JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury News & Updates

Smith-Schuster hauled in his only target for two yards during Sunday's 28-21 defeat against the Bills.

Smith-Schuster logged a season-low 28 percent offensive snap share in Sunday's tilt, logging just 15 total snaps in the contest. It marked just the second time this season the veteran wideout managed fewer than two receptions in a game, but Smith-Schuster has seen a steep decline in his workload since Rashee Rice returned in Week 7. Nothing is particularly enticing about Smith-Schuster's fantasy outlook as long as the starting wideouts remain healthy.

Smith-Schuster gathered in both of his targets for 29 yards during Monday's 28-7 win versus the Commanders.

Smith-Schuster totaled just 21 offensive snaps in the contest, his lowest total of the season, and his second week in a row playing fewer than 30 offensive snaps. With Rashee Rice back in the fold and the wideout room healthy, this trend seems likely to continue. Smith-Schuster was already on the waiver wire in a lot of leagues before Rice returned, and there are very few situations where he's worth rostering in fantasy at the moment.

Smith-Schuster recorded three receptions on three targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 31-0 win over the Raiders.

Rashee Rice made his season debut and immediately dominated opportunity, commanding 10 targets while the next closest Chief had five. Smith-Schuster was in the mix with the rest of Kansas City's pass catchers and set up the team's third touchdown of the day with long gains of 19 and 12 yards. While Smith-Schuster is a key part of the team's offense, he has topped 50 receiving yards only three times in seven games this season and is likely to be less involved moving forward due to the return of Rice.

Smith-Schuster hauled in all three of his targets for 57 yards during Sunday's 30-17 victory against the Lions.

Smith-Schuster made the most of his three grabs, tallying 30, 17 and 10 yards on each of them to reach 57 for the day, but that doesn't generate enough fantasy value to warrant using him in the majority of formats. On top of that, Rashee Rice returns this week to reclaim his spot in the slot. With Hollywood Brown claiming a starting role and Tyquan Thornton and second-year wideout Xavier Worthy all vying for playing time, Smith-Schuster is at risk of getting squeezed out of some snaps moving forward.

Smith-Schuster caught two of three targets for 17 yards in Monday's 31-28 loss to the Jaguars.

Smith-Schuster played 42 of the Chiefs' 64 offensive snaps Monday, behind Xavier Worthy (49) and ahead of Marquise Brown (33), Tyquan Thornton (29) and Jalen Royals (4). Despite playing the second most snaps of any Kansas City wideout, the veteran was unable to get much going in the passing game. Smith-Schuster is already difficult to trust for fantasy purposes, and the looming return of Rashee Rice from his six-game suspension should further complicate matters for the ninth-year receiver. Smith-Schuster will have the chance to bounce back in what should be a high-scoring affair when the Chiefs host the Lions in Week 6.

Smith-Schuster hauled in four of six targets for 36 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 37-20 win versus the Ravens.

Smith-Schuster's time as a regular may wind down in a couple of weeks when Rashee Rice returns from his six-game suspension, but the veteran wideout continues to play a key role in the offense for KC, leading the wideout room with 57 offensive snaps (78 percent) in Week 4. Sunday's effort marked Smith-Schuster's first reaching double-digit fantasy points in PPR formats, and he'll likely remain a touchdown-dependent fantasy option for the next couple of weeks. That said, he has another decent matchup ahead versus the Jaguars in Week 5.

Smith-Schuster reeled in all four of his targets for 55 yards in Sunday's 22-9 win over the Giants.

Smith-Schuster played 50 of the Chiefs' 72 offensive snaps Sunday, behind fellow wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (55). The veteran wideout has remained a relatively important part of the Chiefs' passing attack with Xavier Worthy (shoulder) sidelined and Rashee Rice suspended, but he hasn't been able to make much noise with his opportunities. Heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Ravens, Smith-Schuster offers limited upside, especially with the Worthy potentially back in the mix.

Smith-Schuster had one reception (on three targets) for five yards during Sunday's 20-17 defeat to the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster saw regular run on offense Sunday with Xavier Worthy (shoulder) out and Rashee Rice suspended, but he was unable to capitalize on the increase in opportunity. Tyquan Thornton did take advantage of the chance, reeling in two of his five targets for 59 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown and a near-miss touchdown on another deep shot from Patrick Mahomes. With Worthy on the cups of a return, it's reasonable to question how many snaps Smith-Schuster will claim moving forward.

Smith-Schuster brought in all five targets for 55 yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.

The veteran wideout took advantage of the opportunity created by the early first-quarter departure of Xavier Worthy (shoulder), finishing as a distant runner-up across the board to Hollywood Brown in receiving metrics. Smith-Schuster was slated to serve as the No. 3 receiver to open the season due to Rashee Rice's suspension, but Worthy's injury, if it carries over into a Week 2 home showdown against the Eagles, could lead to Smith-Schuster operating in a No. 2 role again.

Smith-Schuster could be counted upon for an expanded role in Friday's regular-season opener against the Chargers, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports.

Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown and Tyquan Thornton are all candidates for significant action Friday. Those receivers are next in line for opportunities behind Xavier Worthy while Rashee Rice serves a six-game suspension to begin the season, and rookie fourth-round pick Jalen Royals (knee) has been ruled out. Smith-Schuster had only 231 regular-season receiving yards with Kansas City in 2024, a far cry from the 933 he managed in his first year with the Chiefs in 2022.

The Chiefs are re-signing Smith-Schuster to a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster initially joined Kansas City on a one-year deal last August and appeared in 14 regular-season games, tallying 18 receptions on 26 targets for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He then played in all three of the team's postseason contests and caught four of six targets for 76 yards. Kansas City lost DeAndre Hopkins in free agency early in the week, but Hollywood Brown was re-signed and Rashee Rice should be back in action at the start of next season after missing most of last year due to a knee injury, so Smith-Schuster probably isn't going to have a much bigger role in the Chiefs' offense than he did last year.

Smith-Schuster racked up 18 catches for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 targets during the 2024 regular season.

Smith-Schuster inked a one-year deal with the Chiefs this offseason, hoping to rekindle some of the flames that saw him register 78 grabs for 933 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, but it wasn't in the cards for him this season. Smith-Schuster saw semi-regular action in games but wasn't a major factor for the Chiefs, even after Rashee Rice was lost for the season due to an LCL injury. The team instead traded for DeAndre Hopkins and coasted by the regular season, seeing a late-season return from Hollywood Brown to pair with rookie Xavier Worthy as the team's primary tandem during the postseason. Smith-Schuster reenters free agency this offseason unrestricted but seems unlikely to recapture his production from 2022 when the Chiefs sported a relatively barren wide receiver depth chart. He'll likely need to compete for regular playing time again at his next stop.

