NFL Player News

Smith (knee) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith missed time early August due to a knee injury, but he returned to practice Aug. 20 and is now at full health as Sunday's regular-season opener against the Jets approaches. Fresh off a career-best campaign in which he tallied an 88-884-8 receiving line across 17 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins, Smith is now positioned to work alongside Pat Freiermuth as one of the Steelers' top tight ends. While the Steelers don't have much in the way of proven pass-catches for quarterback Aaron Rodgers behind WR DK Metcalf, the fact that Smith and Freiermuth will split snaps is a notable barrier to either tight end surfacing as a consistent weekly fantasy option.

Otton (groin) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Otton sustained a hamstring injury early in training camp, got back on the practice field as of Aug. 11 and played in preseason Week 2, when he didn't gather in either of his two targets. He then came down with a leg issue last Wednesday that now has been confirmed as a groin concern. Otton's status thus bears monitoring as the week goes on to get a sense of his chances to suit up Sunday in Atlanta.

Hopkins (knee) isn't on the Week 1 injury report.

Hopkins missed a bit of practice time here and there but was mostly available for training camp. He'll likely be the No. 3 receiver for Sunday's game at Buffalo, although the role could entail far more snaps than is typical for Baltimore's offense depending on the health of TE Isaiah Likely (ankle) and FB Patrick Ricard (calf). Likely isn't expected to play, while Ricard's availability is unknown.

Gesicki (hamstring) is not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Gesicki missed much of August due to a hamstring injury, which gave Noah Fant an opportunity to handle expanded first-team reps at tight end, but he's back to full health ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener on the road against Cleveland. With premier target hogs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins atop the wide receiver depth chart and backfield mates Chase Brown and Samaje Perine both boasting a three-down skillset, Gesicki has a difficult path to earning consistent target volume on a weekly basis, especially with Fant now offering competition. He is still, however, the favorite to lead the Bengals' tight end position in targets after having inked a three-year, $25.5 million extension with the team this offseason.

White (groin) wasn't listed on the Buccaneers' first Week 1 practice report Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

White emerged from preseason Week 1 action with a groin injury, after which coach Todd Bowles said at the time made the running back "day-to-day," per Scott Smith of the team's official site. It's unclear if Wednesday's uncapped session marks White's first since then, but he now has a clean bill of health ahead of Sunday's game in Atlanta, when he'll be working in a complementary role behind No. 1 RB Bucky Irving. Such a gig amounted to 10.1 touches per game for White after Tampa Bay's Week 11 bye last season, but only 20 touches total over the final four contests, including a wild-card loss to the Commanders.

Jackson (foot) isn't on the Week 1 injury report.

As expected, after Jackson was mostly healthy throughout the offseason and training camp, with his lone interruption being a minor foot injury in late August. He was merely stepped on, and returned to practice a few days later, giving him two full weeks to get ready for Sunday's revenge matchup at Buffalo. The official injury report confirms Jackson is at full strength heading into the regular season.

Parsons (back) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

It's been a whirlwind summer for Parsons, whose trade from Dallas to Green Bay was followed in short order by reports about his back injury being a major concern. The Cowboys reportedly had him on a five-day plan of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid before the trade, and there's now a chance Parsons will use epidural injections to play through the joint sprain in his back. Whatever the case, Parsons was in full pads doing individual drills Wednesday during the brief portion of practice open to media. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur conveyed uncertainty Wednesday when reporters asked him about Parsons' potential availability this Sunday against Detroit, Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com reports.

Waller (hip) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

Waller is officially listed with a hip injury, though coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that the veteran tight end hasn't had any injury setbacks and is simply on a ramp-up schedule, per Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site. McDaniel said Waller, who missed time early in training camp while working on his conditioning, will retake the practice field Thursday. Waller still appears on track for Sunday's regular-season opener on the road at Indianapolis, but how extensive a snap share he'll be ready for Week 1 remains to be seen.

Love (thumb) officially was a full practice participant Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Matt LaFleur announced that Love was handling every practice rep as of last Wednesday after the quarterback underwent a procedure for a ligament injury in his left thumb following preseason Week 1. According to Demovsky, Love continued to wear a brace on the thumb in question this Wednesday, but he told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic afterward that it isn't limiting him, and that he'll be able to hand off normally Sunday versus the Lions. Love thus is set for his first game action with rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden this weekend, but there's a chance WR Jayden Reed isn't available due to a Jones fracture in his left foot that kept him off the field to start Week 1 prep.

Achane (calf) was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice report, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

Achane said at practice Wednesday that he feels back to 100 percent health, per David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, so the Dolphins may simply still be taking a cautious approach to the undersized playmaker's recovery. With Mike McDaniel having said Monday that he still expects Achane to suit up Sunday on the road against Indianapolis, it sounds like the 23-year-old will be on track to play Week 1 even if he's officially listed as "questionable" on Friday's injury report. Jaylen Wright (leg) didn't practice Wednesday and appears set to miss time, so Ollie Gordon looks positioned as the No. 2 backfield option behind Achane versus the Colts.