NFL Player News

Helm hauled in all four of his targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 23-20 preseason win over the Falcons.

The rookie tight end scored his first touchdown of the preseason when he took a 25-yard pass from backup QB Brandon Allen to the house. Helm has performed well through two preseason contests with five receptions for 64 yards, including Friday's touchdown. The fourth-round selection will look to finish the exhibition schedule off on a high note against Minnesota next Friday before opening the regular season as the Titans' No. 2 tight end.

Dike failed to bring in either of his targets in Friday's 23-20 preseason win over the Falcons.

Dike got some run with Cameron Ward and the rest of the first-team offense Friday after entering with the second unit against Tampa Bay last week. The fourth-round rookie failed to haul in either of the targets hurled his way by Ward, giving Dike just one reception through two exhibition contests. The Florida product seems to be sitting behind Van Jefferson and fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor in the WR pecking order as the regular season inches closer.

Ayomanor corralled two of four targets for 47 yards while adding two yards on one rush attempt in Friday's 23-20 preseason win over the Falcons.

Ayomanor made a big splash early in the contest when he took a short pass from Cameron Ward and scampered down the field for 35 yards. The 2025 fourth-round pick started Friday's exhibition alongside Van Jefferson (zero catches on two targets) with veteran starters Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett sitting this one out. Ayomanor continues to get significant looks with the first-team offense this preseason as he closes in on a third or fourth receiver role.

Walker tweaked his groin in practice Wednesday and didn't play in Friday's preseason loss to Tennessee, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

The Falcons expect Walker to return to practice next week, so he doesn't seem to be dealing with a long-term injury. The rookie first-round draft pick logged 19 defensive snaps in Atlanta's first preseason contest against Detroit and recorded one tackle. He's being counted on to provide a boost to the Falcons' pass rush, which tallied the second-fewest sacks in the league last year.

Ward completed two of seven pass attempts for 42 yards with no touchdowns, turnovers or rushing attempts in Friday's 23-20 preseason win over Atlanta.

Ward wound up starting three offensive drives that all resulted in punts for Tennessee in Friday's exhibition. While the rookie's stat line was underwhelming, it is worth noting that he was without the services of top offensive weapons Calvin Ridley (rest) and Tony Pollard (rest). Fill-in WR Van Jefferson dropped a beautifully thrown deep ball from Ward in the first quarter that could have changed the context of his outing. It is unclear how many drives the Titans plan to have Ward play in the team's preseason finale against the Vikings next Friday, but the 2025 No. 1 overall pick is slated to start for his new club Week 1.

GM John Schneider said Seahawks starters, including Smith-Njigba, are in line to play one or two series during Friday's preseason contest against the Chiefs, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Coach Mike Macdonald already announced Wednesday that QB Sam Darnold was slated to suit up in preseason Week 2, and the likes of Smith-Njigba seem poised to join him. Smith-Njigba sat out the Seahawks' first exhibition Aug. 7, but he and newcomer Cooper Kupp are expected to experience their first game action together Friday. With DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh) and Tyler Lockett (Tennessee) in different locales ahead of the current campaign, Smith-Njigba is set to lead Seattle's passing game on the heels of a 100-1,130-6 line on 137 targets in 17 regular-season games in 2024.

Mixon (foot/ankle) isn't a lock to be ready for the Texans' Week 1 road matchup with the Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Mixon missed the offseason program and then kicked off training camp on the active/non-football injury list due to foot and ankle issues, the former of which is the primary reason for his continued absence, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. In his debut campaign with Houston in 2024, Mixon racked up 281 touches for 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns in 14 regular-season games, marking the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season and third with double-digit TDs of his eight-year career. As long as Mixon is sidelined, veterans Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale and rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks will be the options out of the Texans backfield.

Evans is tending to a hamstring injury, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.

Evans presumably picked up the issue during a training camp practice, and now his availability for Sunday's preseason contest at Chicago is in question. If he can't play in that game, it could mean more snaps for Frank Gore.

The Browns are cautiously optimistic that Sanders (oblique) could return to practice next week and play in the team's preseason finale, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Per Pelissero, Sanders, who the Browns are calling day-to-day, won't play Saturday against the Eagles, but the 2025 fifth-rounder could be available Aug. 23 against the Rams. For now, veteran QB Joe Flacco is the front-runner to draw the Week 1 start for Cleveland, but Sanders, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) will all have a chance to compete for depth-chart slotting once they are healthy.

While Rice has a Sept. 30 disciplinary hearing with the NFL scheduled, it's still possible that a settlement could be reached before the season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Per the report, the NFL initially proposed a suspension that would sideline Rice for over half of the coming season, but as things stand and based on the timing of his scheduled hearing, the wideout is currently in a position to be available for the first four games of the regular season. His situation could change, however, if a settlement is reached. In any case, Pelissero notes that the expectation is that Rice, who returned to practice earlier this week, will be suspended for a portion of the 2025 season, but in that scenario, how long remains to be seen.