NFL Player News

Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters Tuesday that Ward (back) does not have a timeline for return, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Ward has not practiced in training camp due to a back issue that also prevented him from participating in minicamp in June. He's unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against New England, and it remains to be seen whether Ward will suit up for any of the Colts' exhibition games. Cam Taylor-Britt (suspension), Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards will all see more reps with the first-team defense at outside cornerback for as long as Ward is sidelined.

Head coach Brian Campbell told reporters Tuesday that Branch (Achilles) is coming along in his rehab and could return to practice in late August or early September, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.

Branch continues to recover from a torn Achilles that he suffered in December, which prompted the Lions to place the 2023 second-rounder on the active/PUP list to start training camp. He won't play in any of the Lions' three exhibition games, but depending on how his recovery goes over the next month, Branch could be available for Detroit's regular-season opener against New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Tuesday that Joseph (knee/personal) could be back on the field with the Lions early on in the upcoming regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Campbell relayed that Joseph is currently away from the team to attend to a personal matter but added that the fifth-year safety's rehab from his knee injury is "coming along very well." Joseph missed the final 13 games of the regular season due to a knee injury and opened camp on the active/PUP list. A stint on injured reserve may not be necessary for the 2022 third-rounder, though it's unclear whether he'll suit up for the Lions' regular-season opener against the Saints on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Kamara and Travis Etienne are listed as co-RB1s on the Saints' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

This comes as a bit of a surprise considering Etienne signed a big money deal (four years, $52 million) to join the Saints in the offseason, while Kamara agreed to a reworked contract (one year, $6 million) in mid-July to remain with the only team he's over known. However, Kamara has been taking on more of the passing-down reps during camp, with Etienne handling early downs, and how the running backs are listed on the depth chart suggests both will have regular roles in the offense. That said, the initial depth chart might simply be a sign of respect for a franchise icon as Kamara enters what could be his final season in New Orleans.

The Falcons waived/injured Brockington (undisclosed) on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

The nature and severity of Brockington's injury is not clear. However, if he goes unclaimed off waivers, he would revert to the Falcons' injured reserve and be forced to sit for the entire 2026 season unless an injury settlement is reached with Atlanta. Brockington signed with the Falcons in early May as an undrafted free agent following a four-year college career at Minnesota.

Coleman is listed as a starter on Buffalo's first depth chart of the preseason, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.

The Bills list 12 starters, including three WRs, with the others unsurprisingly being DJ Moore and and Khalil Shakir. While it isn't a bad sign to be listed as a starter on the unofficial depth chart, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News believes Joshua Palmer has the upper hand on Coleman in a competition for the No. 3 receiver spot. Palmer reportedly shined Tuesday in one of the final practices before Buffalo's preseason opener Saturday against Carolina.

The Falcons signed Muse to a contract Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

Muse will join the Falcons two days after being released from the Lions' 90-man roster. The 2022 seventh-rounder will join the Falcons for training camp and have the opportunity to audition for a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad for the start of the 2026 season. Muse last saw regular-season action in 2024 with the Vikings, when he totalled 64 snaps (17 on offense, 47 on special teams) across four games.

Etienne and Alvin Kamara are listed as co-RB1s on the Saints' first unofficial depth chart of training camp, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

After Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million contract with New Orleans in the offseason, he was expected to start over the incumbent Kamara, especially after the latter agreed to a reworked contract (one year, $6 million) in mid-July to stay with the team. Kamara has handled more of the third-down work in training camp, while Etienne has taken on early downs, but with the team now listing them as co-RB1s, there may be more of an even split between the two than initially thought. The depth chart listing could also simply be a sign of respect for a franchise icon as Kamara enters what could be his final season in New Orleans.

Hunter is listed as a starting cornerback and second-string wide receiver on Jacksonville's initial preseason depth chart, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports that Hunter has played 96 snaps on defense and 61 on offense in 11-on-11s during the open portions of practice. The team hasn't been shy about the expectation that Hunter will take on a far larger defensive workload this season, but there's still rampant debate in fantasy circles about his usage on offense. His role on that side of the ball may depend in part on the health of Jacksonville's other wide receivers, namely Parker Washington, Brian Thomas and Jakobi Meyers.

Whyle (neck) is back practicing Tuesday, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Whyle was absent from practice Sunday due a neck injury, but the absence was short-lived. The 26-year-old has appeared to emerge as the tight end No. 3 for Green Bay, but he will now be back to taking first-team reps while Tucker Kraft (knee) and Luke Musgrave (neck) continue to rehab their respective injuries.