NFL Player News

The Panthers are trading Thielen to the Vikings for an exchange of Day 3 draft picks in 2026 and 2027, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The trade has been rumored for a week, with the teams finally able to work out terms Wednesday. The Panthers get a 2026 fifth-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick, while the Vikings get a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Thielen, 35, could be in Minnesota's starting lineup soon, with Jordan Addison suspended for Weeks 1-3 and Justin Jefferson (hamstring), Jalen Nailor (hand) and Tai Felton (arm) all dealing with injuries this summer. Jefferson, at least, is expected to be ready for Week 1 at Chicago after returning to practice last week. Thielen played alongside Jefferson from 2020 to 2022, scoring 30 TDs in 45 regular-season games despite modest production otherwise (70.3 catches for 789.0 yards on 103.3 targets per season). The Vikings are 1.5-point road favorites on Monday Night Football in NFL betting.

TeSlaa's strong performance in training camp and the preseason contributed to Detroit's decision to trade Tim Patrick to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the Lions' preseason finale 26-7 loss to Houston, in which TeSlaa caught both his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown, that the 2025 third-round pick is "going to have some growing pains" but that "we're very pleased with where he's at after six weeks of camp" and "if you took most receivers, he'd be in the upper echelon of those, as far as development" at this stage of his rookie season. Patrick operated as the No. 3 receiver for Detroit much of last season, and his departure now leaves that role up immediately for grabs between TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Tuesday that Frazier will remain on the reserve/non-football injury list the entire 2025 campaign for a "personal" reason, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.

Frazier has been sidelined since spring workouts due to the same issue that will now cause him to miss his entire rookie campaign. Poles said that the 2025 fifth-round pick will participate in meetings, work in the weight room and meet with Chicago's medical staff this season, however, in order to prepare for the 2026 campaign.

The Lions are trading Patrick to Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

This seemingly clears the way for rookie Isaac TeSlaa to become Detroit's No. 3 receiver after scoring three touchdowns during the preseason. Patrick, meanwhile, likely will start off fifth on Jacksonville's depth chart at wide receiver behind Brian Thomas, Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown and Parker Washington.

Shavers has made the Bills' initial 53-man roster.

The 2022 undrafted free agent is listed as the sixth receiver on the depth chart, so he still has a long way to go to hit the fantasy radar. However, Shavers is coming off a preseason that was as strong as any receiver in the league. With Khalil Shakir (ankle) and Curtis Samuel (hamstring) still banged up, Shavers could start to work his way toward meaningful game action.

Bachie looks set to start opposite Zaire Franklin at linebacker, The Athletic reports.

The Colts mostly use a two-linebacker formation, so Bachie will be a key defender in Indy's defensive scheme. He only started two games in his first five seasons. Segun Olubi and Cameron McGrone made the 53-man roster as backup linebackers.

Brents was waived by Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Star reports.

It's somewhat surprising the Colts released the 2023 second-round pick since it will incur a dead cap hit of more than $2.6 million and with the Colts struggling with injuries in the secondary in the preseason. Injuries have limited Brents to just 11 games the past two seasons, and he missed much of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Price will begin the season as Minnesota's punt returner and reserve wide receiver, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Price was an undrafted free agent from Indiana who likely made the team because of Rondale Moore's season-ending knee injury. He's unlikely to get many snaps on offense, however.

Chandler made Minnesota's 53-man roster. However, it's not clear whether Chandler or Zavier Scott will work as the No. 3 running back, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

It's also not clear if Chandler or Tai Felton will work as the kick returner. Chandler was on the roster bubble and could still lose his spot once C.J. Ham returns from injured reserve.

Van Pran-Granger (undisclosed) was activated from the active/PUP list by Buffalo on Tuesday, Chris Brown of the Bills' Radio Network reports.

Van Pran-Granger will be an active part of the team's initial 53-man roster in 2025. The 23-year-old had been dealing with an undisclosed injury during training camp, but he's now all set to serve as the team's primary backup center behind Connor McGovern to open the season.