Smith-Schuster caught one of two targets for four yards during Sunday's 38-0 loss versus the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster logged a heavy workload in the contest, playing 94 percent of the offensive snaps as one of the wideouts who saw additional action with Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown all sitting out with the No. 1 seed already in hand coming into the Week 18 tilt. The veteran closed out the 2024 campaign with 18 catches for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 targets and will rejoin the free-agent ranks this offseason once the team's postseason run concludes.

Smith-Schuster caught both of his targets for 18 yards in Wednesday's 29-10 win over the Steelers.

Smith-Schuster was one of seven players to catch multiple passes from Patrick Mahomes in Wednesday's lopsided win. The veteran wideout is an ancillary piece in Kansas City's passing game, having surpassed 20 yards in only two games this season.

Smith-Schuster failed to reel in his only target during Saturday's 27-19 win over the Texans.

Smith-Schuster saw his snap count decline to 39 percent with the return of Hollywood Brown to the lineup Saturday, after having played over 50 percent of snaps in his prior four appearances. With Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins also available as starters in three-wide sets, Smith-Schuster's role on offense for Kansas City is now clearly a depth one, especially with Brown's involvement to be ramped up. He can safely be relegated to the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy formats heading into a road matchup against the Steelers on Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster reeled in one of his three targets for seven yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 21-7 win versus the Browns.

Smith-Schuster's 51 percent snap share sits around the same range it has been over the past four contests. His three targets did mark his highest total since returning from a hamstring injury in Week 11, but that's hardly enough volume to warrant fantasy consideration in the majority of formats. On top of that, Hollywood Brown's (shoulder) practice window to return from injured reserve has opened. When Brown is activated, Smith-Schuster will likely slide further out of the limelight behind Brown, Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins.

Smith-Schuster gathered in both of his targets for 31 yards during Sunday's 19-17 win versus the Chargers.

Smith-Schuster logged a 49 percent snap share (34 snaps) on offense in the game, ranking fourth among wideouts behind Xavier Worthy (83 percent), DeAndre Hopkins (55 percent) and Justin Watson (51 percent). Smith-Schuster should continue to see work on a weekly basis, but his Week 5 seven-catch, 130-yard output should clearly be viewed as an anomaly. Barring injuries at wide receiver, Smith-Schuster can safely be left on the waiver wire in most leagues.

Smith-Schuster hauled in his only target for 10 yards during Friday's 19-17 victory versus Las Vegas.

Smith-Schuster finished third among wideouts in terms of snaps behind just Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins, but he didn't do a ton with them, commanding just one target. He's totaled just four targets in the three weeks since returning from a hamstring injury, and there's little to suggest his involvement will grow, barring injuries at the wide receiver position.

Smith-Schuster reeled in one of his two targets for six yards during Sunday's 30-27 victory versus the Panthers.

While Smith-Schuster was third among wide receivers in terms of reps -- 41 snaps for a 55 percent snap share -- he was unable to do much with them. The 28-year-old wideout has turned in just one catch in each of the last two games, totaling a combined 14 yards. Barring injuries to other top targets in the passing attack, Smith-Schuster can likely be left on the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy formats.

Smith-Schuster hauled in his only target for eight yards during Sunday's 30-21 loss to the Bills.

Smith-Schuster logged only 20 snaps in his return to action Sunday, turning the limited run into just one grab. Following the trade deadline acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins, Smith-Schuster's seven-catch, 130-yard performance against the Saints in Week 5 seems unlikely to be replicated. Still, Smith-Schuster figures to handle a regular role on offense for the rest of the regular season due to the Chiefs' thinned-out wide receiver room because of injury.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Smith-Schuster logged full practices Thursday and Friday, paving the way for his first game action since Oct. 20. In his last full game prior to getting injured, Smith-Schuster had 130 receiving yards. The Chiefs subsequently traded for DeAndre Hopkins, but Smith-Schuster's still in line for a prominent role in his return.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) likely will be available Sunday in Buffalo, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster finally logged a full practice Thursday for the first time since he injured his hamstring Sunday, Oct. 20 at San Francisco. Reid also told Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com on Friday the Smith-Schuster had a good week, so the veteran wide receiver seems poised to put an end to a three-game absence.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

With a full practice under his belt this week, Smith-Schuster looks set to return to the lineup Sunday against the Bills after missing the Chiefs' previous three games with the hamstring injury. Since he last played, the Chiefs have acquired DeAndre Hopkins, who has produced a 14-171-2 receiving line on 17 targets through his first three outings with the club. With Hopkins locked in as Kansas City's No. 1 wideout and tight end Travis Kelce also commanding plenty of looks from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Smith-Schuster appears set to operate as more of a secondary target in the passing game now that he's healthy again.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster has a "good chance" to play Sunday at Buffalo. The wideout hadn't practiced or played since Week 7 prior to his limited participation Wednesday. Smith-Schuster may not play significant snaps in Week 11 even if he has full clearance from a health standpoint, as the Chiefs now have DeAndre Hopkins working as their top possession receiver.

Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) has a "good chance" to be available Sunday against the Bills as long as his practice week goes well, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster hasn't practiced since Week 7, but it appears as though he's trending toward a return to action this weekend, barring any setbacks. Wednesday's injury report will provide added context with regard to the wideout's Week 11 status by revealing his level of practice participation.

Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is close to returning to practice, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.

