NFL Player News

Samuel (hamstring) is on track to return to practice Wednesday, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

That's a positive development for Samuel, who logged a trio of 'DNPs' last week. His potential return this weekend against the Cowboys would be a welcome one for the 49ers' depleted WR corps. With that in mind, Mike Evans (Achilles) is viewed as iffy for the contest, so a key role in the team's passing attack could await Samuel if he is able to return for his first game action since Week 5.

Evans (Achilles) is unlikely to participate in practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports.

That's not a particularly surprising development, with Mike Garafolo of NFL Network having previously suggested that Evans -- who last played in Week 6 -- appears to be "questionable at best" for this Sunday's game against the Cowboys. On the plus side from the 49ers' perspective is that the team hopes to have fellow WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) at practice Wednesday.

The 49ers reinstated Aiyuk (personal) from the reserve/left squad list Monday and were granted a two-week roster exemption for the wide receiver, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.

In what amounted to a procedural transaction after Aiyuk met with team officials Friday upon filing his paperwork for reinstatement, the 49ers now have until Nov. 23 to either add him to the 53-man roster, release him or trade him. Given that Aiyuk owes the 49ers roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture, securing a release from the team could prove difficult, though it's possible that the two sides work out a repayment plan that would allow him to become a free agent. In addition to the financial complications potentially delaying Aiyuk's return to the field, it's unclear if the 49ers or any other team have interest in rostering the 28-year-old wideout, who hasn't played an NFL snap since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee Oct. 20, 2024 and undergoing surgery.

Palmer (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Monday, Joe Buscaglia of the Athletic reports.

In Palmer's absence, DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman will lead the Bills WR corps Monday night against the Vikings, with Greg Dortch, Skyler Bell and Trent Sherfield available in reserve. The earliest that Palmer can return to the mix is Dec. 6 against the Patriots.

Coach Sean McVay indicated Monday that Nacua (knee) is likely headed to injured reserve with a PCL/MCL sprain and turf toe, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

With Davante Adams (hamstring) already on IR, Nacua's injury situation represents another huge blow to the Rams offense. Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and CJ Daniels are the team's remaining healthy WRs, but a trade to bolster the position seems imperative ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

Coach Mike LaFleur revealed Monday that Wilson is out for the season due to a fracture in his neck, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

With the Cardinals' top WR now sidelined and presumably headed to season-ending IR, Reggie Virgil, Simi Fehoko,Harrison Wallace and Devin Duvernay are the wide receivers currently on the team's active roster. Additionally, Shedrick Jackson, Zay Jones and James Proche are on Arizona's practice squad, but look for further reinforcements to be considered by the Cardinals in the coming days.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Monday that he's "more optimistic" that Burks (foot) will be available for Thursday's game against the Giants, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Quinn expects to have better feel for Burks' status Tuesday, when the team will hold the most intense of its light practices leading up to Thursday's game. Burks was unable to play in this past Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Rams due to the foot injury, but once healthy, he'll likely be in line for a regular top-three role at receiver while Terry McLaurin (knee) is lost for the season.

Head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Iosivas is doing well in his recovery from left thumb surgery, and the Bengals will "continue to work through this week" to determine when the receiver might return from injured reserve, Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Cincinnati has yet to open Iosivas' 21-day practice window since he landed on IR on Sept. 26, so until that happens, the wideout's return to game action shouldn't be considered imminent. While Iosivas has been sidelined for the Bengals' past six games, Dohnte Meyers has been serving as the primary No. 3 wideout behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and tight end Mike Gesicki has also benefited from an expanded profile in the passing attack.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that Legette (knee) will be designated for return from injured reserve this week, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Carolina will likely wait until it holds its first Week 10 practice Wednesday before officially opening Legette's 21-day evaluation window. The third-year receiver hasn't played since Sept. 20 due to the knee injury, so he may need to turn in multiple full practices this week to put himself in a position to return from IR ahead of this Sunday's game against the Saints.

Head coach Todd Bowles suggested Monday that McMillan (knee) isn't likely to immediately return to action following the Buccaneers' Week 10 bye, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

While Bowles indicated that linebacker Yaya Diaby (knee) has decent odds of playing in the Buccaneers' next game Nov. 22 versus the Lions, the coach was less optimistic about McMillan's chances of being ready to play in Week 11. The Buccaneers have yet to open McMillan's 21-day practice window, after he was placed on injured reserve Sept. 30 due to a PCL sprain in his left knee, which was an aggravation of a previous injury. Bowles noted that McMillan underwent a medical procedure on the knee shortly after landing on IR and is still dealing with some discomfort.