NFL Player News

Brown going may cut into the viability of OJ Howard as a barebones TE streamer this week -- Brown bounced back from a Thursday DNP with a full practice on Friday. Both will have some freed up targets by the absence of Brevin Jordan (ankle), who was ruled out on Friday. Also inactive for the Texans are DL Kurt Hinish (foot), OL Austin Deculus (ankle), DB Isaac Yiadom (thigh), LB Jake Hansen, and WR Tyler Johnson. No practice squad elevation for Jeff Driskel means the Texans will actually use backup QB Kyle Allen for the first time all season.

Hill has played the entirety of his nine-year NFL career with the Saints after entering the league as a 27-year-old quarterback in 2017. Now 35 and without a home, there is the potential for Hill to reunite with Broncos head coach Sean Payton in Denver. It is difficult to see the team making another haphazard play at a potential Joker after the way Evan Engram’s season went in 2025, particularly after investing significant capital into wide receiver Jaylen Waddle earlier this offseason. File this away in the rumor category until we see anything of substance.

The 13-year NFL veteran previously visited with the Patriots regarding a potential spot within their coaching ranks, ultimately landing in the college ranks with Georgia Tech. While he has yet to formally announce a retirement, the move clearly points to his playing days being over after failing to draw interest in the free agent market this offseason. If this is the end of the road for Hopkins, his career ends with 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdowns, placing him at 18th on the all-time career receiving list. It would also leave Mike Evans as the active player with the most career receiving yards.

The rookie wide receiver is reportedly dealing with “hamstring tightness” and the team stressed the fact that it was not a strain, likely indicating he will be back on the practice field in short order. That said, the team could look to take it slow with their No. 33 overall pick after losing fellow receiver Ricky Pearsall to knee surgery earlier in the day. For now, fantasy managers can simply monitor the situation in the coming days.

Worthy was taken via cart from the practice field Saturday, although beat reporters said he was sitting in the front seat and “didn’t seem distressed as he exited.” Even so, fantasy managers don’t like seeing “Worthy” and “shoulder” together in the same sentence after the speedy third-year receiver dislocated his shoulder in Week 1 of the 2025 season and never fully looked himself. That leaves his status as a situation to monitor moving forward. Per ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Worthy made “an impressive deep catch against two defenders in which he fell to the turf near the end zone.”

49ers GM John Lynch told reporters Pearsall would have surgery on his PCL. A year after knee injuries limited him to nine games, Pearsall will miss the entire 2026 season. It’s a tough blow for the receiver who turns 26 next month. The 49ers were able to bring back Deebo Samuel already to address the loss of Pearsall. For early Pearsall drafters, unfortunately the worst fears about his knee injury came to be.

Dickerson, a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, denied reports that he considered retirement this offseason. “I’m not sure where you guys got that from,” he said. Dickerson, who turns 28 in September, said he’s not really concerned about the toll playing takes on his body. He also admitted he “probably shouldn’t have went out and played” last season after needing meniscus surgery so close to the start of Week 1. Dickerson’s rethinking his approach to pushing through injuries as he has in the past.

Allen, who was the top story at Chiefs camp as recently as yesterday, ran into a teammate while playing gunner during a punt drill. The 23-year-old rookie receiver limped off the field with help from teammates before he was carted to the locker room. The fifth-round rookie from Cincinnati had been gaining momentum for a role in the offense, but that’s been put on hold until more information is known about the severity of his injury.

Gardner-Johnson appeared to suffer a non-contact lower leg injury. He went down on the practice field and grabbed at his leg near his Achilles. The 28-year-old safety couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg as he was helped off the field. Gardner-Johnson had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room. Buffalo lacks safety depth behind Gardner-Johnson as fifth-round rookie Jalon Kilgore could be next up if this injury indeed turns out to be significant.

The Seahawks shut Horton down after trading for WR Rashid Shaheed last year, citing a new shin injury. The trade came as a surprise. He and Shaheed possess similar skill sets, and Horton had already set two franchise records, so replacing him in the lineup due to poor play did not add up. Apparently, Horton played through discomfort in his shin for five games until the pain led to imaging, revealing a crack in his shin. Horton attempted to avoid surgery, but it was ultimately deemed necessary in February 2026, delaying his return. Bell adds that the coaching staff is “excited and curious to unleash” Horton and Shaheed in the same formations, “challenging the deep coverage of defenses.” Stressing the defense vertically should open up the short-to-intermediate areas of the field as well. Shaheed will likely be the more reliable boom-bust FLEX and could even ascend to WR3 status, but it is nice to know that the coaching staff still views Horton positively after the surprising in-season trade last year.

While we are happy for Martin, we can’t help but wonder if this is related to the apparent left knee injury DT Walter Nolen appeared to suffer at today’s practice. Hopefully, the Cardinals are just playing it safe. Martin entered the NFL as a 2023 third-round pick with the Lions.