NFL Player News

Johnson (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets.

Johnson was a full participant in practice all week, but he's not quite ready for game action. He's in the final stages of his recovery from a left calf strain that he sustained in early August during training camp. Johnson will look to progress enough in his recovery to be activated off IR ahead of the Bengals' Week 9 clash against the Bears on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Beebe (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Beebe was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday. He was limited in practice all week, and he's not quite ready to return from an ankle injury he sustained in Week 2 against the Giants. Beebe will look to increase his practice participation and be activated from IR ahead of the Cowboys' Week 9 clash against the Cardinals on Monday, Nov. 3. Brock Hoffman will continue to start at center for the Cowboys for as long as Beebe is sidelined.

Harrison (knee) was not activated off injured reserve and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, per the NFL's transaction log.

Despite logging a full week of practice, Harrison has not progressed enough in his recovery from a knee injury to be activated off IR ahead of Week 8. Given his practice participation, the 2020 third-rounder has a good chance to make his return for Week 9 against the Colts on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Howard (hand) will remain on injured reserve and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, per the NFL's transaction log.

Howard was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday. Despite being a full participant in practice all week, the rookie sixth-rounder is not quite ready to return from a hand injury that he sustained in August, so Mason Rudolph and Aaron Rodgers will be the Steelers' two quarterbacks on the active roster for Week 8. Howard will aim to progress enough in his recovery to be activated off IR ahead of the Steelers' Week 9 clash against the Colts on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The Texans activated Smith (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday.

Smith was designated to return to practice Wednesday, and he earned the questionable tag for Sunday's game against the 49ers after putting together an LP-FP-FP practice log. His activation off IR indicates that he's on track to play in Week 8, but his official status may not be known until the Texans announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The rookie third-rounder posted four tackles (two solo) through the first two games of the regular season prior to his placement on IR due to a hamstring injury.

The Jets placed Jones (hip) on injured reserve Saturday.

Jones sustained a hip injury during the Jets' Week 6 loss against the Broncos. He wasn't able to play Week 7 against the Panthers, and after being ruled out for Week 8 against the Bengals, it's been determined that his injury is severe enough for him to warrant a stint on IR. Jones will be forced to miss at least the next four games, which makes Week 13 against the Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 30 the earliest he is eligible to return.

The Jets elevated Cook from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Cook will serve as the Jets' backup quarterback behind Justin Fields against the Bengals on Sunday in the absence of Tyrod Taylor (knee). Cook was elevated for Week 3 against the Buccaneers, though he did not enter that contest while operating as Taylor's backup.

The Jets signed Smith from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Smith's addition to the active roster corresponds with the Jets placing Josh Reynolds (hip) on injured reserve. Smith was elevated to the Jets' active roster for Week 6 against the Broncos and played 12 snaps on special teams without showing up on the box score otherwise. He'll give the Jets an additional body on special teams, but he could also be in the mix for snaps on offense against the Bengals on Sunday due to the absences of Reynolds and Garrett Wilson (knee).

The Jets activated Williams (shoulder) from injured reserve Saturday, but he is still listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Williams was cleared to return to practice Wednesday after missing the Jets' last four games due to a shoulder injury. He was a full participant in practice all week, and while he's still questionable, his activation from IR indicates that he is tracking toward playing Week 8. Williams' return would mean less rotational snaps at linebacker for Kobe King, Ja'Markis Weston and Mykal Walker.

The Panthers elevated Hooker from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Week 8 is Hooker's first elevation of the season, and he is expected to serve as the Panthers' QB2 behind Andy Dalton against the Bills on Sunday in the absence of Bryce Young (ankle). Hooker signed with the Panthers' practice squad in late August after being waived by the Lions. He appeared in three regular-season games for Detroit in 2024 but has not started in a game since being selected by the Lions in the third round of of the 2023 NFL Draft.