in the coming days to see who may be available Sunday in Cincinnati.

Moore (hip/groin) did not practice Wednesday.

Moore wasn't assigned an injury designation Week 8 against Baltimore despite logging a DNP/LP/FP practice slate, and the Bears could have a similar plan in mind ahead of Sunday's road contest against the Bengals. Fellow wideouts Rome Odunze (heel), Luther Burden (concussion) and Olamide Zaccheaus (knee) also missed practice Wednesday, as did top running back D'Andre Swift. Moore corralled four of seven targets for a season-high 73 receiving yards versus the Ravens in Week 8, and if he manages to suit up versus Cincinnati while other notable skill-position players remain sidelined, an opportunity to build upon that momentum may present itself.

Schultz (undisclosed) isn't practicing Wednesday but is expected to return later this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

He was listed with back and shoulder injuries last week but was cleared to play Friday on the final injury report. Schultz then played into the fourth quarter of a 26-15 win over the 49ers, though he appeared to be in pain and briefly left the game at one point. He still managed a 77 percent route share, tied for second on the team, while catching two of three targets for 24 yards. It sounds like Schultz is banged up but still expected to play this Sunday against the Broncos.

Coach DeMeco Ryans noted that Collins, who practiced Wednesday, is technically still in concussion protocol but is expected to be cleared in the next few days, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

It remains to be seen if Collins will be listed as a limited or full participant in Wednesday's session, but the wideout is nonetheless trending toward a return to action Sunday against the Broncos. Also back at practice Wednesday for the Texans was fellow WR Christian Kirk (hamstring), who last saw game action in Week 5.

Kmet (back) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

This marks Kmet's first on-field work since he sustained a back injury Week 7 against the Saints that resulted in the first absence of his six-year career this past Sunday in Baltimore. Getting back on the practice field Wednesday generally is a sign of progress, but he may need to get back to all activity Thursday and/or Friday to avoid a designation entirely ahead of Sunday's contest at Cincinnati.

Odunze (heel) did not practice Wednesday.

Odunze and fellow top wideout DJ Moore (hip/groin) were both held out of practice Wednesday, as were rookie Luther Burden (concussion) and veteran slot option Olamide Zaccheaus (knee). Given the plethora of injuries facing Chicago's wide receiver corps, it's possible the team is simply taking a cautious approach to the beginning of Week 9 prep. Odunze will have two more chances to get back on the practice field before receiving a tentative game-day injury designation ahead of Sunday's road contest against the Bengals. He brought in seven of 10 targets for 114 yards during the team's Week 8 loss to Baltimore, Odunze's second 100-yard game of the season.

Hunt is expected to get most of the carries Sunday at Buffalo in the absence of teammate Isiah Pacheco (knee), ESPN's Nate Taylor reports.

Brashard Smith will have a role, and Elijah Mitchell may even get some work, but Hunt figures to take many/most of the carries that had been going to Pacheco. Adding those on top of the work he already gets -- which includes short-yardage situations -- should put Hunt in a valuable role, projecting for double-digit touches and solid odds to score a touchdown. A huge yardage total is unlikely, but potential TDs offer a path to upside that makes Hunt a sold lineup option for Week 9.

Swift (groin) didn't practice Wednesday.

Swift was among a number of Bears skill-position players that weren't able to practice to kick off Week 9 prep, the others being WRs Rome Odunze (heel), DJ Moore (hip/groin), Olamide Zaccheaus (knee) and Luther Burden (concussion). Swift has been dealing with a groin injury for three weeks running and followed a DNP/LP/LP practice regimen last week before suiting up this past Sunday at Baltimore, a contest in which he handled a 49 percent snap share and turned 13 touches into 71 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD. Wednesday's absence may merely be for maintenance purposes, but his status still will be watched as the week continues to get a sense of his odds to continue leading the Bears backfield Sunday at Cincinnati.