NFL Player News

Hurts was not practicing Thursday, Mike Frank of Delaware News Journal reports.

Smith is nursing hamstring and toe injuries and it appears he'll be missing his second straight practice Thursday. He has missed back-to-back games and doesn't seem to be trending towards a return in Week 6 against the Panthers. The Eagles will already be missing Jalen Hurts (blood clot) for Sunday's game.

Brown (ankle) said Thursday that it's "up in the air" whether he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Jets, and that the decision will ultimately be made by head coach Mike Vrabel, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Brown practiced Wednesday after having his 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened. "I felt pretty good," Brown said regarding Wednesday's practice, during which he was listed as limited. "It's one step at a time." The flashy offseason acquisition has missed the past four games due to a sprained ankle sustained in the second half of New England's season-opening loss to Seattle. A loss to the Jets on Sunday would drop the Patriots to third in the AFC East standings, but New England's passing game has been trending in the right direction despite Brown's ongoing absence, as Drake Maye has a 7:1 TD:INT over the past two games after posting a 1:6 ratio through Week 3.

Diggs (hamstring) won't practice Thursday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

Diggs sat out Washington's Week 5 tie against the Giants, and he won't participate in the Commanders' first practice ahead of Monday's Week 6 matchup against the 49ers. The veteran wide receiver gets the benefit of an extra day to recover from his hamstring injury, but his fantasy managers could face a difficult decision with few replacements available if Diggs' availability isn't clarified one way or another by the time Washington releases game statuses Saturday.

Pierce was spotted without a cast on his left ankle/heel Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

It's a sign that Pierce is progressing in his recovery from a left heel injury that he aggravated during the Colts' Week 2 overtime loss to the Chiefs. The earliest he is eligible to return from injured reserve is Week 7 against the Vikings, and while Pierce opted for rehab and surgery, Boyd believes that the fifth-year wide receiver is not close to a return. Josh Downs popped up on Wednesday's injury report with a hamstring injury, so Keenan Allen could be the Colts' top wide receiver for Sunday's AFC South showdown against the Titans.

Thornton (hamstring) was a full participant at the Raiders' practice Wednesday.

Thornton has spent the entirety of the regular season on injured reserve while recovering from a hamstring injury that he suffered in early August. The wide receiver returned to practice last week, logging three full practices, but he ultimately did not play in the team's 45-17 loss to the Patriots in Week 5. Thornton will look to prove his health and be activated from injured reserve prior to Sunday's matchup with Buffalo.

Brown (ankle) was a limited participant at the Eagles' practice Wednesday.

Brown has been sidelined for each of the team's last three contests while nursing an ankle injury, but his limited session Wednesday is a step in the right direction. The wide receiver will have two more chances to log a full practice and officially move past the ankle issue prior to Sunday's matchup with the Panthers.

Thompson (quadriceps) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Thompson has returned to limited practice after logging consecutive DNPs in the lead-up to the Chargers' Week 5 loss to the Broncos. The wide receiver did not participate in the contest and the weekend of rest appears to have boosted his recovery process. Thompson will likely need to upgrade to a full participant by Friday's session to dodge any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

The Ravens signed Moore to the practice squad Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Moore opened the regular season on the Ravens' practice squad before signing to the team's active roster in mid-September. He was released from the 53-man roster Tuesday, but the veteran wideout has elected to stay in Baltimore as a member of the team's practice squad. Moore could be elevated for Sunday's game against the Browns if Rashod Bateman (shoulder) is not cleared to play.

Valdes-Scantling (ribs) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Valdes-Scantling is dealing with a rib injury that he likely suffered during the Chargers' Week 5 loss to the Broncos. The wide receiver was not given an official injury designation and has already practiced in a limited fashion during the first prep session of Week 6. This indicates that Valdes-Scantling is dealing with a minor injury and will likely be able to suit up for Week 6 against the Chiefs.

The Saints signed Austin to the practice squad Wednesday.

Austin was signed to the Saints' active roster Oct. 1 after being elevated from the practice squad for each of the team's first three games of the regular season. As such, he is not eligible to suit up for the Saints again in 2026 unless he's signed back to the 53-man roster.