NFL news, injury updates: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb optimistic about return to lineup for Week 7

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones was a full participant in Thursday’s practice after he was limited Wednesday with the oblique and knee injuries he’s been dealing with of late.

As for Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ season-opening QB1, he’s still limited with the toe injury that he aggravated in Week 4 and that’s kept him out of four games this year.

San Francisco’s top tight end, George Kittle, returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since going on IR for a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 1.

Kittle said he plans to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur.

Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice due to a groin injury. Swift was a full participant in Wednesday’s walk-through.

The Bears are coming off a Week 6 win over the Washington Commanders, where Swift rushed for 108 yards and caught two balls for 67 yards.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is set to return to the field on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Lamb has been out since Week 3 when he suffered an ankle injury against Chicago. Dallas went 1-1-1 during Lamb’s absence.

Nacua suffered a left ankle sprain during Sunday’s win over the Ravens. He left the game in the second quarter and returned in the third quarter. Head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that the team was “encouraged” by ankle scans and that they feel they avoid a long-term injury situation.

McVay added that he was unsure if Nacua would practice this week ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Jaguars in London.

“I certainly don’t want to pigeonhole myself into a kind of an approach like that, but I think that you would like him to be able to [practice],” McVay said.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who is dealing with a foot injury that’s reported to be a mid-foot sprain and that sidelined him for a Week 6 loss in Indianapolis, was in uniform for practice Thursday, but he was seen throwing with the practice squad pass catchers during the open part of practice, according to Cardinals reporter Darren Urban.

Urban noted that Jacoby Brissett — who started in Murray’s place in Indianapolis last week — and Kedon Slovis were working with the team’s regular pass catchers.

ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported that wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — who suffered a concussion in the first half against the Colts — was wearing a yellow no-contact jersey Thursday.

The 30-year-old wide receiver has been limited to three games this season due to a quad injury.

Head coach Dan Quinns had said that McLaurin was expected to practice this week, but Thursday will not be the day he returns.

The 2024 NFL sack king injured his back during Cincinnati’s Week 6 loss to the Packers. An MRI showed no issue and he was considered day-to-day.

The Bengals will next face the Jets in Week 8 on Oct. 26.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott arrived in Cincinnati on Thursday, and the team expects him to be ready to play against the Bengals on Thursday Night Football.

The Steelers have removed the questionable designation tag from Elliott. He’d been absent while dealing with a personal matter.

Multiple Indianapolis Colts players did not practice on Thursday due to different injuries. Cornerback Charvarius Ward was missing action after suffering a concussion, and the same goes for wide receiver Josh Downs, who’s out with a concussion.

Wideout Ashton Dulin missed practice Thursday with a chest injury, and running back Tyler Goodson was out with a groin injury.

Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons missed another practice on Thursday due to a personal matter. Simmons has been out all week and missed the Chiefs’ Week 6 victory over the Lions on Sunday.

Watson has been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered at the end of the 2024 regular season.

The Packers face the Cardinals in Week 7

Jackson, 25, was a 2022 second-round pick out of USC by the 49ers. He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in San Francisco before missing all of 2024 following patellar tendon surgery. The 49ers waived him in May and he signed with Washington on Wednesday.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and running back Bucky Irving have already been ruled out for Monday night’s meeting with the Lions, but Week 7 is looking like Evans’ return date.

Evans has not played since Week 3 when he suffered a hamstring injury against the Jets.

Godwin remains week-to-week with a fibula injury, while Irving has been out with foot and shoulder injuries.

Brian Branch’s suspension was just upheld after appeal following the fight at the end of the Lions-Chiefs game on Sunday night in Kansas City. As a result, Branch will miss Sunday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For more on Branch’s suspension and the brawl at Arrowhead Stadium, click here.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua sat out Wednesday’s practice because of the ankle injury he suffered during a Week 6 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Nacua is dealing with an ankle sprain that Rams head coach Sean McVay doesn’t expect to be a long-term issue for his standout receiver.

Los Angeles plays the Jacksonville Jaguars in London this week. Then the Rams have a bye.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers isn’t practicing Wednesday, as reported by ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.

Bowers has been dealing with a knee injury that’s kept him out the past two games.

He didn’t practice all last week leading up to his absence during a Week 6 win over the Tennessee Titans. Michael Mayer has filled in as the Raiders’ top tight end.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner underwent surgery for his season-ending ankle injury, and it “went great,” according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reported Wednesday.

The Atlanta Falcons did not hold practice on Wednesday; however, they did have five players listed as non-participants. Tackle Jake Matthews (ankle), edge rusher Jalon Walker (groin), cornerback Clark Phillips III (triceps/illness), cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (hamstring), and edge rusher Leonard Floyd (illness).

Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) and tight end Feleipe Franks (calf) were both listed as limited participants. Defensive linemen LaCale London (triceps) and Ta’Quon Graham (calf) would have both been full participants had the Falcons practiced on Wednesday.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter told reporters that he’s playing Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.

Carter missed the Eagles’ Week 6 road loss to the New York Giants with a heel injury after popping up on the team’s injury report earlier in the week.

Carter, a second-team All-Pro in 2024, has tallied 10 total tackles this season, including one TFL.

The New York Jets had four players listed as ‘did not practice’ on Wednesday, including wide out Garrett Wilson (knee), linebacker Cam Jones, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, and cornerback Qwan’Tez Stiggers, all dealing with hip injuries.

Cornerback Michael Carter II (concussion) was listed as a full participant along with linebacker Ja’Markis Weston (groin).