NFL Player News

Chubb (concussion), who handled the bulk of first-team reps during joint practices with the Panthers on Thursday, is expected to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against Carolina, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Chubb, who has now fully cleared the concussion protocol, has handled the bulk of first-team reps throughout training camp with Joe Mixon (lower leg) still on the active/non-football injury list. He's split those reps with Dameon Pierce, who was held out of Thursday's joint practice and appears on track to get a rest day Saturday. Chubb made a handful of explosive plays at practice Thursday, an encouraging development given that he's coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. A strong showing versus Carolina would boost Chubb's standing in Houston's backfield, wherein he, Pierce, and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks are all working to make their case for the Week 1 starting gig in the event that Mixon isn't ready to go.

Hunter didn't participate in Friday's walk-through due to an upper-body injury, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Per Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL 92.5 FM Jacksonville, coach Liam Coen noted that Hunter was held out of the session as a precaution. With that in mind, it's unclear if the WR/CB will see action in Sunday's preseason contest against the Saints. For now, consider Hunter day-to-day.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday he doesn't plan to play the starters, including Waddle, during Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Waddle sat out Miami's preseason opener due to a collision that occurred during joint practices with the Bears, but he returned to practice this week and has participated in team drills against Detroit. He'll need to wait until the Dolphins' preseason finale against the Jaguars on Sat., Aug. 23, however, for a chance to see exhibition reps. Meanwhile, Tyreek Hill (oblique) has not yet returned to practice.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he doesn't plan to play Tagovailoa and most starters during Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

Tagovailoa played one drive during Miami's preseason opener against the Bears, completing five of six passes for 27 yards, but he'll rest during the team's second exhibition matchup. Instead, backup Zach Wilson will get the start Saturday while rookie Quinn Ewers enters in relief. Jaylen Waddle returned to team drills this week, but top wideout Tyreek Hill (oblique) remained sidelined Thursday.

Kirk was a standout at joint practices with the Panthers on Thursday and has locked up the No. 2 wide receiver role behind Nico Collins, Cole Thompson of USA Today reports.

Kirk has demonstrated chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud throughout training camp, and per Thompson, he's clearly been the Texans' most consistent wide receiver other than Collins. While it's possible Kirk that rookie wideouts Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third round) are able to build steam down the stretch of the regular season and provide increased target competition, at minimum Kirk is positioned to open Week 1 in a valuable starting role as one of Stroud's top reads, and likely while dominating slot reps. Kirk is entering his age-29 campaign and is playing for a new contract.

Willis is positioned to start Saturday's preseason game against the Colts with Jordan Love (thumb) recovering from surgery undergone to address a ligament injury, Jacob Slinkman of SI reports.

Willis' growth as he enters Year 2 in coach Matt LaFleur's scheme will be interesting to monitor, especially after he managed to impress with two early-season wins when called upon to step up under center in 2024 (one of which came Week 2 versus Indianapolis). He'll be tasked with overcoming injuries to the wide receiver corps during Saturday's exhibition tilt, however, with Jayden Reed (foot), Romeo Doubs (back) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) all having missed practice Thursday. The Packers expect Love to resume practicing next week, and the team hasn't expressed any concerns about his status for Week 1.

Turner (ankle) is participating in Friday's practice, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Turner suffered an ankle injury on the first day of training camp and has missed not only the last three weeks of practice, but also Chicago's preseason opener against Miami. The rookie second-round pick will have two more chances to suit up for exhibition action, first Sunday against the Bills, then during the Bears' preseason finale against Kansas City on Friday, Aug. 22.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Friday that Bass (pelvis) is "moving in the right direction" and hopes he'll be available for the team's preseason finale against Tampa Bay on Sat., Aug. 23, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.

Bass will practice in a limited capacity Friday, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports, but he'll sit out Sunday's preseason matchup against the Bears as Buffalo continues to take a cautious approach to his recovery. Caden Davis will continue to handle first-team kicker duties for the Bills until Bass is fully cleared.

Stone (undisclosed) is participating in Friday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Stone has already been ruled out for Cincinnati's second preseason game, and that doesn't figure to change despite his return to practice. As he enters the final season of his two-year, $14 million contract, Stone remains positioned to reprise a starting role at safety, making it the Bengals' priority that he enters Week 1 at 100 percent health.

Samuel (hamstring) will be limited at practice Friday, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.

Samuel continues to manage a hamstring issue, but his participation in Friday's session is step in the right direction for the wideout, who is competing for targets in a Buffalo WR corps that's led by Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman and also includes Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore. Samuel seems more likely to get snaps in the Bills' Aug. 23 preseason finale than Sunday's contest against the Bears.