Week 8 Practice Reports Split the League Into Returns and Holds

Returns in Denver and Baltimore

Denver's Thursday report leaned toward returns. Zach Allen returned to practice as a limited participant on Thursday, and Jaylen Waddle did the same, while Marvin Mims Jr. improved to a full participant. Garett Bolles remained a limited participant for the second consecutive day, and Brandon Jones and RJ Harvey were added to the practice report as limited participants. The caution in the report sits with Talanoa Hufanga, who did not practice for the second consecutive day and last played in Week 5 against the Chargers. Karene Reid, Malcolm Roach and Pat Surtain II were each full participants for the second consecutive day, and Denver will release game statuses on Friday for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. m:…8162

Baltimore's return was faster and more striking. Vega Ioane returned to practice on Thursday, four days after suffering an MCL knee sprain, joined by Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith, who also returned to practice on Thursday. Jaylinn Hawkins was the only Raven not present at the start of Thursday's practice, which frames the day as a near-full return rather than a partial one. Lamar Jackson was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, and Declan Doyle said the team is trying to make practice as close to game-like reps as possible for Jackson, while Jesse Minter said Hamilton and Smith were dealing with typical after-game issues. m:…3358

The contrast between the two reports is in the timeline. Denver's returning players are mostly limited, with Friday statuses still to come, which means Thursday's progress does not yet settle Sunday availability. Baltimore's three starters were back on the field four days after Ioane's injury, which is a short absence for a knee sprain and a sign the team expects them to be available, even though the cited claims do not state game-day status for any of the three. m:…8162 m:…3358

Thin depth charts elsewhere

Carolina's moves show what happens when a position group runs out of healthy bodies. The Panthers placed cornerback Akayleb Evans on injured reserve, where he is out for at least the next four games after being ruled out this week due to knee and triceps injuries. The team signed cornerback Malcolm DeWalt IV to the 53-man roster, after he was previously on the Atlanta Falcons' 53-man roster, and elevated cornerback Marco Wilson from the practice squad for Week 8, along with guard Curhan. The Panthers flew to Green Bay with two healthy corners and seven healthy offensive linemen, while guards Damien Lewis and Torricelli Simpkins III are out this week with injuries. Wilson's experience, 64 appearances and 37 starts in his career, is part of why the elevation matters: the team is not just filling a roster spot but leaning on a player who has started before. m:…0418

The Jets report is a similar mix of limited, absent and returning players ahead of their Week 8 game against the Raiders. Breece Hall was a limited participant on Thursday due to a quad injury, and Dylan Parham was a limited participant due to a knee injury. David Bailey did not participate due to a groin injury, Max Mitchell did not participate due to a concussion, Joseph Ossai did not participate due to an ankle injury, and T'Vondre Sweat did not participate due to a knee injury. On the positive side, Demario Davis and Harrison Phillips returned to full participation after a rest day, and Braelon Allen was a full participant. The pattern across all five teams is the same: Thursday reports describe practice participation, not final availability, and the last word in each case will be the game status report that follows. m:…6311