NFL Player News

The Vikings designated Mason (thumb) for return from injured reserve Monday.

Minnesota will open Mason's 21-day practice window Monday after the running back missed the team's last four games while recovering from thumb surgery. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, the Vikings have optimism that Mason will be able to play Sunday against the Colts, though his availability may hinge on how he looks from a conditioning standpoint during practices after a month-long layoff from action. Once he's fully ramped up, Mason should settle back in as the Vikings' top ball carrier on earlier downs, allowing Aaron Jones to slide back into more of a change-of-pace role.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that Parsons (knee) won't practice in Week 7, Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official site reports. "He has to clear some hurdles yet before we get to that point," LaFleur said.

With Green Bay not yet ready to open Parsons' 21-day practice window this week, the star edge rusher can safely be ruled out from making his 2026 debut Sunday in Detroit. LaFleur isn't dismissing the possibility of Parsons playing Week 8 versus the Panthers, though because that game will be a Thursday night matchup, the five-time Pro Bowler may face an uphill battle to gain clearance. At this point, the Packers' Week 9 matchup with the Patriots on Nov. 8 looks to be a more realistic target for Parsons to make his return to action, after his 2025 season came to an end when he tore his ACL on Dec. 14.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Jacobs (personal) will get in a full week of practice, but the practice, but the Packers have yet to determine whether he'll be able to make his season debut Sunday in Detroit, Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official site reports. "We feel he's in a pretty good spot," LaFleur said. "He's been training but he's missed the exposure to football."

Jacobs will practice with the Packers for the first time since the preseason Wednesday, after he was scheduled to be removed from the commissioner's exempt list Monday. Though he was able to work out at the Packers' team facility over the past two months while his playing status was in limbo due to the ongoing legal saga related to his May arrest in a domestic incident, Jacobs may need more than a full week of practice for the team to feel comfortable having him play in games. Whenever Jacobs is deemed ready to suit up, his addition will provide a boost to a Green Bay running game that ranks last in the NFL by a wide margin with an average of 59.8 yards per contest through six weeks.

The 49ers downgraded Kirk (calf) to out for Monday's game against the Commanders, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

After having his 21-day practice window opened Thursday, Kirk looked to have a realistic chance at returning from injured reserve in Week 6, especially in light of the depleted state of the 49ers receiving corps. However, with Kirk managing only limited participation from Thursday through Saturday, the 49ers will give him at least one more week to increase his practice activity before potentially bringing him back from IR. San Francisco will have Mike Evans (ribs/Achilles) -- if active -- along with Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins and Malik Turner as its options at receiver Monday.

The Patriots placed Doubs (shoulder) on injured reserve Monday.

Just after welcoming A.J. Brown back from IR in Sunday's 26-19 win over the Jets, the Patriots will have another starting wideout in Doubs land on the shelf for at least the next four games. Doubs sustained the shoulder injury while making a diving 42-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter, with the Patriots ruling him out for the rest of the game shortly thereafter. Though the extent of his shoulder injury isn't fully known, Doubs won't be eligible for activation until after the team's Week 11 bye as a result of the transaction. Doubs' upcoming absence should open up more playing time for DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism and Kyle Williams behind Brown.

The Commanders placed Croskey-Merritt (groin) on injured reserve Monday.

Croskey-Merritt had already been ruled out for Monday's game against the 49ers, but his move to IR ensures that he'll miss at least an additional three contests beyond that. With Croskey-Merritt sidelined through Week 10, Rachaad White looks on track to serve as the Commanders' top option out of the backfield in the interim, while Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols are on hand in complementary roles.

Diggs (hamstring) is in line to play in Monday's game at San Francisco, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Diggs sat out Week 5 due to a hamstring issue and then was able to manage a pair of limited practices during Week 6 prep, eventually getting tagged as questionable ahead of Monday Night Football. Assuming he avoids the Commanders' inactive list, as expected, Diggs will join Terry McLaurin as the top wide receivers available to QB Jayden Daniels.

The Rams placed Grupe (knee) on injured reserve Monday.

Los Angeles deactivated Grupe just one day after he was forced out of his team debut in an 18-16 loss to the Cardinals after suffering a knee injury while attempting to make a tackle on a kickoff return. Grupe, who connected on his lone kick -- a 44-yard field goal -- before departing Sunday's contest, will now be sidelined through at least Week 11 after landing on IR. The Rams will need to break in their third kicker of the season during next Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Dell (knee) is on track to return from injured reserve to make his season debut in Week 7 versus the Giants, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Dell will be making his first appearance since Dec. 21, 2024, when he sustained a severe left knee injury that included a dislocated kneecap and damage to multiple ligaments. Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Dell had emerged as a key complementary option behind No. 1 wideout Nico Collins, but the Texans are likely tempering expectations for the 26-year-old coming off a nearly two-year layoff. Dell, who was cleared to resume practicing Oct. 7 and was a full participant throughout Week 6 prep, is expected to be in line for a light snap count in his 2026 debut.

Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said Monday that Bateman (shoulder) "should be OK" after exiting late in the second quarter of Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Browns, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Listed on Ravens injury reports the past two weeks due to a shoulder issue, Bateman appeared to aggravate the injury late in the first half of Sunday's contest. He failed to haul in his lone target while running 11 routes in the game before the injury kept him out for the entire second half. Fortunately for Bateman, he seems to have avoided a major setback, but his practice activity over the next few days will likely determine whether he suits up next Sunday versus the Bengals. It's also worth noting that rookie Ja'Kobi Lane returned to action Sunday and saw five targets from Tyler Huntley.