NFL Player News

The Chargers waived Castles on Wednesday.

Castles didn't see any action in last week's Hall of Fame Game against the Lions and will now look for an opportunity elsewhere.

Lovett (abdomen) is expected to be sidelined for one to two weeks, Benjamin Raven of MLive.com reports.

"Lovett may be 10 days," coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday. "I mean it's just going to take a minute." The seventh-round rookie wide receiver was injured in practice earlier this week after playing 36 offensive snaps in last week's Hall of Fame Game against the Chargers, where Lovett collected five catches for 31 yards on nine targets. He's certain to miss Friday's preseason contest against the Falcons.

The Texans waived Johnson (arm) with an injury designation Wednesday.

Johnson had his arm in a sling at practice Wednesday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The 26-year-old Johnson has been in the Texans' organization for the last three years and spent the entirety of 2024 on the team's practice squad. Once he clears waivers, Johnson will revert to the Texans' injured reserve list.

Wilson (concussion) is participating in practice Wednesday while wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

Wilson is progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol, which he entered Friday after a collision with teammate Budda Baker. He'll need to gain full clearance before being eligible to appear in preseason action, making Wilson's status uncertain for Saturday's game against the Chiefs. Meanwhile, top wide receiver Marvin Harrison returned to practice Tuesday.

Hockenson (leg/hip/back) will practice Wednesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Hockenson exited Saturday's practice with a noticeable limp, and then didn't practice Monday due to a combination of leg, hip and back injuries. He may operate only in a limited capacity Wednesday, but he'll have another session Thursday before the team will need to make a decision regarding whether he takes the field along with second-year QB J.J. McCarthy for Saturday's preseason game against the Texans.

Jefferson (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

The Vikings continue to take a cautious approach with Jefferson as he recovers from the mild left hamstring strain that he sustained July 24. As recently as last Friday, though, he was spotted working out with trainers on a side field, indicating he at least has made some progress. Whether or not Jefferson makes an appearance in the preseason may be contingent on second-year QB J.J. McCarthy getting into another exhibition beyond this Saturday's matchup with the Texans. Ultimately, ensuring Jefferson is healthy by Week 1 is Minnesota's primary priority.

Taylor should get an extended look this preseason after primary backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) suffered a multi-week injury in training camp.

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that Guerendo is expected to miss a couple of weeks after injuring his shoulder in practice this past weekend. That opens the door for Taylor and rookie Jordan James to see extended run for the 49ers in Saturday's preseason opener against the Broncos, with the team likely limiting or sitting starter Christian McCaffrey for the exhibition. The 27-year-old Taylor produced a 39-183-1 rushing line as a reserve with San Francisco last season, a role he will be competing for once again in 2025.

Smith (knee) is participating in Wednesday's non-padded practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Even if the practice is just a walk-through, it's a good sign for Smith to be participating in any capacity just one day after exiting early due to knee soreness. A quick return to the field supports coach Mike Tomlin's statement from Tuesday that the knee issue didn't look serious. The real concern for Smith's fantasy value remains target share, with Pat Freiermuth offering fierce competition for snaps in single-TE formations.

Harvey is listed fifth on Denver's initial preseason depth chart even though he's been repping as the No. 2 RB in practice, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

Multiple Denver beat writers have noted that coach Sean Payton almost always puts rookies at the bottom of the depth chart. Reports out of practice tell a different story than what's printed, with J.K. Dobbins atop the rotation and Harvey typically the second man up. The real question is how work will be split between the two come Week 1, although there is some chance Jaleel McLaughlin or one of the other depth backs poaches a few touches here and there. While Harvey is the clear choice in terms of explosiveness at this point in their respective careers, Dobbins has experience as an NFL starter and a solid reputation for pass blocking. That's seemingly enough to make Dobbins a favorite for the Week 1 start, even if Harvey remains the more attractive fantasy asset for the season-long haul.

Rice (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com, Rice was present for Wednesday's session but worked with trainers off to the side. It remains to be seen, however, if the wideout will see any action in Saturday's preseason opener against the Cardinals. Beyond that, Nate Taylor of ESPN previously noted that Rice said that he hasn't been told by the NFL whether he'll be suspended (stemming from his role in a multi-car crash that occurred in Dallas during the 2024 offseason) at some point during the 2025 season.