NFL Player News

Harris (eye) doesn't have an injury designation for Friday's game against the Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Harris was on track to play in the season opener, and after the running back logged three consecutive full practices this week, Harbaugh's prediction has now come to pass. Per Smith, Harbaugh wasn't willing to go into specifics regarding how extensively Harris might be used Friday, though he told Rich Eisen of ESPN in a pre-broadcast meeting that rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton would draw the start over Harris, according to Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com. Harris is still expected to have a role in the Chargers' game plan, but the uncertainty of his snap and touch counts after he missed all of training camp and the preseason while recovering from a superficial eye injury make it difficult to depend on him as an option in Week 1 fantasy lineups.

Johnson (foot) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's practice estimate.

Johnson sat out the Bears' entire preseason slate due to a foot injury, and his listed DNP on Thursday may be an ominous sign for his availability Week 1 and potentially beyond that point. He'll have two more opportunities to mix into drills ahead of Monday's game against the Vikings, but even if he's able to suit up, he may remain a distant third for reps out of Chicago's backfield behind D'Andre Swift and rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai (hamstring), the latter of whom was tagged as limited Thursday.

Gordon (hamstring) is not listed on Thursday's injury report.

Gordon has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss time early in training camp. He can be considered fully on track to start at slot cornerback during Monday night's regular-season opener at home against the Vikings.

Williams (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Since coming down with a hamstring injury Aug. 19, Williams was sidelined until returning to the field Wednesday with a cap on his reps. He maintained that activity level one day later, giving himself just one more chance to return to full Friday before the Packers potentially make a ruling on his availability for Week 1. If he's able to suit up Sunday against the Lions and Jayden Reed (foot) and/or Dontayvion Wicks (calf) are limited or sidelined, Williams would be in line for an elevated snap count behind the top healthy WR duo of Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs.

Monangai (hamstring) was listed as limited on Thursday's practice estimate.

Monangai was tagged as limited Thursday after having missed Chicago's preseason finale, while No. 2 running back Roschon Johnson (foot) was a DNP. The statuses of both Monangai and Johnson will need to be monitored heading into Monday night's Week 1 matchup at home against the Vikings, as starter D'Andre Swift currently stands as the Bears' only fully healthy backfield option.

Boutte projects to start on the outside opposite Stefon Diggs against the Raiders on Sunday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

DeMario Douglas is set to handle slot duties, with Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism on hand to provide depth in New England's wide receiver room. The Patriots figure to rely primarily on the ground game, but Boutte's role in the offense opposite Diggs could give him some occasional fantasy utility.

Noel could see an expanded opportunity Sunday against the Rams, as both Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are dealing with hamstring injuries, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Noel could work in the slot if Kirk sits out, while fellow Iowa State rookie Jayden Higgins starts on the outside opposite Nico Collins. If Berrios doesn't play, Noel could also add punt return responsibilities to his ledger. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Kirk is expected to miss 1-2 weeks as a result of his hamstring injury.

Johnson (calf/groin) was listed as limited on Thursday's practice estimate.

Johnson was forced to sit out all of training camp and the preseason due to a lingering groin injury, so it's encouraging to see him 'limited' as he works to gain clearance for Week 1. The Pro Bowl cornerback will have two more chances to upgrade his activity level ahead of Monday night's home opener against the Vikings.

Edwards (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's estimated injury report.

Edwards will have two more chances to upgrade his activity level ahead of Monday's regular-season opener at home against the Vikings. It's unclear if his current hamstring injury is the same soft-tissue lower-body issue that forced him to miss time earlier in training camp. If healthy, Edwards is expected to handle a starting role in Chicago's linebacker corps Week 1.

Wicks (calf) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Wicks is one of three Packers wide receivers to operate with a cap on his reps Thursday, the others being Jayden Reed (foot) and Savion Williams (hamstring). Reed actually returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday as he tends to a Jones fracture in his left foot, which has left his status up in the air for Week 1. In the end, Friday's injury report will provide a sense of each players' odds to suit up Sunday against the Lions, though an absent Reed and/or Williams could hand Wicks a higher target share than expected to begin the campaign.