Week 8 of the NFL season has arrived, and there are some big names to monitor as teams begin preparation for their respective matchups. Tua Tagovailoa may return from his concussion for the Miami Dolphins while Cooper Kupp may be on his way back from an ankle injury (the Rams play the Vikings Thursday night).
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since recording his third documented NFL concussion against the Buffalo Bills over a month ago.
Below, you’ll see each team’s notable injury news from Wednesday’s initial practice report this week. Make sure you continue to check this page out as we’ll be updating it.
Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday)
The Vikings still have to activate Hockenson’s practice window, but there appears to be a chance he makes his return this week. Hockenson was limited in Wednesday’s final practice. Running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) was not given an injury designation.
The big news for the Rams is that Cooper Kupp (ankle) was not given an injury designation. He’ll play on Thursday night against the Vikings. Nacua was limited in Wednesday’s final practice and could be activated for Thursday’s game.
Four Eagles players didn’t practice on Wednesday: offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (concussion), tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring), linebacker Zack Baun (shoulder) and defensive tackle Byron Young. Running back Saquon Barkley (rest), edge rusher Brandon Graham (rest), cornerback Darius Slay (rest) and edge rusher Josh Sweat (rest) were all limited with veteran rest days.
The Bengals only had one player not practice because of an injury: safety Geno Stone was out with a shin injury. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson also missed practice, but it was for a personal reason. Left tackle Orland Brown was limited with a knee injury.
Baltimore was without three key starters in practice on Wednesday with wide receiver Zay Flowers (ankle), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (knee) and cornerback Nate Wiggins (shoulder) all missing practice. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), linebacker Malik Harrison (groin). cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring) and running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) and defensive lineman Broderick Washington (knee) was limited.
Cleveland was without numerous players at practice on Wednesday: running back Jerome Ford (hamstring), safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (ankle), linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), defensive end Quinton Jefferson (personal), center Ethan Pocic (knee) and left tackle Jedrick Wills (knee). Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) and guard Wyatt Teller (knee) were all limited.
The Lions had a few of their offensive linemen have rest days on Wednesday, as tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow sat out practice. Guard Kevin Zeitler (groin) was a full participant.
Tennessee was without wide receiver Calvin Ridley (foot), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad) and defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons (vet rest day) at Wednesday’s practice. Quarterback Will Levis (right shoulder) and running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) were limited.
The Colts were without their top two wide receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (groin, toe) as well as center Ryan Kelly (calf) and right tackle Braden Smith (knee). Both running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and defensive DeForest Buckner (ankle) were limited.
Three of Houston’s players who didn’t suit up in Week 7 at the Green Bay Packers also didn’t practice on Wednesday: linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), safety Jimmie Ward (groin) and wider receiver Robert Woods (knee). Cornerback Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (concussion) are two starters who didn’t play on Sunday that did practice Wednesday as limited participants. Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. (chest), who did play in Week 7, joined that duo as practicing in a limited fashion.
The Packers missed four starters at practice on Wednesday with left guard Elgton Jenkins (glute), center Josh Myers (wrist), linebacker Quay Walker (concussion) and wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) all not participating. A slew of other starters were limited including cornerback Jaire Alexander (groin), defensive tackle Kenny Clark (toe), cornerback Keisean Nixon (hamstring), wide receiver Jayden Reed (ankle) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (ankle).
Left tackle Cam Robinson (concussion) was the only player to not to practice for Jacksonville on Wednesday. A number of starters were limited including defensive lineman Arik Armstead (shoulder), wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), tight end Evan Engram (hamstring), running back Travis Etienne (hamstring) and linebacker Foye Oluokun (foot).
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returned to practice for the first time since suffering his third NFL concussion a little over a month ago. Right guard Liam Eichenberg (shoulders), safety Jevon Holland (hand), edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah (bicep) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (quad) also joined their quarterback as being limited practice participants. The Dolphins gave left tackle Terron Armstead and defensive tackle Calais Campbell veteran rest days on Wednesday. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley (right shoulder) also didn’t practice.
The Cardinals held a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their practice report is an estimation. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (neck) and edge rusher Darius Robinson (personal/calf) did not practice. Offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (groin), cornerback Max Melton (neck) and linebacker Owen Pappoe (hip) were limited.
A lengthy injury report for the Jets, as wide receiver Allan Lazard (chest) and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) were the notable players that did not practice. Defensive lineman Will McDonald IV (shoulder), tackle Morgan Moses (knee), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee/hamstring), and linebacker Quincy Williams (neck) were limited.
