NFL Player News

Lemieux was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Oregon. In four seasons with the Giants, he appeared in 18 regular season games with 12 starts at left guard. Last season, he played in four games for New York with one start at left guard, before suffering a season-ending biceps injury in October. He figures to battle for a back-up interior offensive line spot in New Orleans.

The quietly productive defensive tackle was added to the injury report this week after practicing with a clean bill of health in Week 1. His consecutive limited participant designations are a positive sign for his Monday night availability. CB Isaiah Rodgers (hand) and LB Devin White (ankle) continued practicing in full. Backup LT Fred Johnson (thumb)

Details on Brown’s hamstring issue have yet to be released so anything from tightness to a strain is possible. We will provide updates as soon as we learn more. In the meantime, fantasy managers should consider adding No. 3 WR Jahan Dotson, if possible. Dotson’s 32 offensive snaps in Week 1 comfortably led No. 4 WR Johnny Wilson’s 10.

The 2022 first-team All-Pro inches closer to a return from his Week 11, 2023 ACL tear. Hufanga’s Friday practice designation has yet to be released but he logged limited participant designations on Wednesday and Thursday after doing the same throughout Week 1. Hufanga seemingly has a chance to return in Week 3, though full practice participation is the likely prerequisite.

Jennings came up limping at one point in the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Jets but brushed it off and finished the game without any issues. He quietly led the 49ers with 64 receiving yards on five grabs. His pace should slow as Brandon Aiyuk settles in after missing much of the offseason while holding out. Jennings is a desperation WR6 for Week 2.

Per Shanahan, McCaffrey had his worst day in terms of pain and health following Thursday’s practice, prompting the change in tone from the team. Shanahan had previously told reporters that McCaffrey would not go on injured reserve. The superstar running back was even practicing in a limited capacity earlier this week. It’s a nightmare scenario for fantasy managers who were expecting to get McCaffrey back sooner rather than later. He will miss at least four games if placed on injured reserve. Jordan Mason will dominate the touches for San Francisco for the foreseeable future. Mason turned 28 carries into 147 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. He will rank as a high-end RB1 for as long as McCaffrey is on the sidelines.

The Texans went with Pierce as Joe Mixon’s backup in Week 1 and made Cam Akers a healthy scratch. Pierce didn’t appear on the injury report to start the week but was limited on Thursday and then downgraded to DNP on Friday. It looks like he suffered the injury during practice and is now at risk of missing Week 2. Akers would take on the RB2 role if Pierce is ruled out.

Vele’s absence leaves the Broncos’ already-thin pass-catching corps in rough shape. The seventh-round rookie earned the team’s second-highest Week 1 target total (eight). The Broncos No. 1 WR Courtland Sutton has strong odds of earning 10-plus targets though, with No. 2 WR Josh Reynolds likely playing through an Achilles tendon injury. He practiced in full on Friday.

Collins was added to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday because of the illness. He was a full-go on Friday before being removed. Coming off a six-catch, 117-yard opening game, Collins sits on the WR1/2 border for his upcoming matchup with the Bears.

Allen played behind free agent addition Colby Parkinson in Week 1. Parkinson led all tight ends in routes in his first game as a Ram and hauled in four passes for 47 yards. Allen’s likely absence locks Parkinson in as a volume-based TE2.

Both Bolles and C Luke Wattenberg (ankle) practiced in full on Friday. It’s great news for a Broncos offense that faces the Steelers’ top-notch defensive front in Week 2.