Smith-Schuster has missed three consecutive games due to the hamstring injury that he suffered Sunday, Oct. 20 at San Francisco. Considering an IR stint would have required at least four games out of commission, perhaps Reid and the Chiefs anticipate Smith-Schuster returning to action Sunday in Buffalo, but ultimately getting back on the field this week will be the first step in that endeavor.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Smith-Schuster has yet to practice since aggravating a right hamstring injury during a Week 7 win at San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 20. With his lack of availability confirmed for Week 10, he'll miss a third consecutive contest as a result, making a visit to Buffalo on Sunday, Nov. 17 his next possible game action. The Chiefs will continue to roll with DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson as their key wide receivers in the meantime.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Wednesday either, clouding his status for Sunday's game against the Broncos. If he sits out a third consecutive contest this weekend, DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson would continue to lead the Chiefs wide receiver corps in Week 10.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't practice Wednesday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster has missed two games and hasn't practiced in any fashion since being forced out of the Chiefs' Week 7 with over the 49ers on Oct. 20 after aggravating a right hamstring injury. The wideout was a popular waiver-wire pickup after turning in a 7-130-0 receiving line on eight targets in a Week 5 win over the Saints, but his opportunities to build on the big game have been stymied by the injury. Even if Smith-Schuster is able to demonstrate enough progress this week to suit up Sunday against the Broncos, he'll likely find himself as more of a secondary option in the passing game with the Chiefs having since acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans to complement tight end Travis Kelce.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Buccaneers, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Smith-Schuster thus will miss a second consecutive contest due to a hamstring injury. Aside from a 7-130-0 performance on eight targets Week 5 agains the Saints, he's been targeted just four times in his other five appearances this season. Whenever he's healthy enough to return to action, Smith-Schuster will have to vie with DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman for work in the Chiefs' receiving corps.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) wasn't spotted during the initial portion of Saturday's practice, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Smith-Schuster -- who was inactive in Week 8 -- logged back-to-back absences from practice Thursday and Friday, and his apparent absence Saturday clouds his status for Monday night's game against the Buccaneers. If Smith-Schuster is sidelined again, Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Watson would be on track lead the Chiefs' Week 9 WR corps, with Hopkins a candidate to be more involved in the game plan in his second game with Kansas City since arriving through a trade with Tennessee.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't practice Friday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster was inactive for last Sunday's win over the Raiders, and back-to-back absences from practice cloud his status for Monday night's game against the Buccaneers. If Smith-Schuster is unavailable for the contest, Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Watson would be in line to lead the Chiefs' WR corps versus Tampa Bay, with Hopkins likely to be more involved in the Chiefs' Week 9 game plan in his second outing with the team since arriving via a trade with the Titans.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster, who was inactive for this past Sunday's win over the Raiders, didn't practice ahead of that contest, and his continued absence from Thursday's session clouds his status for Monday night's game against the Buccaneers. If Smith-Schuster remains sidelined in Week 9, Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Watson would be in line to lead the Chiefs' WR corps versus Tampa Bay.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Monday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't be available Week 8 versus the Raiders, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Smith-Schuster was forced out of Sunday's win over the 49ers after playing just seven offensive snaps, and before logging a single target. The veteran wideout appeared to aggravate the hamstring injury he'd dealt with in practice Thursday and Friday, leading up to the contest against San Francisco. That will leave Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore as Patrick Mahomes' top wideouts versus Las Vegas, with Smith-Schuster's next chance to play coming Week 9 at home against the Buccaneers.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's game against the 49ers, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reports.

Smith-Schuster has been ruled out after previously being deemed questionable to return. He aggravated a hamstring injury that had bothered Smith-Schuster during practice Thursday and Friday. The veteran wide receiver wasn't targeted prior to exiting the game. His next chance to suit up will be Week 8 in Vegas.

Smith-Schuster left Sunday's contest in San Francisco due to a hamstring injury, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Smith-Schuster showed up on the Chiefs' Week 7 practice report midweek due to a hamstring issue, which capped his reps Thursday and Friday. While he entered the weekend as questionable, he eventually was deemed active about 90 minutes before Sunday's kickoff. With Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (knee) on injured reserve, Smith-Schuster is among the top remaining available options at WR for KC, but he now will cede snaps to Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.

Smith-Schuster was added to the Chiefs' Week 7 injury report after being limited by a hamstring issue Thursday, a level of participation that he maintained Friday before being listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Prior to his team's Week 6 bye, Smith-Schuster caught seven of his eight targets for 130 yards in a Monday night win over the Saints. Following that strong showing, the veteran wideout is back on the fantasy radar thanks to his role in a depleted Kansas City WR corps as well as his rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is expected to play Sunday against the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster popped up on the injury report Thursday, logging back-to-back limited sessions to close out the practice week. It never sounded overly serious, and the Chiefs were reportedly being more cautious than anything. Smith-Schuster will look to continue to build off of his 7-130-0 performance from Week 6 against the Saints, as the veteran wideout helps fill the massive void left by Rashee Rice's season-ending knee injury.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is in line to play Sunday versus the 49ers but will be officially labeled as questionable "just in case" he suffers a setback, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Reid said Smith-Schuster is practicing Friday after hamstring spasms kept him sidelined Thursday, and that the veteran wideout was "good today," per Jesse Newell of The Kansas City Star. While Smith-Schuster isn't yet fully in the clear for Sunday's road contest, Reid is clearly optimistic about his odds of taking the field. Prior to Kansas City's bye in Week 6, Smith-Schuster secured seven of eight targets for 130 yards in a Monday night win over the Saints. Smith-Schuster's rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes makes him a candidate to repeat strong target volume versus the 49ers, especially considering the depleted nature of the Chiefs' wide receiver room.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was limited at practice Thursday.

Smith-Schuster practiced fully Wednesday, so his addition to the injury report a day later makes his status worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the 49ers. The veteran wideout is coming off a Week 5 effort in which caught seven of his eight targets for 130 yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 win over the Saints.

Smith-Schuster secured seven of eight targets for 130 yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 win over the Saints on Monday night.

Smith-Schuster entered the night projected for solid volume, but the fact he led the Chiefs in receiving yards and finished second in both receptions and targets was still surprising. The veteran wideout's yardage total was his highest since Week 18 of the 2020 season, when he posted a 13-157-1 line on 19 targets against the Browns while a member of the Steelers. Smith-Schuster also displayed plenty of rapport with Patrick Mahomes during his first Chiefs tenure in 2022, as evidenced by a 78-933-3 line that season; therefore, Monday night's success could certainly have some staying power, considering the depleted state of Kansas City's receiving corps. Smith-Schuster will aim to carry over the momentum through a Week 6 bye and into a Week 7 road showdown against the 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Smith-Schuster logged zero targets during Sunday's 17-10 victory over the Chargers.

On a positive note, Smith-Schuster tallied the third-most snaps (32) of any Chiefs wideout in Sunday's contest behind just Xavier Worthy (45) and Justin Watson (42). Still, it didn't result in any looks in the passing game. There is hope, however, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports that head coach Andy Reid intends to spread the ball around more with Rashee Rice (knee) likely down for a significant period, if not the remainder of the year. That said, a few added looks in the passing game don't necessarily equate to fantasy relevance in most formats.

Smith-Schuster recorded two receptions (on three targets) for 17 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 22-17 win against the Falcons.

Smith-Schuster came up empty in the first two games of the 2024 campaign, but he made the most of his three looks Sunday, hauling in two of them and turning in his first touchdown of the season; the score also proved to be a game-winning touchdown. He still ran fewer routes than Rahsee Rice, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, so it's unlikely he'll yield regular fantasy production barring injuries thrusting him into a more prominent position.

Smith-Schuster wasn't targeted during Sunday's game versus the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster only played 13 offensive snaps (20 percent) in the contest, sitting fourth among wideouts in snap share behind Rashee Rice (83 percent), Xavier Worthy (68 percent) and Justin Watson (45 percent). The veteran has yet to reel in a pass this year and has just one target to his name through two games, so he's on the outside looking in from a fantasy standpoint unless injuries pop up to others at the position.

Smith-Schuster failed to secure his only target during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.

