This week has been pivotal in the lead-up to the NFL games, with several significant updates coming out of team practices. Ja’Marr Chase, the standout wide receiver, was limited at practice, which has raised some eyebrows and concerns among the Cincinnati Bengals faithful. Meanwhile, his teammate, quarterback Joe Burrow, participated fully, putting to rest any unfounded worries about his readiness.
Elsewhere, the Arizona Cardinals have suffered a blow with Marquise Brown sidelined due to a shoulder injury. The importance of Brown to the Cardinals' aerial attack cannot be overstated, and his absence will be keenly felt. Similarly, Penn State’s Adisa Isaac and Marshall’s Rasheen Ali are out of action, with hamstring and neck injuries, respectively. These injuries underscore the relentless physical toll the game takes on its players.
Packers' Practice and Injury Concerns
Over in Green Bay, six players are facing limitations, including Romeo Doubs, who has been restricted for two consecutive days, and Tucker Kraft, whose limitation on Wednesday marks a new development. Notably, the Packers' practice designations were merely estimates, as the team did not practice formally. This situation puts an added layer of uncertainty on their status for the upcoming game.
Roster Adjustments and Player Stand-ins
The injury bug has also bitten Devin White, ruling him out with an ankle injury. Stepping in for White will be Nakobe Dean, making his fifth career start. In a crucial development for the Eagles, Isaac Seumalo did not practice and is not expected to play, affecting the team's offensive line dynamics significantly.
Steelers fans are monitoring the status of Troy Fautanu, Roman Wilson, and Jaylen Warren, who were limited in practice. Meanwhile, Falcons’ Kyle Pitts and Nate Landman are also dealing with limitations that may affect their game preparation. The Chiefs’ Xavier Weaver is battling an oblique injury, joining teammate Javon Solomon, who is likewise sidelined with a similar ailment.
The news from the Steelers camp about Mitchell Trubisky being limited at practice due to a knee problem adds another layer of complexity for the team. Concurrently, Jamal Adams missed practice because of a hip issue, while Saints’ fans will be pleased to hear positive updates about Jordan Addison.
"Jordan Addison moved around well and they anticipate increasing his workload as the week progresses," said Saints coach Kevin O'Connell. This positive outlook extends to Jalen Nailor, who, despite being a bit behind Addison, is also progressing well, according to O'Connell.
Bears and Texans Injury Updates
The Chicago Bears are dealing with injuries to key players; Keenan Allen and Montez Sweat were limited in practice. However, Bears GM Ryan Poles has assured fans that “Allen’s injury would not impact his Week 1 status,” a much-needed relief for the team and supporters alike.
On the Texans' side, safety M.J. Stewart is out of practice due to a knee injury. The Colts are similarly affected with wide receiver Josh Downs and kicker Matt Gay absent from practice. To address this, the Colts re-signed Spencer Shrader to their practice squad, filling a critical gap.
Other Notable Player Updates
Daniel Thomas’s Achilles injury limited his participation, but there's positive news from the Dolphins camp as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have no injury designations. For the Patriots, Jonathan Jones and Vederian Lowe are wrestling with practice limitations, while guard Sidy Sow did not practice.
Further south, the Panthers were without Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble in practice, with Miles Sanders limited due to a finger injury. The Panthers took proactive measures by signing rookie Messiah Swinson off the Packers' practice squad, showing the front office's dedication to maintaining roster depth.
Giants, Broncos, and Browns Updates
Giants’ fans are keeping an eye on Drew Lock, Micah McFadden, Dane Belton, and Gunner Olszewski, who were all limited during practice sessions. Excitingly for the Broncos, Bo Nix was announced as the first rookie captain since 1967, adding a historic milestone for the franchise.
The Cleveland Browns have eight players limited in practice, and Jedrick Wills remains sidelined following surgery last December. For the Commanders, Daron Payne and Marcus Mariota were limited, raising questions about their game readiness. Buccaneers' faithful are concerned as Logan Hall and Chase McLaughlin did not practice, leaving the team without a kicker on their practice squad for now.
Turning to the Bengals, DJ Reader was limited on Wednesday but head coach Dan Campbell remains "optimistic about DJ Reader playing on Sunday," which would be a crucial boost for the team's defensive front.