NFL Player News

Coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Achane (calf) is "absolutely" on track to play in Sunday's season opener against the Colts, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

That aligns with Achane's previous assertion that he feels 100 percent healthy and that his recent practice limitations were precautionary. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether the running back carries a Week 1 injury designation, but at this stage it looks like he'll be available to lead Miami's backfield this weekend.

Coach Mike McDaniel noted Friday that Hill (oblique) is "absolutely" on track to play Sunday against the Colts, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

The same applies to RB De'Von Achane (calf), with both players having been limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether Hill heads into the weekend with an injury designation or fully cleared for Week 1 action.

Coach Mike McDaniel revealed Friday that Waller (hip) suffered a setback before Thursday's practice, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

As a result, Waller didn't take part in Thursday's session, and at this stage, McDaniel said he doesn't believe the tight end will play Sunday against the Colts, a notion that could be confirmed when Friday's final Week 1 injury report is posted. If Waller is ruled out, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner would be next up for Miami's tight end reps this weekend.

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Thursday that Penix, who did not suit up for any preseason action, is "ready to go" for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Penix said, "I pride myself to make sure that each and every week I'm always ready come game day," though he acknowledged that "the biggest difference is the reps," or lack thereof, as he prepares for the fourth regular-season start of his NFL career. The presence of star playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London will assist Penix in his goal of hitting the ground running, and it's encouraging that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has returned to practice in a limited capacity and seems to have a shot at playing Week 1. On the other hand, Atlanta's offensive line had looked like one of the team's major strengths the entire offseason, but with Kaleb McGary (leg) now done for the year and swing backup Storm Norton (ankle) out 6-to-8 weeks, third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle. The lack of reliable blindside protection will be a notable hurdle for the southpaw signal-caller to overcome Sunday and throughout the 2025 campaign.

Ferguson brought in five of six targets for 23 yards in the Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.

Ferguson finished second in receptions on the Cowboys to CeeDee Lamb and third in receiving yards, although the latter total was a reflection of a low-volume passing night for Dallas. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to see Ferguson as Dak Prescott's second-favorite target on the night, as it was a reminder of the chemistry between the two that was nullified by Prescott's season-ending hamstring avulsion in Week 9 of last season. Ferguson could remain similarly busy during the Cowboys' Week 2 home opener against the Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Smith secured all three targets for 16 yards in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.

As Smith's line corroborates, it was a quiet night for the speedster to open the 2025 campaign. Smith finished behind both Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert in receptions on the night, while No. 3 receiver Jahan Dotson outgained him by 43 yards on the same number of catches. Nevertheless, there's no question more productive days are ahead for Smith, and a Week 2 road rematch with a Chiefs team he recorded 69 yards and a touchdown against in Super Bowl LIX in February may provide just the platform for Smith's first noteworthy performance of the new season.

Goedert brought in all seven targets for 44 yards in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.

Goedert recorded a co-game-high reception total and was second on the Eagles in receiving yards on a night when Jalen Hurts threw for a modest 152 yards. The veteran tight end was peppered with a team-high target tally by Hurts as the Cowboys focused plenty of attention on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, leading to a productive start to the campaign for Goedert. He should be involved in a complementary capacity at minimum during a Week 2 road Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Pickens brought in three of four targets for 30 yards in the Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.

The big-name offseason addition didn't see Dak Prescott look his way anywhere near as much as CeeDee Lamb, but Pickens made some solid contributions in the narrow loss. The talented receiver made his first regular-season catch as a Cowboy on a six-yard grab during Dallas' opening drive, and he'd go on to draw a 34-yard pass interference penalty on Quinyon Mitchell before the quarter was over. Pickens also had a key 15-yard grab on third down with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but he was guilty of an unnecessary roughness penalty deep in Eagles territory in the third quarter on a drive that culminated in a Miles Sanders fumble. Pickens is naturally expected to settle into the Cowboys' air attack the more he plays, and a Week 2 home matchup against the Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14 could represent an opportunity for his first breakout performance.

Brown secured his only target for eight yards in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.

Brown's near shutout was alarming considering his typical importance to the Eagles' air attack, but both passing games were relatively subdued in the opener. While Brown garnered plenty of defensive attention, Dallas Goedert and Jahan Dotson appeared to be the biggest beneficiaries, and Brown finally got on the board with a timely eight-yard grab with 1:51 remaining to set up a game-sealing Jalen Hurts four-yard scramble. Needless to say, stat lines like Thursday's should be few and far between for Brown this season, and he's a virtual lock to be exponentially more involved a Week 2 road Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Williams rushed 15 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns and secured two of three targets for 10 yards in the Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.

The offseason addition took the first play from scrimmage of the season for a seven-yard gain on his first regular-season carry in a Dallas uniform, a harbinger of what would be a strong debut -- albeit one that benefitted from Philadelphia star defensive tackle Jalen Carter getting ejected immediately after the opening kickoff. Williams would go on to cap off the opening possession with a one-yard touchdown run, and he added another one-yard score on the first play of the second quarter. Backfield mate Miles Sanders had the run of the night with a 49-yard scamper in the third quarter, but he'd go on to fumble at the Eagles' 10-yard line five plays later. Thursday's usage appears to indicate Williams will usually serve in the lead early-down role, and the Week 2 home opener against the Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14 will provide the next opportunity to see the backfield pecking order play out.