Smith-Schuster's lone look from Patrick Mahomes would've been a 20-plus yard touchdown had the veteran wideout been able to complete the catch, and he didn't see another opportunity after that second quarter target. His 12 offensive snaps ranked just above Skyy Moore (10 snaps) on the wide receiver depth chart. If Marquise Brown (shoulder) isn't ready to return Week 2 versus the Bengals, Smith-Schuster will get another opportunity to work as Kansas City's No. 4 wideout.

Smith-Schuster is signing with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Kansas City was his first stop after a five-year stint in Pittsburgh, with Smith-Schuster catching 78 of 101 targets for 933 yards and three TDs in 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2022. He had only 89 yards in three playoff appearances in that year, and then managed only 260 yards in 11 games last season after signing a three-year contract with the Patriots. Released by New England after a couple weeks of training camp, the 27-year-old will now try to re-establish himself in Kansas City, where he'll likely start off in a depth role and may even have to prove he's worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.

The Patriots are slated to release Smith-Schuster, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster, who logged 11 snaps without a target in Thursday's preseason opener, will now have an opportunity to catch on elsewhere on the heels of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded a 29-260-1 line on 47 targets in 11 regular-season contests. By parting ways with the 27-year-old, the Patriots now have one less option to consider in what remains a crowded wideout corps.

Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn were the first wide receivers through drills Thursday, Henry McKenna of FOX Sports reports.

The new coaching staff in New England unsurprisingly seems to be deferring to the most experienced players at the start of training camp, but fantasy drafters figure to remain more interested in rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker as well as second-year pro DeMario Douglas. Competition for WR roles should be wide open, perhaps giving Smith-Schuster a chance to revive his career if he isn't totally washed up from a physical standpoint. Reports from spring practices weren't especially promising in that regard, even though Smith-Schuster is only 27 years old.

Smith-Schuster didn't look explosive at spring practices even though he says he's healthier than he was last year, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.

Graff notes that Smith-Schuster may end up competing with Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for one or two roster spots, with the locks at WR likely being DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne (knee), K.J. Osborn and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. The final math will partially depend on whether the Patriots keep Reagor as a kick return specialist or prefer to deploy a returner that also has a considerable role on offense (e.g. Douglas or RB Antonio Gibson). Either way, Smith-Schuster's guaranteed $7 million salary won't necessarily ensure him of a spot on the team after he had 260 receiving yards in 11 games last season. Knee surgery last offseason may have impacted his speed and strength, but it was head and ankle injuries that ultimately led to six absences.

Smith-Schuster said Monday at the start of OTAs that he never reached 100 percent health during the 2023 season, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Smith-Schuster said the last 12 months have made a "big difference," and he estimated that last offseason he was only at 60 percent health due to a lingering knee injury. Across 11 games in 2023, Smith-Schuster was an afterthought in New England's offense, finishing with just a 29-260-1 receiving line despite little established competition at the position. If truly healthier and now able to move better, Smith-Schuster could earn more consistent targets from Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, though the Patriots' wide receiver corps has gotten more crowded with the additions of rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus free-agent addition K.J. Osborn.

Smith-Schuster's role with Patriots is unclear after the team selected a pair of wideouts in the 2024 NFL Draft, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.

Over the course of 11 regular-season games in his first year with the Patriots, Smith-Schuster recorded a 29-260-1 receiving line on 47 targets in 2023. Though the veteran wideout -- who is under contract with the team through 2025 -- is presumably past the ankle issue that landed him on IR in December, New England's additions of free agent K.J. Osborn and 2024 draftees (second-rounder Ja'Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker) to a wide receiver mix that also includes returnees Kendrick Bourne (knee) and Demario Douglas, clouds Smith-Schuster's depth chart standing ahead of training camp. With that in mind, both Callahan and Chad Graff of The Athletic suggest that the 27-year-old pass-catcher could end up moving on as the offseason progresses.

The Patriots have placed Smith-Schuster (ankle) on IR.

With Smith-Schuster on IR and slated to miss the Patriots' final two games this season, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte (illness, out this week) are in line to handle the team's WR duties in Weeks 17 and 18. Smith-Schuster thus finishes the 2023 campaign with a 29/260/1 receiving line on 47 targets in 11 games.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Smith-Schuster will miss a third consecutive game Sunday. He'll have one more chance to take the field in Week 18 against the Jets before the wide receiver's disappointing 2023 campaign comes to an end. DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas should continue to lead New England's receiving corps, with Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte occupying depth roles.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't present for Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Thursday, so the wide receiver's continued absence Friday clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Bills. If Smith-Schuster remains sidelined this weekend, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas and Jalen Reagor would be in line to lead the Patriots' Week 17 WR corps.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster was limited Wednesday, so his apparent non-participation a day later clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Bills. With that in mind, the veteran pass catcher will likely have to practice fully Friday in order to head into the weekend without an injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was limited at practice Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster closed out last week with a 'DNP' on Friday before being ruled out for this past Sunday's win over the Broncos. The veteran wideout's limited participation Wednesday indicates that he could return to action this weekend against the Bills, however Smith-Schuster will need to practice fully by Friday in order to avoid a Week 17 injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday night's game against the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster logged limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, but was downgraded to 'DNP' on Friday and will now be unavailable to face Denver. In his absence, DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas are in line to lead the Patriots' wide receiver corps in Week 16, with Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton also candidates to mix in.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't spotted during the initial portion of Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster was limited Wednesday and Thursday, so his apparent absence from Friday's session is noteworthy. Either way, the Patriots' looming final injury report of the week will provide added context with regard to the veteran wide receiver's status for Sunday night's game against the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Smith-Schuster has been a limited participant in both of the Patriots' first two Week 16 practices, and he may need to upgrade to full activity Friday to guarantee his availability for Sunday's game in Denver. The wideout was listed as a limited participant on all three of New England's practice reports last week before he was made inactive ahead of the Patriots' 27-17 loss to the Chiefs.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was limited at practice Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster turned in limited practices last week as well, but was inactive for the Patriots' Week 15 loss to the Chiefs. With that in mind, the veteran wideout will presumably need to work fully by Friday in order to avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Smith-Schuster logged limited practices this week and was listed as questionable for the contest, but the veteran wideout won't be available Sunday and will target a potential return to action Dec. 24 against the Broncos. In his absence, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor are New England's available wide receivers in Week 15.

Smith-Schuster (ankle), who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, is not expected to suit up, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster is coming off a season-best 90-yard performance versus the Steelers in Week 14, but he's not expected to be available at home against Kansas City. However, the Patriots will at least get Demario Douglas back from a two-game absence, and DeVante Parker (knee) is expected to suit up despite also being listed as questionable. Official word on Smith-Schuster's status will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Smith-Schuster got in a week of limited practices and should be good to go against Kansas City. This will be the second straight game JuJu will face one of his former teams after spending the 2022 season with the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster went 6-90-0 against the Steelers in Week 14. DeVante Parker (knee) and Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) are also listed as questionable.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) remained limited in practice Thursday.

