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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Wednesday, September 16

Cooper DeJean Expects to Play Sunday Despite Missing Practice With Injuries

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean missed his first regular-season practice due to calf and abdomen injuries sustained in Week 1, where he allowed seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. Despite sitting out Wednesday, DeJean stated he feels good and expects to play against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He dismissed any correlation between his physical ailments and his uncharacteristically poor opener, focusing instead on fixing technique issues.

De'Zhaun Stribling Out 10 Weeks After Undergoing Ankle Surgery

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San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery for a left ankle deltoid ligament sprain suffered in Week 1 against the Rams. Stribling was carted off in the second quarter after briefly attempting to return. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed he is expected to miss roughly 10 weeks. The 49ers promoted KhaDarel Hodge from the practice squad to bolster a receiver core already missing Ricky Pearsall.

Sam Darnold Ruled Out for Week 2 With Glute Injury, Avoids IR

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals due to a soft-tissue glute injury suffered in Week 1. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold will avoid injured reserve, with reports suggesting he could return in one to four weeks. Backup Drew Lock, who led a second-half comeback victory over New England by passing for 187 yards and a touchdown, will start in Darnold's place.

Patrick Mahomes Logs Full Practice as Tom Brady Endorses QB's Return

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Tom Brady declared Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is back to his usual self following a torn ACL last December. Mahomes logged a full practice ahead of Week 2 against Indianapolis after self-critiquing his Week 1 outing. In a 31-10 victory over Denver, he completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while also adding a 15-yard rushing touchdown.

Ale Kaho Positioned for Roster Elevation With Washington Commanders

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Washington Commanders inside linebacker Ale Kaho is positioned for a potential elevation to the active roster from the practice squad following teammate Jordan Magee's placement on the Reserve/Injured list. Kaho, who put together a strong preseason performance, provides crucial depth for the Commanders as they prepare for upcoming matchups and adjust their roster depth chart to compensate for injuries on the defensive side of the ball heading into Week 2.

Geno Smith Leads New York Jets to Strong Start Ahead of Packers Matchup

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New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith opened the season completing 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and no turnovers in a 23-10 win over Tennessee. Operating in Frank Reich's offense, Smith benefited from a strong 152-yard rushing display and nearly doubled play-action usage to 37.5%. Un-sacked and rarely pressured, Smith now prepares to leverage his photographic memory and history against defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as the Green Bay Packers visit MetLife Stadium.

Cooper Kupp Limited in Wednesday Practice Due to Back Injury

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice on Sept. 16 while managing a back injury. Kupp opened the season as the team's second-leading receiver, though he secured just 35 yards in the opener. Early indications suggest Seattle's passing attack will heavily feature Jaxon Smith-Njigba, potentially leaving Kupp to operate largely as a touchdown-dependent receiving option moving forward.

Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Wednesday Practice With Non-Injury Day

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey did not participate in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 16, due to a scheduled non-injury rest day. The team continues to manage his workload carefully to keep him healthy for the entire season. In the season opener, McCaffrey was highly efficient, turning 15 touches into 88 yards with an impressive 6.8 yards per rush average, proving his limited touches remain impactful for the 49ers' offense.

Sterling Shepard Signs With Jets Practice Squad After Quick Call

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Sterling Shepard was picking his kids up in Florida when the Jets called needing a wide receiver after Omar Cooper Jr. suffered a sprained ankle. Shepard worked out Tuesday and signed to the practice squad. The former Giant is getting up to speed on the playbook and trying to get his body back in pads shape after spending time working out alone and a brief stint with the Texans. He has previous chemistry with Jets quarterback Geno Smith from their time together with New York.

Kyrie Irving Offers to Pay Azeez Al-Shaair's $11,941 NFL Fine

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Kyrie Irving publicly offered to pay Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's $11,941 NFL fine. The penalty was levied after Al-Shaair wrote the name of a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in 2024 on his eye black during a game.

Caleb Williams Earns MVP Buzz and FedEx Award Ahead of Vikings

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams won FedEx Player of the Week after completing 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two TDs while rushing for 65 yards and two scores in a 59-37 win over Carolina, pushing his MVP odds to +600. As Chicago prepares for Week 2 against Minnesota's complex defense, Williams called facing the scheme a mental war and highlighted the team's goal to score on every drive. Tom Brady also featured him prominently in his new NFL power rankings.

Trevor Lawrence Emerges as Early MVP Candidate After Dominant Week 1

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence enters Week 2 as an early MVP candidate after a stellar performance in a 34-10 win over Cleveland. Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, posting a league-leading 150.6 passer rating. He was 10-of-11 for 179 yards on deep throws. Lawrence has now led Jacksonville to nine wins in their last 10 games as they prepare to visit Denver.

Ja'Kobi Lane Placed on Injured Reserve Following Wrist Surgery

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Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery for a fractured wrist sustained in a 41-23 Week 1 victory over Indianapolis. The third-round draft pick caught one pass for 11 yards and had a 4-yard touchdown voided by a penalty before departing. Lane must miss at least four games, making a Week 6 return against Cleveland on October 18 his earliest possible timetable as head coach Jesse Minter targets a swift return.

Nick Emmanwori Limited in Seahawks Practice With Ankle and Hip Injuries

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Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori was limited in Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury and a newly reported hip injury. Emmanwori missed the entire preseason and Week 1 after undergoing ankle surgery in July. His health is considered critical for Seattle's defense as they prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 2 divisional matchup this Sunday.

Tory Horton Returns to Full Practice Participation for Seahawks

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton was a full participant in Wednesday's practice ahead of Sunday's NFC West clash against the Arizona Cardinals. Horton has not played a snap for Seattle in 318 days, having suffered a tibia fracture in Week 9 of last season and later missing the 2026 season opener with a training camp hamstring injury. His return provides added speed for Seattle's offense under Drew Lock.

Drew Lock Set to Start for Seahawks as Sam Darnold Remains Sidelined

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals while Sam Darnold recovers from a glute injury. Lock previously led Seattle to a 13-10 Week 1 victory over New England after entering in relief, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. Teammate Leonard Williams expressed full confidence in Lock's abilities, highlighting his past clutch performances as Seattle's offense prepares under his direction.

Marvin Mims Jr. Misses Estimated Practice Report With Foot Injury

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Denver Broncos wide receiver and return specialist Marvin Mims Jr. was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report due to a foot injury. Mims played in Monday night's season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he returned two punts. Because Denver did not hold an on-field practice on Wednesday, his participation levels on Thursday and Friday will determine his availability for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

Malik Hooker Sidelined From Cowboys Practice Due to Forearm Injury

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Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker did not participate in Wednesday's practice session due to a forearm injury. Hooker was held out of action alongside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown as Dallas resumed practice following a Week 1 loss to the New York Giants. His status for the remainder of the practice week will determine whether he can suit up for the Cowboys in their upcoming Week 2 matchup.

DeMarvion Overshown Misses Cowboys Practice With Hamstring Injury

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Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown did not participate in Wednesday's practice session due to a hamstring injury. Overshown was held out alongside safety Malik Hooker as Dallas began preparations following a 28-20 season-opening loss to the New York Giants. His participation over the next two days will be crucial in establishing his availability for the Cowboys' upcoming Week 2 contest.

Miles Killebrew Limited in Practice While in Concussion Protocol

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Miles Killebrew was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday's practice as he continues to work through the NFL's concussion protocol. The Buccaneers opened preparations for their Week 2 home game against the Cleveland Browns following a season-opening loss. Killebrew's progress through protocol stages late in the week will determine his availability for Sunday.