NFL Player News

Bourne was held to one reception (on four targets) for 17 yards in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars.

Jauan Jennings returned to action from a minor injury as expected, pushing Bourne back into the No. 3 role he was serving prior to last week's spot-start. The 29-year-old Bourne did finish with more playing time (68 percent) than Demarcus Robinson (38 percent), who was returning from a three-game suspension himself. It appears that Bourne has settled into the No. 3 role for San Francisco, but he could see his playing time elevated temporarily Week 5 if Ricky Pearsall (knee) is unable to suit up against the Rams on Thursday Night Football.

The Cardinals opened Nichols' (neck) 21-day practice window Monday.

The veteran defensive lineman now has 21 days to be activated off the Cardinals' reserve/PUP list after missing the team's first four games this season due to a neck injury. Nichols appeared in six games for Arizona in 2024, recording 10 total tackles across 169 defensive snaps. He's likely to serve as a rotational defensive end once he returns from injury.

The Cardinals signed Carter off their practice squad Monday.

With James Conner (foot) expected to miss the remainder of the year, Carter's signing adds much-needed backfield depth. The North Carolina product was elevated for the Week 4 loss to the Seahawks, rushing once for one yard over just four offensive snaps. He's expected to continue playing behind both Trey Benson and Emari Demercado in the Arizona's Week 5 matchup against the Titans.

Tonges had three receptions (on five targets) for 58 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars.

Tonges suffered an injury scare when he needed to have his shoulder examined by the medical staff early in the contest. The Los Gatos, Calif. native only missed a handful of snaps on offense before returning to the game and posting the best receiving line of his young career. Tonges continues to see the lion's share of snaps vacated by George Kittle (hamstring), who remains out of action for multiple weeks while healing on the injured reserve list. The 25-year-old is averaging just 4.0 targets per game in his elevated role this season, so he should be treated as a touchdown-dependent asset heading into Thursday's tilt against the Rams.

Thielen had two receptions for 11 yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin.

Thielen played on just 12 of the offense's 76 snaps as he moved to a distant No. 4 receiver with the return of Jordan Addison from a three-game suspension. Jalen Nailor played 48 snaps on offense and had four targets (one reception for a touchdown). Thielen is likely to have a small role in the offense unless there's an injury among the top three receivers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday that the 49ers are hopeful Mustapha (knee) can practice following the team's Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

The second-year pro from Wake Forest has been sidelined all season after being placed on the 49ers' reserve/PUP list in late August due to a knee injury, but Shanahan's comments Monday suggest he may return to practice soon. Mustapha had a great rookie campaign for San Francisco, recording 72 total tackles and five passes defended, including one interception, across 16 regular-season games. He's expected to assume the team's top free safety spot once he returns from injury.

Bellinger caught his only target for 13 yards Sunday in a 21-18 win over the Chargers in Week 4.

There wasn't much of a change production-wise for Bellinger with Jaxson Dart making his first start at quarterback for the Giants, as the fourth-year TE saw exactly one target -- and made the catch -- for the third time through four weeks this season. Bellinger (24 offensive snaps) remained well behind Theo Johnson (53 offensive snaps) in the TE pecking order, and that doesn't figure to change after Johnson hauled in Dart's only TD pass Sunday. Bellinger is unlikely to have much fantasy value as long as he remains the second TE option in what has been a mostly tepid New York offense to this point.

Guerendo logged 14 snaps on special teams and was not used on offense in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars.

Guerendo couldn't even make an appearance in the box score as a return man after WR Skyy Moore handled all punt and kick returns Sunday. The 25-year-old Guerendo has logged zero snaps on offense through four games this season, leaving no room for fantasy utility as we encroach the quarter point of the season. Managers should have no concerns leaving Guerendo in the free-agent pool for Thursday's tilt against the Rams.

Whittington secured his only target for seven yards and returned two kicks for 49 yards during Sunday's 27-20 victory against the Colts.

There was a noticeable jump in snap counts for the second-year wideout, as Whittington was on the field for 60 snaps on offense, just two less than Puka Nacua and one less than Davante Adams. Despite the boost in usage, it didn't translate to fantasy success with just a single catch on the day. Tutu Atwell, Whittington's primary competition on the depth chart, burned through blown coverage for an game-winning 88-yard touchdown but also was on the field for just 21 snaps on offense. A short week before a Thursday Night Football showdown against a depleted 49ers roster is up next Week 5, and the snap counts of Whittington and Atwell will be telling as to whether the latter has reclaimed some ground on the No. 3 wideout role for the Rams.

Walker's wrist injury sustained in Sunday's 26-21 win over the 49ers is not considered season-ending, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Walker played just 12 defensive snaps and recorded two total tackles prior to his injury in Week 4. The 2022 first overall pick is set to visit a specialist regarding his wrist in the near future, though the injury isn't considered to be season-ending. He's already tallied 2.0 sacks through Jacksonville's first four games, making his loss impactful. Walker's practice participation throughout the week will likely provide the best indication of whether he can play in the Jags' Week 5 matchup against the Chiefs.