It may be the end of the line for one veteran receiver.
The Steelers have released receiver Robert Woods from their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Robert Woods asked for his release and would only like to continue his career if he’s on a 53-man roster and playing.
Woods, 33, was a Bills second-round pick in 2013. But his career began to take off when he signed with the Rams as a free agent in 2017 — head coach Sean McVay’s first year with the club. He led Los Angeles with 86 catches and 1,219 yards in 2018, helping the club win its first NFC title under McVay. He then caught 90 passes in each of the next two seasons before suffering a torn ACL in practice midway through the 2021 season.
Since then, Woods played the 2022 season with Tennessee before joining Houston for 2023 and 2024. In 15 games last season, Woods caught 20 passes for 203 yards. He was on the field for 37 percent of offensive snaps in games played.
In his 171 career games since being drafted out of USC, Woods has tallied 683 catches for 8,233 yards with 38 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 514 yards with five TDs.
There is an NFL connection to the tennis goings on in New York City.
Jessica Pegula, daughter of Bills co-owners Terry and Kim Pegula, has advanced to the US Open semifinals on Tuesday.
Pegula defeated Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, becoming the first woman to reach back-to-back US Open semifinals without dropping a set since Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat from 2011-2014.
Pegula reached the US Open finals last year, losing the championship match to Aryna Sabalenka.
Pegula has won nine singles titles and seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour, but has yet to win her first Grand Slam. Pegula will next take on the winner of the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Markéta Vondroušová that is scheduled for later on Tuesday.
The Bills are bringing back a familiar face for a little more depth on offense.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Buffalo is signing receiver Gabe Davis to the team’s practice squad.
Davis, 26, was a Bills fourth-round pick in 2020 and spent his first four seasons with the franchise. But after what seemed like a breakout performance against the Chiefs in the 2021 postseason with four touchdowns, Davis did not become a top-flight receiving option for the club over the next two seasons. He caught 48 passes for 836 yards with seven touchdowns in 2022 and then had 45 receptions for 746 yards with seven TDs in 2023.
The Jaguars signed Davis to a three-year contract in free agency in March 2024, but he was released in early May after this year’s draft. Davis recorded 20 receptions for 239 yards with two TDs in 10 games last year, missing most of the season with a torn meniscus.
While he’s reportedly still recovering from the knee injury, Davis may be able to help the offense at some point in 2025.
He previously had visits with the 49ers, Giants, Steelers, and Saints this offseason.
In 74 career games, Davis has 183 receptions for 2,969 yards with 29 touchdowns.
It’s unclear whether cornerback Jaire Alexander will be making his Ravens debut in Buffalo on Sunday night.
Alexander has been out of practice since August 9 because of knee issues. Head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that Alexander has been ramping up his physical activity ahead of Week 1, but that participating in practice this week will be a necessary step for him to get on the field against the Bills.
“That would be the key,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “So, we’ll see where he’s at Wednesday. He did some things today.”
Injuries limited Alexander to 16 games over the last two seasons and contributed to the Packers’ decision to part ways with him this offseason. He’s listed behind Marlon Humphrey on the team’s depth chart.
Tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard were also out of practice on Monday.
The Ravens aren’t looking at Sunday night’s game as just the first of 17 they will play in the regular season.
It’s common to hear some version of that from teams playing games early in the year, but Baltimore will be heading up to Buffalo for the opener and that’s also the same place where their 2024 season came to an end. The Bills knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs and Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley said that he and his teammates are well aware of that as they prepare for this weekend.
“That team sent us home out of the playoffs, so I don’t think it’s just going into a normal game per se,” Stanley said, via the team’s website. “We were very unhappy with the result last time we were there. A lot of us will give anything to leave there with a dub.”
Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike agrees with Stanley and said that the Ravens “want to get that bad taste” out of their mouths in Week 1. That won’t change what happened in January, but it will give them an early leg up in this year’s race for the top in the AFC.
