NFL Player News

Williams did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Bengals.

The Lions rested their key starters, including Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. Aside from trading David Montgomery, not much has changed in terms of offensive personnel for Detroit in 2026, though the team does have a new play caller in OC Drew Petzing. After posting a 65-1,117-7 line across 17 regular-season games last season, Williams will remain a focal point of the pass offense.

Douglas was among the Patriots' key skill players who didn't play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts, Mark Daniels of masslive.com reports.

Also in that category were the team's top two WRs, A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, while Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams all saw action in the contest. Douglas is listed as a first-teamer along with Brown and Doubs on New England's unofficial depth chart, and it looks like he could be poised for an uptick in snaps/targets out of the slot this coming season after seeing his catch total in 2025 drop to 31 following a 66-catch effort in 2024. In that scenario, the 2023 sixth-rounder has a chance to resurface as a fantasy option in deeper PPR-friendly formats.

Taylor was among the Colts' key skill players who didn't see action in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots.

Taylor, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $44 million contract extension on Aug. 6, is slated to continue to work in a high-volume role as the clear-cut top option in Indy's backfield, with DJ Giddens (hamstring) Seth McGowan in contention for slotting behind him. Taylor's next chance to see game action is Aug. 22 against the Falcons, but even if he does end up suiting up for either of the team's remaining exhibition games, his snap count would presumably be light.

Bowers started Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona and came out of the game after one snap.

The Raiders' other starters, including QB Kirk Cousins and RB Ashton Jeanty, continued to play throughout the opening drive. Not that this needed reinforcement, but the early exit is yet another sign of Bowers' massive importance to the Las Vegas offense. We may not see him again until Week 1 against Miami.

Brown was among the Patriots' key skill players who didn't see action in Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.

Also in that category were QB Drake Maye, fellow WRs Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas, RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, along with TE Hunter Henry. As the coming season approaches, Brown and Doubs are slated to be the team's top two WR options, while Douglas figures to work out of the slot in a wide-receiver corps that also includes Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams, who all saw action Thursday. In his new locale, Brown is on track to log steady volume as Maye's top target, positioning him for weekly fantasy utility in 2026.

McBride played one snap in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders.

QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Marvin Harrison and the five starting offensive linemen played all 11 snaps on Arizona's opening drive. It was only McBride who got superstar treatment, as WR Michael Wilson and RB Jeremiyah Love also took most of the snaps on the lone series for Arizona's first-team offense. McBride has far more competition for the ball this year, but he'll still be prioritized in the passing game and remains a clear favorite to lead the team in targets.

Smack made three field goals in Thursday's 28-9 preseason loss to the Steelers.

Smack -- per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- was a bit wayward early in training camp, but the rookie was true on all three of his attempts, including one from 58 yards away, in his first exhibition appearance. Smack was already the clear favorite to open the season as Green Bay's kicker, and Thursday's showing all but locks him in.

Gibbs was held out of Thursday's preseason opener against the Bengals.

The star running back was among a number of key skill players rested by the Lions on Thursday, a group that also included QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well as TE Sam LaPorta. Since he signed a lucrative three-year contract extension with the team last week, Gibbs -- who had previously reportedly been dealing with a minor back issue -- has been practicing, and is thus slated to reprise his role as the clear-cut top option in Detroit's backfield, and in turn maintain his standing as an elite fantasy option ahead of the 2026 regular season.

The Texans believe that Mertz tore his ACL during Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per Schefter, there is expected to be additional testing to confirm Mertz's injury, but at this stage it doesn't look good for the 2025 sixth-rounder. As a result, look for Houston to bring in added QB depth behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills in short order.

Miller carried the ball 14 times for 55 yards and failed to catch his only target in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Colts.

Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson both sat out the Patriots' preseason opener, allowing Miller to get the start and handle the bulk of the work on the ground -- the rest of the RBs in the lineup combined for 27 yards on 17 carries. The 2026 seventh-round is battling Lan Larison, Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty for the RB3 role to open the season, and Miller may have improved his chances of claiming it with Thursday's effort.