NFL Player News

Sanders, 35, faded down the stretch last year in Buffalo, hampered by various injuries and outplayed by Gabriel Davis. He played for four teams over his final three years in the league after a remarkable run with Peyton Manning’s Broncos from 2014 to 2016. “I gave it my all. Every single rep, every single play, I tried to go 100 percent as hard as I can,” Sanders said in a statement. “And that’s why I can hang my hat and say I gave the game everything I had and the game gave it back to me.” A tough-nosed receiver who always played bigger than his listed height and weight, Sanders started his career in Pittsburgh, where he was secondary and tertiary target for Ben Roethlisberger. He ends his 12-year career with 704 catches for 9,245 yards and 51 touchdowns.

Tua wasn’t spotted during the portion of practice open to the media, so it’s possible he takes the field later in the day. That said, his absence from practice on Friday wouldn’t bode well for his Week 1 availability after he popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an oblique issue. Veteran Cooper Rush took all first-team snaps for the Falcons on Thursday and would be in line to start on Sunday if Tua is unable to go. We should have an updated injury report soon, which will lay out Tagovailoa’s availability heading into the weekend.

Turner popped up on Thursday’s injury report with the hamstring issue, but head coach Zac Taylor said the fourth-year corner will be good to go for Sunday’s game. Turner posted career highs in pass breakups (18) and interceptions (2) last season while earning a PFF coverage grade of 78.1. The Bengals will rely heavily on him in Week 1 to slow down Baker Mayfield and a revamped Buccaneers passing game. While Turner is healthy and good to go, Taylor said DE Shemar Stewart (knee) is doubtful, making him unlikely to play in Week 1.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Higgins and fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase (knee) will both be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. Higgins has been dealing with a heel/foot injury in recent weeks but will be on the field for the team’s season-opener. He profiles as a high-end WR2 in what is expected to be a high-scoring game to kick off the Bengals’ 2026 season.

Chase was a full participant in each of the Bengals’ first two practices to start the week and is good to go for Week 1, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Chase can be trusted as a high-end WR1 for fantasy players in a matchup against the Buccaneers that should be ripe for fantasy points.

Gray suffered a concussion over the weekend after being involved in an accident while driving an ultra-terrain vehicle. Gray is expected to be back on the field after he clears concussion protocol, but his absence creates a glaring hole in the middle of the Titans’ defense. Gray totaled 164 tackles and one sack last season. His absence could lead to an increased role for rookie Anthony Hill Jr. on Sunday.

We’ll have a better sense of Brooks’ Week 1 availability in a few hours when the Panthers release their final injury report for the week, but the third-year back logged limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday and is trending in the right direction for Sunday’s game against the Bears. If he’s active, Brooks is expected to split touches with Chuba Hubbard, which could put a hard cap on both players’ upside in the season-opener.

Coen also noted that Washington is “the guy right now,” suggesting that his role as the returner could change at some point in the year. Washington returned 25 punts for the Jaguars last season and racked up 341 return yards and two touchdowns on those returns. Coen said the Jaguars will hope to get Travis Hunter involved as the punt returner at some point, but Washington will start the season in the role. Washington profiles as a solid WR2 to start the fantasy season after going for 58-847-5 last year.