NFL Player News

The Saints’ only remaining unsigned pick is Robert Meachem. Pittman had an excellent college career and possesses 4.4 speed. He’ll need to add muscle, but the former Ohio State star could replace Deuce McAllister as Reggie Bush’s downhill complement in 2008. This year, he’ll be third string.

The high-ankle injury will now cost the veteran receiver a minimum of four games, thinning an already reeling group of pass-catchers in San Francisco. Jacob Cowing is technically the next man up, although the offense appears more likely to concentrate on the remaining veterans.

Smith’s week of practiced steadily increased from a limited showing to full-go, paving the way for him to operate as the clear-cut top option through the air against a porous Bears secondary. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence is an upside WR2 in Week 3.

Barkley briefly left the team’s Week 2 win with a stinger but would return in the second half to finish the game. He’ll be a back-end RB1 against the Bears through clear offensive struggles from the Eagles.

That escalated quickly. Coleman was potentially in line to serve as the starter in Week 3 with both J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey nursing various injuries. Coleman missed practice throughout the week with an ankle injury that wasn’t revealed until Wednesday’s practice report, with the injury now taking the next four games, at minimum, from the talented rookie. Both Harvey and Dobbins have been cleared to play in Week 3, forming a backfield tandem in the wake of Coleman’s injury.

Williams is likely looking at a multi-week absence after injuring his hamstring in Week 2. Tyson Bagent is in the final stages of the concussion protocol after practicing in full Saturday but will need to be cleared by an independent neurologist Sunday to suit up on Monday Night Football against the Eagles. Bagent is officially listed as questionable.

The team had already ruled him out for multiple weeks and will now make the administrative move of sending him to injured reserve. He will first be eligible to return for Week 7.

The veteran guard brings significant experience to a Packers team ranked at the bottom of the league in offensive line metrics, including 162 career starts. It’s a no-risk signing in which things could quite literally not get any worse in Green Bay.

With Caleb Williams (hamstring) not expected to play in Week 3’s Monday Night Football showdown against the Eagles, Bagent’s status holds extra weight this week. He missed practice through Friday with a concussion, but has since been cleared to resume practice. He will still need to remain asymptomatic for two consecutive days to fully clear protocol. Bagent would only be a desperation play in super-flex leagues against the Eagles.

Lions HC Dan Campbell didn’t sound optimistic about the prospects of Joseph, who is dealing with a potentially career-threatening knee cartilage issue, helping the Lions this year. In two separate media appearances in the last week, Campbell said that there wasn’t anything he could say about Joseph that would make anyone “feel good.” Pelissero reported Saturday morning that Joseph, who missed all of training camp and hasn’t played since last year’s Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, is hopeful he’ll be available to help the Lions down the stretch. While that may be the case, whether Joseph is able to return to play this year remains an open question. Without Joseph and S Brian Branch (Achilles), the Lions are severely shorthanded in the backend heading into Week 3’s home matchup against the Jets.

According to Pelissero, Giants GM Joe Schoen is “working the phones” and a trade could be done as soon as Monday. The Giants gave Dart’s backup Jameis Winston a two-year contract extension just before the start of the regular season. While the Giants are looking to add to their quarterback depth, it seems unlikely that whoever they acquire at this point would be able to unseat Winston as the starter immediately. New York takes on Tennessee in Week 3 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.