NFL Player News

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Evans will not join the rest of the starting offense in suiting up for Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Evans remains healthy, by all accounts, but Tampa Bay will opt to rest the veteran wideout for a second consecutive preseason contest. It remains to be seen whether Evans will be in consideration to suit up for the Buccaneers' preseason finale against Buffalo on Saturday, Aug. 23, a game that will occur just days after his 32nd birthday. Chris Godwin (ankle) remains on the active/PUP list, but Baker Mayfield will have the benefit of calling upon both rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka and second-year pro Jalen McMillan versus Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield and every starter on offense aside from Mike Evans will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield will be without not only Evans, who will rest Saturday, but also Chris Godwin (ankle), who remains on the active/PUP list without a clear timetable to return as he works his way back from surgery undergone to address a dislocated left ankle. Tampa Bay's impressive pass-catching depth will still leave Mayfield with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan at his disposal Saturday, however, with TE Cade Otton (hamstring) also potentially ready to return to action.

Fitzpatrick (undisclosed) was waived by the Chargers with an injury designation Thursday.

Fitzpatrick spent most of the 2024 season on the Chargers' practice squad and he'll revert to the team's injured reserve if he goes unclaimed on waivers. The 27-year-old wide receiver has appeared in seven regular-season games.

Downs left Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

The report notes that Downs walked off under his own power, but the wideout's status for Saturday's preseason contest against the Packers nonetheless is worth monitoring. Consider Downs day-to-day for now.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Howell will start Saturday's preseason game against the Patriots.

Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and rushed four times for two yards and a touchdown during Minnesota's preseason opener against Houston, which he entered after J.J. McCarthy started the first drive. Top wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) won't be available Saturday, but Jordan Addison (suspension) remains eligible to suit up for preseason action despite having to delay his regular-season debut until Week 4. It seems more likely than not, though, that O'Connell will sit the rest of Minnesota's starters alongside McCarthy.

Prosecutors have declined to file a formal misdemeanor battery charge against Judkins stemming from a July 12 incident in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

As a result of the incident, Judkins was arrested on a domestic violence and battery charge, but Andy Slater of FoxSports640 notes that prosecutors have declined to move forward with the case. Judkins, who the Browns selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, remains unsigned ahead of Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles, with NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy noting Thursday that the league has "been following developments in the matter which remains under review."

Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Stafford (back) will work out on Saturday, similarly to what he did before sitting out Los Angeles' preseason opener last weekend, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Stafford hasn't yet practiced this week, despite McVay having indicated after a positive workout last Saturday, Aug. 9, that the veteran quarterback was on track to handle individual drills. "Hopefully [Stafford's back] responds a little bit better" after this coming workout, McVay said. That Stafford is set to reprise a similar workout plan confirms expectations that he'll sit out Saturday's preseason matchup against the Chargers, with the Rams likely hoping he returns to the field in at least a limited fashion next week to begin ramping up for Week 1 against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7. Regardless of McVay's apparent confidence that Stafford will be ready for the regular season, however, the early-round ADPs of wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams could continue to slide until fantasy managers are able to see Stafford retake the practice field without setbacks.

Cine (groin) isn't practicing Thursday, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

This is a new injury for Cine, who dealt with a hamstring injury earlier this month but suited up for last Thursday's preseason opener against the Bengals. His status for the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Browns is up in the air.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that McCarthy will not suit up for Saturday's preseason contest against New England.

McCarthy played one drive during Minnesota's preseason opener against the Texans, completing four of seven passes for 30 yards while rushing once for eight yards, but Sam Howell will get the start versus the Patriots. During the Vikings' exhibition finale versus Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 22, McCarthy could get a chance to handle more reps. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) remains absent from practice but will be re-evaluated next week, while Jordan Addison (suspension) will be eligible to play the remainder of the preseason but will begin the regular season with a three-game suspension.

Ifedi (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.

Ifedi signed with the Dolphins earlier in August but won't suit up for the team in 2025 after being moved to season-ending injured reserve. He has 117 games of regular-season NFL experience, including 15 games with the Browns in 2024.