NFL Player News

Emeka Egbuka (concussion/foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Panthers, so Johnson and the rest of the Buccaneers pass catchers will be tasked with larger roles offensively.

Egbuka has seen at least nine targets in three of the Buccaneers' last four games, and those looks will be spread to Johnson, veteran Chris Godwin and rookie third-rounder Ted Hurst. The loss of Egbuka is significant for Tampa Bay's passing game, but the good news is franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) appears on track to return from a three-game absence to play in Week 7. It's been an inconsistent season for Johnson, who has 20 receiving yards or less in four of six regular-season games and has a 7-145-0 receiving line on 13 targets.

Hurst and the other Buccaneers' wide receivers will have elevated roles against the Panthers on Sunday due to the absence of Emeka Egbuka (concussion/foot).

Per Greg Auman of Fox Sports, Egbuka has gotten 43 percent of the targets and 31 percent of the receiving yards among Buccaneers' wide receivers. With Egbuka in concussion protocol, that workload will be taken on by Hurst, Tez Johnson and veteran Chris Godwin on Sunday against a Panthers defense that ranks fifth in the league in passing touchdowns allowed (six) and 18th in passing yards allowed per game (222.0). Hurst -- a third-round selection of the Buccaneers in the 2026 NFL Draft -- has an 11-168-1 receiving line on 22 targets through six regular-season games.

Kirk (calf) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Kirk is expected to be activated from injured reserve Saturday, according to David Lombardi of SFStandard.com, paving the way for the veteran wideout to make his 49ers debut Sunday. With Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) ruled out, San Francisco is desperate for healthy bodies at the position. Kirk should immediately slide in for significant snaps alongside Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks at wide receiver.

Waddle (chest) said he is good to go for Sunday's game at Arizona after being listed as a limited practice participant the previous two days, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

It remains to be seen if Waddle will duck an injury designation, but he left no doubt that he expects to play.

Evans (Achilles) is out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

This comes as no surprise after Evans was unable to practice all week following Monday night's early departure against the Commanders. The Niners have a Week 8 bye, and the team hopes Evans will be able to be ready to return following that off week. San Francisco should get Christian Kirk (calf) back from injured reserve this Sunday. He'd join Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks atop the depth chart this weekend.

Pickens (shoulder) was a full participant in Friday's practice, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.

With Pickens upgrading from limited participation Thursday to full Friday, he appears to be good to go for Monday night against the Eagles. Pickens hasn't shown much of a fantasy ceiling to this point, outside of Week 5 against the Bucs when CeeDee Lamb was battling a quad issue, but few have the raw upside he possesses most weeks.

Golden (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Lions.

After being limited in practice this week, Golden is good to go for Sunday's divisional matchup in what projects to be a shootout at Ford Field. In just six games this season, Golden has already surpassed last year's marks in catches, yards and touchdowns, producing a 30-501-3 receiving line on 51 targets. He's developed into an every-week WR2 for fantasy.

Watson (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Detroit, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Watson was listed as limited on all three of Green Bay's Week 7 injury reports due to an ankle issue, but it won't stop him from being available Sunday. Both he and Matthew Golden (shoulder) are in the clear ahead of the weekend, meaning QB Jordan Love will have his top pass catchers at his disposal for the divisional matchup.

Mitchell (finger) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Coming back from a four-game absence, Mitchell figures to take a lot of the snaps that went to Tim Patrick last week. What's less clear is how Mitchell's return will impact Omar Cooper, who played 82 percent of snaps in last week's 26-19 loss to the Patriots, catching six of seven targets for 103 yards and a TD in the process.

Evans (Achilles) wasn't present at the start of Friday's practice, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Evans appears poised to miss every Week 7 practice after he aggravated a right Achilles injury in Monday's win against the Commanders. The 49ers may make a ruling on Evans' availability for Sunday's game in Atlanta once the team posts its final injury report of the week Friday.