Smith-Schuster was also limited Wednesday and presumably will need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. DeVante Parker (knee), Demario Douglas (concussion), Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) were also listed as limited Thursday, which potentially sets the stage for five New England wide receivers to draw Week 15 injury tags.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday.

In the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers this past Thursday, Smith-Schuster was on the field for 56 of a possible 57 snaps on offense en route to catching four of his six targets for a team-high 90 yards. With no reported setbacks since then, it's possible that the wide receiver's listed limitations Wednesday were maintenance-related.

Smith-Schuster secured four of six targets for 90 yards in the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers on Thursday night.

Smith-Schuster led the Patriots in receiving yardage with what was also his highest tally since Week 7 of last season with the Chiefs. The 2017 second-round pick of the Steelers burned his original squad with a game-long 37-yard grab on New England's third offensive play, and he added 17- and 28-yard receptions later in the first half. Smith-Schuster's overall performance was easily his most productive of what has otherwise been a mostly lackluster campaign, but he could have a difficult time putting together a successful encore against the highly talented secondary of his other prior team, the Chiefs, in a Week 15 home matchup on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) is active for Thursday night's game against the Steelers, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster approached the contest listed as questionable after being listed as a limited participant on practice reports Monday through Wednesday, but he'll be available Thursday, unlike Demario Douglas (concussion), DeVante Parker (knee) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder). In the Patriots' 6-0 loss to the Chargers in Week 13, Smith-Schuster recorded just one catch for 11 yards on three targets. The veteran wideout remains a speculative lineup option versus Pittsburgh, given his modest overall production this season and the overall state of New England's offense ahead of Week 14 action.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) remained listed as limited in practice Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's game against the Steelers.

Fellow wide receiver DeVante Parker (knee) is also questionable, while Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) are out. Smith-Schuster has surpassed 15 receiving yards only three times in what has been a disappointing season, but with New England's receiving corps banged up, he could see additional opportunities against the team with which Smith-Schuster spent his first five NFL seasons from 2017-2021.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was listed as limited on Tuesday's practice report.

While Demario Douglas remained sidelined due to the concussion that he sustained Week 12, all of Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker (knee) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) received the same limited listing Tuesday. The trio thus will have one more chance this week to put themselves in a position to be available for Thursday's contest at Pittsburgh, which could be confirmed as soon as the Patriots post their final Week 14 injury report Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate.

Smith-Schuster played 59 offensive snaps in this past Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers but totaled just one catch for 11 yards on three targets. New England's banged up at wide receiver -- Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) were listed as non-participants Monday, while DeVante Parker (knee) was limited -- but Smith-Schuster's problem this season has been a lack of production rather than a lack of playing time. Even if he suits up Thursday against the Steelers and the other receivers don't, Smith-Schuster's upside will be limited considering he has recorded 15 or more receiving yards in only one game since Week 3.

Smith-Schuster was on the field for 59 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Despite leading the Patriots' wide receivers in playing time Sunday, Smith-Schuster recorded just one catch for 11 yards on three targets in the contest. With the team's offense continuing to struggle, Smith-Schuster doesn't hold much fantasy lineup appeal ahead of Thursday night's game against the Steelers.

Smith-Schuster, who logged 44 of a possible 68 snaps on offense in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Giants, caught two of his four targets in the contest for 10 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With DeVante Parker back after a two-game absence, Smith-Schuster maintained a key role in the Patriots' Week 12 wide receiver corps, but that didn't result in much production in an offense that continues to struggle. Regardless of whether Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe starts at QB this weekend against the Chargers, Smith-Schuster profiles as low-percentage fantasy option.

Smith-Schuster logged a season-high 68 (out of a possible 69) snaps on offense in Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Colts, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Despite the 99 percent snap share Sunday, Smith-Schuster was only targeted once in the contest, which resulted in a nine-yard catch. The Patriots are on bye in Week 11, and once the team returns to action Nov. 26 against the Giants, Smith-Schuster will profile as a hit-or-miss fantasy option while working in an inconsistent offense with QB issues.

Smith-Schuster was on the field for 23 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Commanders, en route to catching six of his seven targets in the contest for 51 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With Kendrick Bourne (knee) on IR and DeVante Parker out with a concussion Sunday, Smith-Schuster recorded season highs in catches and receiving yards, though his day ended with a with a pass bouncing off his hands and into the arms of cornerback Jartavius Martin on the Patriots' final play on offense. Looking ahead, Smith-Schuster should have an opportunity to remain a key target for QB Mac Jones in Week 10 against the Colts, but with a combined receiving line of 21/140/1 on 33 targets through seven games, the veteran wide receiver is only an option in deeper fantasy formats.

Smith-Schuster could have an opportunity to re-establish his role in the Patriots receiving corps, with Kendrick Bourne reportedly having sustained a torn ACL on Sunday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Additionally,DeVante Parker is in the NFL's concussion protocol, so the team's Week 9 WR depth could be further taxed. In any case, rookie Demario Douglas figures to maintain a key role in the weeks ahead, while Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte and Jalen Reagor are also candidates to factor in. Through six games to date, Smith-Schuster has caught 15 of his 26 targets for 89 yards and a TD, but the Patriots' current injury situation could lead to the veteran wideout seeing an opportunity to become more involved in the offense as soon as Sunday's game against the Commanders.

Smith-Schuster brought in his only target for a three-yard touchdown in the Patriots' 31-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

The veteran pass catcher returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion, but he was invisible except for his fourth-quarter scoring grab. Smith-Schuster could enjoy a larger role in a favorable Week 9 home matchup against the Commanders if DeVante Parker (head) and Kendrick Bourne (knee) are sidelined.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) is not listed on the Patriots' Week 8 injury report.

Smith-Schuster has missed two straight games, but the wideout has presumably moved past his concussion issue, which sets the stage for him to rejoin the lineup Sunday against the Dolphins. In his looming return to action it remains to be seen what sort of volume Smith-Schuster might see, with rookie Demario Douglas making a case to maintain a key role in the offense alongside fellow WRs Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker. In five games to date, Smith-Schuster has logged 14 catches for 86 yards on 25 targets, a pace that has limited his fantasy value to deeper formats.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills.

