NFL Player News

The Bears signed Ismail to the practice squad Wednesday.

The Bears waived Ismail during Sunday's cut-down day. The tight end cleared waivers and will return to the team's practice squad, where he spent the end of the 2026 season. Ismail has yet to suit up for an NFL regular-season game.

Schultz did not play in any of the Texans' three preseason games.

Schultz, wide receiver Nico Collins and running back David Montgomery were some of the offensive starters that did not participate in preseason games, with quarterback C.J. Stroud seeing minimal action against the Raiders on Aug. 20. Schultz is coming off a productive 2025 regular season, setting a career high with 82 catches, while his 777 yards were his most since the 2021 campaign with the Cowboys (808 yards). Jayden Higgins (knee) will miss the entire 2026 season, and with Tank Dell (knee) opening the season on injured reserve, Schultz and Collins figure to be the go-to targets for Stroud in the passing game.

Baltimore signed Vannett to its practice squad Wednesday, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site reports.

The veteran Vannett worked with the Seahawks during training camp, but he missed the cut for their initial 53-man roster, and he'll now begin the season as a practice squadder in Baltimore. Barring an injury to one of the four tight ends on the Ravens' current depth chart, it doesn't seem likely Vannett will see much game action in 2026.

Stewart (knee) participated in Cincinnati's practice Wednesday, Yanni Tragellis of CBS reports.

Stewart returned to practice for the first time since hyperextending his knee late last month. While the 2025 first-round pick's status for the team's Week 1 matchup versus Tampa Bay is still up in the air, his presence would provide a big boost to the Bengals' defense if he manages to suit up.

Prescott didn't log any snaps during the Cowboys' three-game preseason schedule.

Prescott has had WR CeeDee Lamb to throw to since 2020, but the addition of George Pickens during the 2025 offseason helped the quarterback rack up the second-most passing yards in a season (4,552) of his 10-year career. Additionally, Prescott also tossed 30 TDs for the fourth time among his career-high 600 pass attempts. Dallas likely would like that latter number to come down in a more balanced offense, and a new defensive scheme under coordinator Christian Parker could mean Prescott and the offense are in catch-up mode less often. In any case, Prescott has a bonafide top receiving duo at his services, so another 4,000-yard campaign is entirely within the realm of possibilities in 2026

The Patriots waived Kibble (undisclosed) from injured reserve Wednesday.

Kibble reverted to the Patriots' injured reserve list in late July after being waived with an injury designation. The wide receiver has apparently recovered from his undisclosed issue because he was dropped from the team's IR with no injury settlement or designation. Kibble has already cleared waivers and is now a free agent able to sign with any franchise's 53-man roster or practice squad.

Waller, who signed with the Panthers on Aug. 12, took part in team drills with the first-team offense Wednesday as the coaching staff looks to get him fully incorporated ahead of Week 1, Kassidy Hill of the team's official site reports.

The veteran tight end has the potential to give Bryce Young the best pass-catching option at the position the 2023 first overall pick has had in his career, but Waller is still in the midst of learning head coach Dave Canales' offensive system. Canales had good things to say about Waller's progress Wednesday, saying he'd gotten in plenty of routes versus air and looked fast while doing so. Waller suited up for only nine regular-season games with the Dolphins in 2025 after a year in retirement, but he recorded 24 receptions for 283 yards and six touchdowns on 34 targets in that span.

The Eagles waived Jackson (undisclosed) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Jackson's tenure in Philadelphia has come to an end less than a month after first signing with the team. The 24-year-old will now look to get healthy and catch on with another team.

The Jets waived Curtis (knee) from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement Wednesday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Unless he's claimed by another club during the current waiver period, Curtis is now on track to become a free agent. He signed with the Jets as a rookie undrafted free agent back in May, but his next opportunity may have to come with a different team.

Bowers will open the 2026 season working with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback after the veteran was named the Week 1 starter Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

The star tight end is looking to return to the caliber of production he managed during an outstanding 2024 rookie campaign, when he recorded a 112-1,194-5 line across 17 regular-season games. Bowers endured a lingering knee injury last season that ultimately limited him to 12 games, but the combination of his return to full health and a savvy veteran familiar with head coach Klint Kubiak's system in Cousins sets the stage for a potentially productive start to the 2026 season.