Several top WRs battling injuries
The New Orleans Saints on Friday ruled out All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas for a third straight game, and Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler Davante Adams looks doubtful for Week 4 after sitting out last week.
But All-Pro Julio Jones is expected to play Monday night for the Falcons even though his sore hamstring isn’t fully healed, and Pro Bowler D. J. Chark will be back Sunday for the Jacksonville Jaguars after being out a week.
And Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. practiced Friday after missing time with a back issue earlier this week and is expected to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Thomas, who last season set an NFL single- season record with 149 catches, practiced throughout the week while trying to come back from a sprained ankle he suffered in Week 1, but the Saints decided he wasn’t ready.
New Orleans also ruled out starting cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Janoris Jenkins (shoulder); tight end Jared Cook ( groin); left guard Andrus Peat (ankle); and former UTSA defensive endMarcus Davenport (elbow, toe).
Adams has practiced on a limited basis each of the last two days after missing Sunday night’s 37-30 victory at New Orleans with a hamstring injury. The three-time Pro Bowler has said he only will return once the hamstring feels the way it did before he got hurt.
Packers No. 2 receiver Allen Lazard (core injury) also missed practice Friday, and his coaches and teammates talked about the likelihood of playing without him.
Jones went through the second practice of the week Friday, but afterward acknowledged that he wasn’t fully recovered from the hamstring injury that caused him to miss the Bears game Sunday.
“I’m not 100 percent with anything, but I feel good,” Jones said.
Chark is no longer on the injury report and expected to return to the starting lineup at Cincinnati after missing last week’s game against Miami with a chest/ back injury. He was hurt while making a 45-yard catch at Tennessee in Week 2.
Beckham was limited Thursday, when he appeared on the injury report for the first time. But he moved well Friday during the early portion of practice open to media members. Afterward, coach Kevin Stefanski said Beckham is “good to go.”
In San Francisco, No. 1 receiver Deebo Samuel is set to make his 2020 debut after breaking his foot during the offseason. But more importantly, All-Pro tight end George Kittle will return after sitting out the past two weeks.
The news wasn’t all good in San Francisco, as the team said Friday that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee) will miss their second straight starts.
The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting safety Jamal Adams, who suffered a groin injury in last week’s win over Dallas, and starting cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee) for Sunday’s game at Miami. But running back Chris Carson, who suffered a sprained knee when his legs were twisted by Dallas defensive lineman Trysten Hill, was a full participant in practice Friday.
Meanwhile, quarterback Drew Lock is 50-50 for the Denver Broncos’ game at New England next weekend, but if his right shoulder is still sore, fellow second-year pro Brett Rypien will get his second straight start after winning his first Monday night against the New York Jets.
Coach Vic Fangio said he’ll see how Lock does when the team returns to practice Tuesday. Lock hasn’t thrown a football since getting hurt at Pittsburgh on Sept. 20.