After practicing in a limited fashion this week, Smith-Schuster approached Sunday's game listed as questionable, and he'll now sit out his second consecutive contest due to a concussion that he sustained during Week 5 action. In his continued absence, look for Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas to lead the Patriots' Week 7 WR corps, with Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor also candidates to factor in. Smith-Schuster will now target a potential return to action Oct. 29 against the Dolphins.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) is not expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster, who is officially listed as questionable due to a concussion, is expected to miss Week 7 despite coming off a trio of limited practices. Meanwhile, tight end Hunter Henry (ankle) and rookie wideout Demario Douglas (concussion) are both expected to take the field, which provides some boost for New England's passing attack. Official confirmation on Smith-Schuster's status will arrive 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills after practicing in a limited fashion this week, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

The same goes for fellow WR Demario Douglas (concussion), with the Patriots having listed 16 players as questionable for the contest. Assuming Smith-Schuster clears the NFL's concussion protocol, he figures to be available this weekend, though his Week 7 status may not be officially confirmed until the team's inactives are posted ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. In the event that Smith-Schuster does return from his one-game absence, he'd profile as a speculative fantasy option in PPR formats. Through five outings to date, Smith-Schuster has recorded 14 catches for 86 yards and no touchdowns on 25 targets.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) remained limited in practice Thursday.

The same applies to fellow WR Demario Douglas (concussion). Both players missed the Patriots' Week 6 loss to the Raiders, but their ability to practice (albeit in a limited capacity) Wednesday and Thursday suggests that one or both could be available for Sunday's game against the Bills. Friday's injury report will reveal whether Smith-Schuster heads into the weekend with a Week 7 injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) was listed as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Demario Douglas (concussion) joined Smith-Schuster as a limited participant after both receivers missed the Patriots' Week 6 loss to the Raiders. After opening Week 7 prep as a limited participant, Smith-Schuster is trending in the right direction for Sunday's game against the Bills, though he still has some work to do to clear the five-step concussion protocol. In five appearances this season, Smith-Schuster has made a modest impact in PPR formats with 14 catches for 86 yards and no touchdowns on 25 targets.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) was present for practice Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster was ruled out for this past Sunday's game against the Raiders after not practicing last week, but his return to the field Wednesday bodes well for his chances of returning to action this weekend against the Bills. Smith-Schuster's participation level will be clarified once the Patriots' injury report is released, but at a minimum his presence at Wednesday's session suggests that the WR is advancing through the NFL's concussion protocol.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Demario Douglas (concussion) was also ruled out for the contest, which means that the Patriots' top available wideouts in Week 6 will be DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne, with Kayshon Boutte and the versatile Ty Montgomery also on hand to mix in. Additionally, Tyquan Thornton (shoulder) is a candidate to be activated from IR to face the Raiders, while Malik Cunningham and/or Jalen Reagor are potential practice squad elevations. Smith-Schuster will now target a potential return to action Oct. 22 against the Bills.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) wasn't seen on the practice field Friday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

The same goes for Demario Douglas, and if neither player can go Sunday against the Raiders, the Patriots' top available wideouts would be DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne, with Kayshon Boutte and the versatile Ty Montgomery also in the mix. Additionally, Tyquan Thornton (shoulder) could be activated from IR ahead of Week 6 action.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Nor was Demario Douglas, with Zack Cox of NESN.com relaying that both WRs are still in the NFL's concussion protocol. Smith-Schuster now has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders, but he'll need to practice fully Friday (and gain full medical clearance) in order to head into the weekend minus a Week 6 injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday.

The same applies to Demario Douglas, with both WRs still in the NFL's concussion protocol, per Zack Cox of NESN.com. For now, the Patriots' top healthy wide receivers are DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne, with Kayshon Boutte and the versatile Ty Montgomery also on hand. Additionally, Tyquan Thornton (shoulder) is a candidate to be activated from IR ahead of Week 6 action.

Smith-Schuster has been ruled out for a return to Sunday's game against the Saints due to a head injury. He recorded three catches for six yards on four targets prior to exiting the contest.

Smith-Schuster is the second Patriots receiver to be ruled out for the day due to a head injury, as the team announced coming out of halftime that rookie Demario Douglas wouldn't be able to return to the contest. In the case of Smith-Schuster, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald relays that the 26-year-old was quickly ruled out after he was examined in the blue medical tent on the Patriots' sideline. With Smith-Schuster and Douglas both sidelined for the rest of the contest, the Patriots are left with DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne at the position, though running back Ty Montgomery, tight end Mike Gesicki and special teamer Matthew Slater can probably fill in in a pinch, if needed.

Smith-Schuster was on the field for 26 of a possible 55 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-3 loss to the Cowboys, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster's five targets Sunday actually tied TE Hunter Henry for the team lead, but the wideout only caught one of them for 14 yards. Four games into the 2023 season, Smith-Schuster has recorded 11 catches on 21 targets for 80 yards, a rate of production that limits his fantasy value to deeper formats until he picks up the pace.

Smith-Schuster was on the field for 53 of a possible 72 snaps on offense in Sunday's 15-10 win over the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Though Smith-Schuster started and was second to DeVante Parker (55 snaps) among the Patriots' WR in terms of playing time, he was limited to one catch on three targets for five yards. Three games into his first season with New England, Smith-Schuster has combined for 10 catches on 16 targets for 66 yards, numbers that have limited his fantasy utility thus far. With that in mind, Smith-Schuster profiles as a speculative lineup option this coming Sunday against the Cowboys.

Smith-Schuster logged 44 of a possible 74 snaps on offense in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Dolphins, while catching five of his six targets in the contest for 28 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

In his season debut after missing Week 1 action, DeVante Parkerled the Patriots' WRs with 74 snaps (en route to recording eight targets) followed by Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne (38 snaps, nine targets). Two weeks into the 2023 season, Smith-Schuster has combined for nine catches (on 13 targets) for 61 yards, numbers that have given him modest fantasy value in PPR formats thus far.

When asked about the health of his surgically-repaired knee Friday, Smith-Schuster indicated that he thinks it's 100 percent, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.

Smith-Schuster isn't on the Patriots' injury report ahead of Sunday night's game against the Dolphins, but Callahan previously suggested that the wideout's knee could still be an issue at this stage. While Smith-Schuster, who was on the field for 43 snaps in the team's season opener en route to logging four catches on seven targets for 33 yards, indicates that he's fine on the injury front, it's worth noting that he was out-snapped by both Kendrick Bourne (73 snaps) and Kayshon Boutte (55 snaps) versus the Eagles last weekend. Looking ahead, Smith-Schuster's playing time and target share is worth tracking in Week 2, especially with DeVante Parker (knee) potentially returning to New England's lineup and promising rookie Demario Douglas (33 snaps and seven targets against Philadelphia) also in the team's WR mix. The Patriots inked Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $25.5 million deal in March, essentially to replace Jakobi Meyers, who signed with the Raiders in free agency.

