NFL Player News

Maye isn't in uniform in advance of Thursday's preseason game at the Giants, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Maye logged two drives apiece in both of the Patriots' first two exhibitions, completing seven of 12 passes for 58 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, rushing twice for 16 yards and a TD and losing a fumble. He thus has a number of reps under his belt ahead of his second campaign after throwing for 2,276 yards and a 15:10 TD:INT on 66.6 percent passing and turning 54 carries into 421 yards and two scores in 13 regular-season appearances (12 starts) as a rookie.

Howard (hand) isn't suited up for Thursday's preseason contest at Carolina, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Howard sustained a broken small bone in his right hand in practice on Aug. 5 and missed the Steelers' first two exhibitions as a result. Thursday's absence will make it a third in a row, meaning the rookie sixth-round pick likely is destined to kick off the campaign as the team's No. 3 QB behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

Warren is suited up ahead of Thursday's preseason game in Carolina, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Warren didn't play in the Steelers' first two exhibitions, so there's a chance he's getting a dress rehearsal of sorts ahead of the regular season. While he won't get a chance to work with new starting QB Aaron Rodgers, the breakdown of RB reps between Warren and rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson will worth monitoring, assuming the former gets on the field. Since going undrafted in 2022, Warren has one campaign with more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage on his resume (1,154 in 2023) and also has averaged 11.5 touches per game the past two seasons.

Austin (abdomen) isn't suited up ahead of Thursday's preseason game at Carolina, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Austin thus won't play during exhibition season due to an abdominal injury that has lingered since at least Aug. 3. The Steelers tinkered with the top of their receiving corps this offseason by swapping out George Pickens (Dallas) for DK Metcalf (Seattle), but Austin otherwise doesn't have much competition for WR reps behind Metcalf. The 2022 fourth-round pick put together a 36-548-4 line on 58 targets in 17 regular-season games last year.

Coach Dave Canales said Coker (illness) is slated to play in Thursday's preseason contest against the Steelers for "conditioning" purposes, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Coker sat out this past Saturday's exhibition versus the Texans due to an illness, so getting some reps Thursday appears to be on the docket for the 2024 undrafted rookie. Last season, he impressed with 32 catches (on 46 targets) for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 regular-season games. With Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring), Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen and Brycen Tremayne all out Thursday, Coker will be in the mix for WR reps along with Hunter Renfrow, David Moore and Jimmy Horn.

Legette isn't slated to suit up for Thursday's preseason game versus the Steelers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Legette started both of Carolina's first two exhibitions, combining for 17 offensive snaps and no targets in those appearances. The 2024 first-round pick is coming off a rookie campaign in which he compiled a 49-497-4 line on 84 targets across 16 regular-season games. Legette will be joined on the sidelines by fellow WRs Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring), Adam Thielen and Brycen Tremayne, leaving the likes of Jalen Coker (illness), Hunter Renfrow, David Moore and Jimmy Horn as the potential options at the position Thursday. Legette's next chance for game action will come Week 1 at Jacksonville on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Dalton (elbow) isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Steelers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Dalton injured his right elbow last Saturday versus the Texans and eventually was diagnosed with a muscle strain in his elbow area. Carolina already wasn't playing its starters in the exhibition finale, but a number of key reserves like Dalton also won't be available. He'll now focus his attention to getting healthy for a Week 1 road matchup with the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 7, while Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins will direct this offense Thursday with Bryce Young also in street clothes.

Cooper (undisclosed) was waived with an injury designation Thursday, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.

Cooper's set to miss the 2025 season after this move. The cornerback out of Oregon State spent time with Baltimore's and Seattle's practice squads in 2024.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Thursday that Nix and the starters will play 8-10 snaps in Saturday's preseason finale against the Saints, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.

Payton is simply confirming the plan he'd previously set out for Denver's preseason finale. Nix played early into the second quarter of the Broncos' preseason opener then sat out the team's second exhibition matchup. He'll get a chance to play one or two drives Saturday with a wide receiver corps that saw Devaughn Vele depart for New Orleans via trade Wednesday, leading to Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Trent Sherfield climbing the depth chart.

Beal (groin) returned to practice Thursday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Beal was hurt in San Francisco's preseason opener against Denver on Aug. 9 and missed the team's second preseason game against the Raiders this past Saturday. He could suit up for this upcoming Saturday's preseason finale against the Chargers, in which Beal will look to solidify his standing as a depth pass rushing option ahead of the 49ers' cutdown to 53 players on the roster for the regular season.