NFL Player News

Thielen was activated from injured reserve two weeks ago but didn’t suit up for his first potential game off IR. He was limited in all three practices this week before being listed as questionable. Closing out another lost season, the Panthers don’t have any reason to rush Thielen back, so we’ll assume he’s at full strength and not on a pitch count if active. He should pace the Panthers in targets this week, though that isn’t a particularly valuable role with Bryce Young under center. Thielen is a WR4 at best in his first game since Week 3.

Goedeke is expected to return later this season. He will be eligible to do so after missing four games. It’s a brutal development for a Buccaneers offensive line that also lost RG Cody Mauch to a season-ending knee injury. Buccaneers LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) has not yet suited up on game day. He remains limited in practice.

It doesn’t sound like there’s much concern that Jacobs will miss Week 3, and he’ll be an easy RB1 against the Browns should he suit up. Backup runner Chris Brooks played on only 13 snaps and 11 of them were passing routes. Emanuel Wilson would likely be the head of a committee on running downs if Jacobs, for whatever reason, did not play in Week 3.

Wednesday absences often become non-issues. Thursday absences have a much worse track record. It’s possible the Buccaneers are just exercising an abundance of caution, but fantasy managers should expect to be without Egbuka in Week 3. If the talented rookie wide receiver can somehow practice in full tomorrow, he can be started as usual. If he graduates to limited participation, this could come down to being a game-time decision.

He was officially limited. That doesn’t necessarily mean we should expect Kraft to play this week — what is long-term, anyway? — but at least it’s not as serious as it could have been. Fantasy managers reliant on Kraft should start making alternate plans at tight end, or at least scouring the wire thinking about who they’d pick up, if in fact this does keep Kraft out of Week 3’s game against the Browns.

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, ever the optimistic reporter, said there is “not much doubt” about Waddle’s availability despite being questionable with a “minor shoulder injury.” We expect Waddle to play in a likely pass-heavy effort against the Bills this evening, although he has been expected to be a big factor in the Dolphins’ offense for quite some time now, yet he has just 11 targets through two games. Waddle is best treated as a borderline WR2/3 in what should be a favorable game script.

It was a limited session, but it’s a good sign for his chances of playing against the Panthers in Week 3. A.J. Terrell (hamstring) remained out of practice, but it looks like Atlanta could at least have both of their rookie EDGE players available to chase Bryce Young on Sunday.

It’s a good sign for his availability (and health) to see the mid-week upgrade after playing in his debut in Week 2. Mooney will likely have more success in Week 3 after a 2/20 debut against the Vikings — Carolina is one of the worst defenses in the NFL so far — the only worry is that things get so far out of hand that Atlanta effectively grinds the clock out. Mooney should be on the WR3/FLEX line.

Mid-week injury report additions are never good news, so we’ll have to see how this unfolds on Friday. It’s possible that this is just maintenance. It’s also possible Pitts hurt his toe mid-practice and might be facing a fight to play this week. Pitts has had a nice season thus far and is on the TE1 line despite his offense barely passing at all in Week 2.

Penning’s return comes at the right time. His direct backup, OG Dillon Radunz, is now sidelined by a toe injury of his own, and starting RT Taliese Fuaga picked up a back injury in Week 2. He was already nursing a knee injury. Saints EDGE Chase Young is also still sidelined by a calf injury.

The second-year player has back-to-back limited sessions. If active, he’ll serve as a complementary piece of the attack behind Cam Skattebo (ankle), who is practicing in full ahead of Week 3. Neither Skattebo nor Tracy are must-plays against a stout Chiefs run defense given the lines New York’s running backs have put up in the first two weeks of the season.