Smith-Schuster recorded four catches on seven targets for 33 yards in Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster's seven targets appear to be a solid mark, however, Mac Jones took to the air 54 times and DeVante Parker (knee) was also sidelined. Aside from volume, Smith-Schuster's performance was uninspiring, as only one of his four catches went for more than 10 yards. Assuming New England isn't playing from behind on a weekly basis, he'll have a harder time carving out a significant workload, especially considering the emergence of Demario Douglas.

Smith-Schuster made his preseason debut with the Patriots on Saturday, catching his lone target for one yard in a preseason tilt against the Packers.

Smith-Schuster's poor stat line shouldn't concern fantasy managers, as he is expected to start for New England after reviving his career with Kansas City last season. The veteran wideout missed some time during training camp with a minor knee injury, but he should be good to go for Week 1 after suiting up Saturday. The Patriots didn't make any other big additions at wideout, so expect Smith-Schuster to garner enough targets to provide consistent value in PPR and deeper formats.

Coach Bill Belichick indicated that Smith-Schuster (knee) is ready to go for training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster, who missed practice this spring as he bounced back from a knee issue, will now have an opportunity to solidify his key role in the Patriots' wide receiver corps this coming season. In 16 games in 2022, his lone campaign with the Chiefs, the 2017 second-rounder recorded 78 catches (on 101 targets) for 933 yards and three TDs. As long as he can stay healthy in 2023, the 26-year-old should see enough targets from presumed starting QB Mac Jones to maintain weekly fantasy utility, particularly in PPR formats.

Smith-Schuster (undisclosed) remained sidelined during Tuesday's minicamp practice, Paul Perillo of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster, who dealt with a knee issue at the end of last season while with the Chiefs, has yet to practice in front of reporters since signing with the Patriots in March due to an unspecified injury, Zack Cox of NESN.com notes. While the team could simply be playing it safe with the veteran wide receiver with an eye toward having him ready for training camp, Smith-Schuster's absence this spring cost him a chance to build valuable chemistry with QB Mac Jones. As things stand, when healthy the 26-year-old has a chance to head a wide receiver corps that also includes DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne, but it's worth noting that free agent DeAndre Hopkins is set to visit New England this week.

Smith-Schuster (undisclosed) is not expected to practice Monday at the opener of New England's minicamp, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Smith-Schuster has missed a substantial amount of offseason activities due to an undisclosed injury, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports, meaning Mac Jones hasn't had ample opportunities to build chemistry with his projected top wideout. That's certainly not ideal for a passing attack already being revamped under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, but Smith-Schuster still has plenty of time left to get healthy and resume participating in offseason practices. DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne headline the Patriots' wideout room behind Smith-Schuster, in addition to tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.

The Patriots and Smith-Schuster agreed to terms on a three-year, $33 million contract Wednesday, NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti reports.

Smith-Schuster tried to rehab his career in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes last season but underwhelmed to a degree with just 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver. He largely disappeared over the final month of the season and into the playoffs. JuJu will now head to Foxboro to replace Jakobi Meyers as Mac Jones' current top wideout.

Smith-Schuster recorded seven catches on nine targets for 53 yards in Sunday's 38-35 Super Bowl win over the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster entered the game with only three targets across the Chiefs' first two postseason games. After recording just five yards in the first half of the Super Bowl, Smith-Schuster played a significant role in Kansas City's comeback victory with several catches of 13 and 14 yards that kept drives alive. He'll hit free agency for the third consecutive offseason, so it's unclear whether Smith-Schuster will have the chance to remain with Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs' dynamic offense.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster was held out of on-field work last week due to swelling in his left knee before he was listed as questionable for Super Bowl LVII. Now with an uninhibited session under his belt this week, he's on pace to be available to Kansas City's offense Sunday against the Eagles. Questions remain in the Chiefs' receiving corps, however, after Mecole Hardman (pelvis) was placed on injured reserve Monday and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) was a limited participant Wednesday. At the moment, Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are the healthy wideouts on the team's active roster.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster was held out of on-field work last week due to swelling in his left knee before he was listed as questionable for Super Bowl LVII. Now with an uninhibited session under his belt this week, he's on pace to be available to Kansas City's offense Sunday against the Eagles. Questions remain in the Chiefs' receiving corps, though, after Mecole Hardman (pelvis) was placed on injured reserve Monday and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) was a limited participant Wednesday. At the moment, Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are the healthy WRs on the team's active roster.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced Monday and will likely do so again Tuesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

The Chiefs are holding light workouts for their two unofficial workouts to begin the week before moving on to a more intense practice session Wednesday, when the team will release its first official injury report for the second week of prep leading up to Super Bowl LVII. How Smith-Schuster is listed on Wednesday's report will be more telling with regard to where he stands in his recovery from the left knee injury, but he already appears to be in a better spot on the health front compared to where he was at last week. The Chiefs listed Smith-Schuster as a non-participant on each of the three injury reports they released last week and are tentatively tagging him as questionable for this Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is listed as questionable after the first week of preparation ahead of Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 12.

Smith-Schuster is dealing with some residual swelling in his left knee following this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals, from which he was forced out early. Both Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) have questionable designations after this week, while Mecole Hardman (pelvis) is doubtful and already has been deemed unlikely to play in the Super Bowl by coach Andy Reid. If this latter point comes to pass, the statuses of Smith-Schuster and Toney become of greater import to see if one or both will be available to quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle).

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't appear to practice Friday, as he was playing catch with Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) while the Chiefs' healthy players were warming up, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Smith-Schuster and Toney at least appear in better shape than Mecole Hardman, who was completely absent from practice after reinjuring his pelvis in the NFC Championship Game. Smith-Schuster and Toney also were forced out early and failed to return, but coach Andy Reid suggested Thursday that both wideouts have a chance to be ready for the Super Bowl on Feb. 12. Hardman, on the other hand, has already been deemed unlikely to play by his head coach.

Coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster (knee) won't practice Thursday, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Smith-Schuster was knocked out of this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals with a knee issue, holding him to one seven-yard catch on 31 of 69 offensive snaps. While Smith-Schuster hasn't taken part in drills in the meantime, Reid expressed optimism Thursday regarding the wide receiver being able to practice next week ahead of Super Bowl LVII against the Eagles, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic. "He's in a good place," Reid added. "The main thing is letting this thing calm down. ... We'll just see where it goes." Position mates Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) also have been held out this week, so the situation will be one to watch to get a sense of who among the trio may be active Sunday, Feb. 12.

Smith-Schuster (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.

