NFL Player News

Higgins (heel) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

On Tuesday, coach Zac Taylor relayed to Baby that Higgins was dealing with a bruised heel, but the issue wasn't a major concern. Having said that, Higgins didn't log any activity one day later, so his status, along with that of fellow DNP WR Ja'Marr Chase (knee), will be monitored closely as Week 1 inches closer. The Bengals take on the Buccaneers on Sunday, Sept. 13, meaning Higgins' first official practice reps of the campaign will be possible next Wednesday.

Robinson said Thursday that he's noticed an emphasis from the Falcons' new coaching staff in scheming up ways to create running room and help him reach the second level more quickly, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports. "We have a lot of different variations," Robinson said. "But, for me, it's to create space for yourself. [Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees] does a really good job of being intentional in trying to get us to the second level as fast as possible because when we get to the second level, I feel like that's where we're super dangerous as runners."

Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025, with the 24-year-old doing much of his damage on outside runs in former offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's wide-zone running scheme. The Falcons won't completely abandon those zone concepts during the upcoming season, but the new coaching staff plans to implement more gap and power-style run plays that it believes will help Robinson to maintain effectiveness while still allowing him to put his explosiveness in the open field on display. Rees and head coach Kevin Stefanski also plan to keep Robinson heavily involved in the screen game, after he led all running backs with 20 receptions on screens last season. While working with a less talented Browns running-back room in 2025, Stefanski and Rees helped Cleveland generate 413 yards on screen plays, second-most in the NFL.

Fellow RB D'Andre Swift said Monangai (knee) "looked good" while running Wednesday, Adam Hoge of AllCHGO.com reports.

Since hyperextending his right knee in practice Aug. 16, Monangai has been described as "week-to-week" on multiple occasions by coach Ben Johnson, including as recently as Tuesday, according to Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com. Swift's view of Monangai one day later likely means the latter ran on the side versus in any drills, but it's at least the first positive sign that he's making progress in his recovery. If Monangai ends up being limited or even sidelined to begin the season, Swift likely would be a bellcow in the Bears offense, with Roschon Johnson on hand for any RB reps that linger.

Per Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com, "there's currently optimism" that Shakir (undisclosed) will be available Week 1 against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 13

Since making an appearance during preseason Week 1 on Aug. 15, Shakir has been sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, including no activity at Tuesday's practice. The Bills will post their first Week 1 injury report next Wednesday, and how he's listed then will provide a sense for his status ahead of the regular-season opener.

Taylor was rested for the Colts' 25-16 loss to the Lions in Saturday's preseason finale.

Prior to the game, head coach Shane Steichen said that he planned on having all of the team's offensive starters minus Taylor and quarterback Daniel Jones take the field for 8-to-12 snaps, per JJ Stankevicz of the Colts' official site. Taylor didn't play in the prior two preseason contests either, as the Colts didn't want to risk an injury to their lead back in advance of the regular season. After missing at least three games every season from 2022 through 2024, the 27-year-old played a full 17-game slate in 2025, playing north of 70 percent of the offensive snaps in all but one of those contests while accounting for 20 touchdowns, amassing 1,585 yards on the ground and setting career highs with 46 receptions and 378 receiving yards. He'll be primed for another hefty workload in 2026, and the Colts are hopeful that Jones' return from a torn ACL can help Taylor avoid the decline in efficiency that he experienced after the Colts' Week 11 bye last season (3.3 yards per carry in his final seven games).

Coach John Harbaugh said Nabers (knee) participated in individual and team drills at Wednesday's practice, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Nabers has had a notable week, from telling Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com on Monday that he was unsure about his status for the season opener to not being seen at the open portion of Tuesday's practice. He ended up mixing into drills Tuesday after the session was closed to the media, and Harbaugh's comments Wednesday indicate Nabers was somewhere between a limited and full participant. The Giants are required to post their first Week 1 injury report next Wednesday, and how Nabers is listed there may be telling ahead of the Giants' Week 1 matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Gesicki is slated to be the Bengals' top pass-catching tight end to begin the 2026 season.

In the wake of the NFL's cutdown day, Gesicki's main competition for offensive snaps is blocking TE Drew Sample, who has combined for 57 catches over his last 51 regular-season games. Meanwhile, 2024 fourth-round pick Erick All is finally back healthy after missing all of 2025 due to a torn ACL, while rookie seventh-rounder Jack Endries is the only other TE on the active roster. Gesicki posted a disappointing 28-307-2 line on 42 targets in 13 regular-season contests last year, but he's just two years removed from a 65-665-2 receiving line in his first campaign as a Bengal in 2024.

Evans (groin) returned to practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Evans has barely practiced this summer due to various nagging injuries, but his return to the field Wednesday gives him some time to get ready for next Thursday's season opener against the Rams in Australia. The Niners are flying out Wednesday of this week to get their body clocks acclimated to the time change. As long as Evans avoids setbacks over the next week, he should be available against Los Angeles, though it's fair to wonder how much chemistry he's built with Brock Purdy at this point.

Brown is looking forward to an elevated role in the Bengals offense in 2026, Landon Belote of SI.com reports.

In particular, Brown cited the scheme's efficiency while running the ball under center and also how much he's been lining up in the slot in the passing game during training camp. After earning just 58 touches as a fifth-round rookie in 2023, his usage increased to 283 touches in 2024 and 301 touches last season. In 17 regular-games in 2025, he matched or set career highs across the board, tallying 1,456 yards from scrimmage and 11 total TDs. Considering Brown was one of seven RBs with at least 50 receptions last year (69, to be exact), his stature in fantasy has never been higher.

Coach Dave Canales suggested Wednesday that McMillan will work out of the slot more this season, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.

If preseason usage means anything, it would seem Canales was putting the plan into action this summer. After playing just 15.3 percent of his regular-season offensive snaps out of the slot as a rookie, McMillan was in the slot on nine of 22 snaps (40.9 percent) across two preseason games. Moving to the slot more would give the 6-foot-5 McMillan significant size and speed advantages inside and allow for more easy "layup" style catches to get the ball in his hands quicker. The 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year figures to be the center of Carolina's offense this season after posting 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven scores across 17 regular-season contests last season.