The Patriots were without a few starters on Wednesday including linebacker Anthony Jennings (shoulder/knee), left tackle Vederian Lowe (ankle), wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (concussion), right guard Layden Robinson (ankle), running back Rhamondre Stevenson (foot/personal) and defensive end Keion White (ankle). Safety Kyle Dugger (ankle), left guard Michael Jordan (ankle), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder) and linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) were all limited.
For the Falcons, safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) was listed as limited in Wednesday’s practice. Cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. (back) was also limited while pass rusher Matt Judon had a rest day.
The Buccaneers put wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) on injured reserve while wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) did not practice. Running back Bucky Irving (toe) also did not practice.
The Saints were without quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) and left guard Nick Saldiveri (shoulder) on Wednesday. Head coach Dennis Allen said fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler will likely start in place of the injured Carr on Sunday. Right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee), center/guard Lucas Patrick (chest), linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring), center Connor McGovern (back), wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (back), tight end Taysom Hill (rib), running back Alvin Kamara (hand/rib), wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) and tight end Juwan Johnson (shoulder) were all limited on Wednesday.
Los Angeles is dealing with a lengthy injury report with seven key players not practicing on Wednesday: edge rusher Khalil Mack (veteran rest day), wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle), wide receiver Ladd McConkey (hip), linebacker Denzel Perryman (toe), tight end Hayden Hurst (groin), tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) and wide receiver Derius Davis (hamstring). Edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip), wide receiver DJ Chark (groin), cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) were all limited.
The Bills had linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral/personal) listed as a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. Safety Damar Hamlin (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (collarbone) were limited. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral) also did not practice.
Seattle was without a few starters on Wednesday including wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee), cornerback Tre Brown (ankle), defensive lineman Leonard Williams (knee/rest) and running back Kenneth Walker III (illness). Offensive tackle George Fant (knee), offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (knee), cornerback Riq Woolen (ankle), safety Julian Love (knee/quad) were among the notable limited practice participants.
The Panthers had Andy Dalton (right thumb) listed as a non participant in Wednesday’s practice (Dalton was in a car accident this week). Cornerback Dane Jackson (hamstring) was also held out of practice. Running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) and and wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) were limited.
Denver had just one player miss practice Wednesday in defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (illness). Three players were limited: safety P.J. Locke (thumb), offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) and offensive tackle tackle Alex Palczewski. Cornerback Pat Surtain II (concussion) practiced fully after missing “Thursday Night Football” in Week 7.
Only three Kansas City Chiefs didn’t practice fully on Wednesday: defensive end Michael Danna (pectoral, did not practice), wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster (hamstring, did not participate) and running back Kareem Hunt (hip, limited).
Three Las Vegas Raiders did not practice on Wednesday: tight end Harrison Bryant (elbow), left tackle Kolton Miller (elbow) and right guard Dylan Parham (foot). Defensive tackle Adam Butler (hip) and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) were among the limited practice particiapants.
For the Bears, defensive back Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring) did not practice. Defensive back Terell Smith (hip) was also limited.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (rib), offensive tackle Brandon Coleman (concussion) and tight end Zach Ertz (vet rest day) didn’t practice on Wednesday. Left guard Nick Allegretti (ankle), edge rusher Dorance Armstrong (rib), center Tyler Biadasz (thumb), wide receiver Dyami Brown (ankle), edge rusher Clelin Ferrell (knee), edge rusher Dante Fowler JR. (groin), offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (neck) and safety Tyler Owens (shin) were all limited.
The Cowboys didn’t have Brandon Aubrey for Wednesday’s practice due to being selected to be on a 12-person jury for a felony assault case. DaRon Bland (foot) returned to practice by working with director of rehab Britt Brown off to the side, which was why he was a DNP. Bland did practice fully on Wednesday and Thursday prior to Week 6, but he was held out of their game that week against the Lions. Edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) also did not practice while Eric Kendricks (shoulder) was limited.
San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. didn’t practice Wednesday with a wrist and illness designation. On Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he would have a chance to play Sunday night after going to the hospital with pneumonia. Many other key contributors also didn’t practice on Wednesday including edge rusher Nick Bosa (elbow), running back Jordan Mason (shoulder), left tackle Trent Williams (vet rest day), kicker Jake Moody (right ankle), tight end George Kittle (foot), and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip).
Analysis to come.
