NFL Player News

This one shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Thornton, a former second-round pick of the Patriots in 2022, has been slowed by injuries and offered little offense upside when healthy. Through 22 career games, he’s caught just 35 passes for 338 yards and two scores, with most of that production coming in his rookie season. In addition to playing under a new coaching staff, Thornton is also set to compete against rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Polk is already locked into a roster spot as a second-round pick, and the Patriots used a fourth-round pick on Baker, which should all but secure his spot. Outside of one or two depth options, the Patriots’ wide receiver room feels fairly in place. It may take a camp injury or two for Thornton to stick on the roster come cut day.

Warner has been dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 4. With just one limited practice last week, he still played in Week 5. Now beginning the week listed as limited in Monday’s practice estimation and Tuesday’s walk-through, Warner looks like he will play Week 6. Among the rest of the 49ers defense, DT Jordan Elliott (knee) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) did not practice while S Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle) and CB Charvarius Ward (knee) were limited. Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) is going to miss at least a few weeks, so Warner’s role in the middle of the defense will be greater Thursday against the Seahawks.

The Saints waived Perry last week after he dealt with a hand injury and was a healthy scratch to start the season. The former sixth-round pick totaled 12 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie but did not seem to have a role on the 2024 Saints. The Broncos now add him to their practice squad and the big target could get added to Bo Nix’s arsenal at some point.

The Seahawks released a practice report estimation after holding a walk-through practice Tuesday, ahead of a Thursday showdown against the 49ers. First-round pick Byron Murphy is still out with a hamstring injury while LB Derick Hall (foot), and CB Riq Woolen (ankle) were also estimated non-participants and S Julian Love (hamstring) was listed as limited. After a rough loss to the Giants, the Seahawks defense is far from full strength to start Week 6.

With the Jets now undergoing a head coaching change and Saints QB Derek Carr out with an oblique injury, both teams’ trade talks for WR Davante Adams “may have slowed down.” Both the Jets and Saints are top contenders to acquire Adams with both employing Adams’ former quarterbacks. It seems a foregone conclusion that Adams will be dealt and the Jets and Saints still have interest, but their respective situations may slow that process down for now.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that Wilkins will be placed on injured reserve. He exited the Raiders’ Week 5 game against the Broncos early and now undergoes surgery to repair a Jones fracture. Wilkins has tallied 17 tackles and two sacks this season after signing with the Raiders in the offseason. Adam Butler and John Jenkins will fill the void while Wilkins remains out.

Lawson signed with the Panthers after he visited the team on Tuesday. The Panthers defense is in need of a veteran presence after injuries and bad play have made them one of the weaker defenses in the league. The 30-year-old Lawson joins the team having last played for the Bills, totaling 13 tackles and a sack last season.

He joins Denzel Mims in the tryout circuit as the Cowboys try to build some depth as Brandin Cooks nurses a foot injury. Pettis was with the Bears in training camp and last appeared in NFL games in 2022, catching 19 balls for 245 yards and three scores for Chicago.

Rattler definitely would seem to have a higher long-term upside than New Orleans’ other backup, Jake Haener. Rattler threw for 202 yards and one touchdown in the preseason while completing 52.6 percent of his passes. The Saints are going to have to find a way to weather the storm without Carr, and we’d expect a pretty limited game plan for Rattler if they install him as the starter.

Carr was hurt in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s loss to the Chiefs. Jake Haener, who went 2-of-7 for 17 yards in replacing him, would seem to be a reasonable candidate to take over for the Saints in the short-term. It’s also possible the Saints give Spencer Rattler, who they selected in this past year’s draft, a chance at the job. This is a major downgrade for all Saints skill position players heading into Week 6’s game against the Buccaneers.

The team is still deciding whether to place Hufanga on injured reserve — we’d bet on that happening. Hufanga injured the wrist in the second quarter of Week 5’s game against the Cardinals. Rookie Malik Mustapha picked up most of Hufanga’s snaps and is line for more work going forward.