NFL Player News

Hill (oblique) returned to practice Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Thursday that Hill is expected to suit up Week 1 versus the Colts, and the veteran wideout is now back on the practice field for the first time in roughly three weeks. Per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, McDaniel said "everything looks great" regarding Hill's return to practice, though the veteran wideout is only handling limited activity. Expect the Dolphins to ramp up Hill's on-field reps gradually as the regular-season opener on the road against Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 7 approaches.

The 49ers have signed Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad, not the 53-man roster, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Valdes-Scantling could still contribute for San Francisco as early as Week 1 versus the Seahawks, given the team will be without wideouts Brandon Aiyuk (knee/PUP), Demarcus Robinson (suspension) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring/IR), and Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jordan Watkins (ankle) both also appear uncertain. As a member of the practice squad, however, Valdes-Scantling will be eligible to be elevated for a maximum of three games before the 49ers are forced to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster. Last season, Valdes-Scantling managed to step in and contribute for the Saints with minimal prep time after he was released by the Bills.

Gordon looks set for a chance to immediately contribute on offense Week 1 versus the Colts, with De'Von Achane (calf) expected to play but Jaylen Wright (leg) a candidate to miss multiple weeks after undergoing surgery, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Gordon is fresh off an impressive preseason and is currently the only healthy running back on Miami's active roster, though Achane is expected to be ready for Week 1 despite not having practiced since Aug. 16. The team has added a pair of depth backfield options to the practice squad in Jeff Wilson and JaMycal Hasty, but after looking like the Dolphins' best running back in three consecutive preseason games, Gordon should be the favorite to handle any additional available backfield reps Week 1. If Achane ends up limited in practice leading up to the regular-season opener, it's possible Gordon is tasked with a significant workload.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday that Hill (oblique), who remained sidelined at practice Wednesday, is on track to suit up Week 1 on the road against Indianapolis, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Hill has scarcely taken the practice field since early August due to a lingering oblique injury, but Miami expects that he and fellow key starter De'Von Achane (calf) will be available for the regular-season opener. New tight end Darren Waller, who spent most of the preseason working on his conditioning, took part in team drills Wednesday, so quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seems on track to have his full assortment of pass-catchers available Week 1. That said, it may not be until next week's official practice reports are released that fantasy managers are provided clearer insight on whether or not Hill could be limited in any capacity to kick off the 2025 campaign.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday that Wright (leg) is recovering from surgery and is expected to miss multiple weeks, including the team's Sept. 7 opener versus the Colts, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

McDaniel said Wright underwent a "small procedure," adding that the running back is expected to return to action around "Septemberish," per C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. As such, the Dolphins seemingly don't consider Wright to be a candidate for injured reserve, which would force him to miss at least four games of the season. De'Von Achane (calf) remains on track for Week 1, and rookie sixth-round pick Ollie Gordon will be in position to kick off the season as the clear No. 2 backfield option with Wright unavailable. The team also signed Jeff Wilson and JaMycal Hasty to the practice squad.

The Steelers placed Howard (hand) on injured reserve Thursday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Howard will have to miss at least the first four games of the regular season as he works his way back from a fractured bone in his left hand suffered during practice Aug. 5. That injury caused him to miss the entire preseason. Once healthy, the rookie sixth-round pick figures to operate as Pittsburgh's emergency No. 3 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

Reed (foot) has a Jones fracture in his left foot but plans to play through the injury this season, Jason Wilde of CBS Madison reports.

Reed returned to practice Wednesday after resting for three weeks, acknowledging afterward that he wasn't 100 percent and was still "working through" the injury. It's an issue that often requires surgery and a multi-month timeline for rehab/recovery in such a scenario. He'll thus try to avoid surgery, or at least delay it until the offseason, but his fantasy value plunges with the added injury risk (and possibility of reduced performance or limited workloads). Reed intends to play Week 1, although Green Bay's medical staff has a reputation for being cautious with injured players. He's participating in Thursday's padded practice scrimmage, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

The Packers are one and a half-point favorites over the Lions at online sports betting sites. 

Carolina signed Hooker to the practice squad Thursday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Hooker was waived by Detroit on Monday, and the 2023 third-round pick will now get a chance to restart his development with the Panthers as an reserve option at quarterback on the practice squad, behind starter Bryce Young and backup Andy Dalton. He could operate as Carolina's emergency No. 3 quarterback this season.

Muma was claimed off waivers from the Jaguars on Wednesday, the Indianapolis Star reports.

Muma will back up Joe Bachie at linebacker. Muma worked in a reserve role at Jacksonville, with 322 of his 563 total snaps coming on special teams.

Epps and the Eagles agreed on a contract Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Epps will head to Philadelphia after being released by the Patriots on Tuesday. The safety spent the last two seasons in Las Vegas, recording 85 total tackles (57 solo), while also adding three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 20 total contests. Prior to joining the Raiders, Epps was with the Eagles from 2019 to 2022, and he will now likely operate as the top reserve option behind Reed Blankenship in 2025.