As the Chiefs gear up for Super Bowl LVII, Smith-Schuster joined Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) as listed DNPs after all three left this past Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Bengals due to injury. Smith-Schuster himself logged 31 of 69 snaps on offense while hauling in his only target for seven yards before his departure. Kansas City has 11 days to get as to 100 percent as possible to face the Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 12, but the team currently has just three healthy wide receivers (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore) on the active roster.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster caught his only target for seven yards prior to the injury popping up in the second half. With Kadarius Toney (ankle) ruled out and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) also deemed questionable to return, Kansas City is dealing with a lack of wide receiver depth at a critical time.

Smith-Schuster recorded two catches on two targets for 35 yards in Saturday's 31-13 win over the Raiders.

Smith-Schuster did the majority of his damage on a 28-yard catch late in the first quarter, his first reception of more than 20 yards since Week 14. However, his production largely ended there, and he closed the regular season having recorded three or fewer receptions in five of his last seven games. Smith-Schuster enjoyed a mostly healthy campaign and turned in a respectable 80 receptions and 933 yards with three touchdowns across 16 games during his first year in Kansas City.

Smith-Schuster secured two of three targets for 21 yards in the Chiefs' 27-24 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

Smith-Schuster was a minimal part of the air attack for the second straight week, following a two-game stretch where he'd produced a 19-162-1 line on 21 targets. The veteran wideout's downturn can easily turn around on any given week considering Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback, so Smith-Schuster could play a significant role in a Week 18 road matchup against the Raiders where KC will still be fighting for the top seed in the AFC.

Smith-Schuster had three receptions on four targets for 27 yards in Saturday's 24-10 win over Seattle.

The Chiefs went up two scores early and were never threatened by the Seahawks, resulting in low usage for every receiver not named Travis Kelce (6-113-0). Smith-Schuster actually led all Kansas City wideouts in targets, receptions and yardage despite the meager final line. The veteran wideout was coming off of consecutive games with double-digit targets, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned with this down performance. Smith-Schuster will attempt to bounce back against the Broncos next Sunday.

Smith-Schuster brought in all 10 targets for 88 yards and lost a fumble in the Chiefs' 30-24 overtime victory over the Texans on Sunday.

The first-year Chief tied Travis Kelce for the team lead in receptions and targets while also checking in second in receiving yards. Smith-Schuster's fumble came just past the halfway point of the third quarter on a controversial hit, with the change of possession confirmed by replay. Smith-Schuster has been exceedingly busy over the last two games, producing a 19-162-1 line on 21 targets in that span. Now over the 800-yard mark for the season, Smith-Schuster will aim to continue a march to the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career in a Week 16 home matchup against the Seahawks on Saturday afternoon.

Smith-Schuster caught nine of 11 targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-28 win over the Broncos.

He led Kansas City in receptions on the day and caught Patrick Mahomes' third TD pass, but Jerick McKinnon surprisingly hauled in a team-high 112 receiving yards and the QB's first two touchdowns. Smith-Schuster posted his best numbers since Week 9 while the score was his first since Week 7, and he'll again be a high-upside option in Week 15 against a Texans defense that's been more vulnerable on the ground than through the air in 2022.

Smith-Schuster caught three of four targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Bengals.

It was a quiet showing for Smith-Schuster and the Kansas City passing game as a whole, but he still caught multiple passes for the 11th straight game this season. The former Steeler has still been held below 40 receiving yards in three straight games, and he could have a hard time breaking out in Week 14 against the stingy Broncos secondary.

Smith-Schuster (illness) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Smith-Schuster was sidelined for the Chiefs' first Week 13 practice Wednesday, but his return to full activity a day later implies that the illness he had been dealing with isn't a major concern. In his return from a one-game absence due to a concussion during last week's 26-10 win over the Rams, the receiver played just 39 percent of the Chiefs' snaps on offense, but expect him to be more involved Sunday in Cincinnati. Smith-Schuster's light workload may have been a byproduct of Kansas City establishing an early lead and opting to rest him with the Rams offense not presenting much of a threat while amassing fewer than 200 yards of total offense.

Smith-Schuster (illness) will return to practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Thursday's injury report will reveal Smith-Schuster's official participation level, but the wideout's return to practice after missing Wednesday's session has him trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster won't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster now has two more days to return to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals, but if the wide receiver is able to play this weekend, he'll continue to be a key cog in Kansas City's passing game. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney (hamstring) will also miss practice Wednesday and looks like a far less certain bet than Smith-Schuster to make it back for the Week 13 contest.

Smith-Schuster hauled in all three targets for 38 yards during Sunday's 26-10 victory against the Rams.

Smith-Schuster has claimed a total of just five passes over his last two games after reeling in at least five in the previous three games. Patrick Mahomes spread the love in the passing game in this contest, completing at least two passes to eight different pass-catchers. Smith-Schuster did log fewer than 30 offensive snaps in this one. However, his return from a concussion and a comfortable Chiefs lead may have both contributed to the unusually low workload. Smith-Schuster should remain in many fantasy lineups in Week 13, though he faces a Bengals defense that's been stingy against wide receivers this year, ranking around the top five in per-game fantasy points allowed to the position.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Rams.

After sitting out the Chiefs' Week 11 win over the Chargers due to the concussion he sustained a week earlier, Smith-Schuster cleared up most of the concern about his availability for the game against the Rams by returning to practice Wednesday as a full participant. He maintained that level of activity Thursday and Friday, and his lack of a designation heading into the weekend implies that he's officially cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. With Kadarius Toney (hamstring) sidelined this weekend and with Mecole Hardman (abdomen) on injured reserve, both Smith-Schuster and tight end Travis Kelce should enjoy prominent roles in the Kansas City passing attack in the matchup with the Rams.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

The wide receiver returned to practice a day after his 26th birthday and three days after he missed a 30-27 win over the Chargers. Smith-Schuster apparently is making progress through the concussion protocol and still has four days to gain clearance before Sunday's matchup with the Rams. With he and Mecole Hardman (IR - groin) both missing the last game and Kadarius Toney then suffering a hamstring injury in the first half, Kansas City was left with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore as the Top 3 at wide receiver.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) is slated to practice Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Per coach Andy Reid , Smith-Schuster - - who was inactive in Week 11 -- "is feeling better" at this stage, but the wide receiver still needs to progress through the league's concussion protocol in order to suit up Sunday against the Rams. Wednesday's practice report will reveal Smith-Schuster's official participation level in his anticipated return to the field.

Smith-Schuster (concussion protocol) won't play Sunday night against the Chargers, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

With Smith-Schuster out and Mecole Hardman (abdomen) having been placed on IR, look for Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness) to be busy Sunday, assuming he's active. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore are also candidates to see added work, with Toney likely to absorb of good portion of Hardman's previous responsibilities.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) wasn't present for the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so his absence from the initial portion of Friday's practice doesn't bode well for his chances of suiting up Sunday night against the Chargers. With Mecole Hardman (abdomen) having landed on IR and Smith-Schuster looking iffy, the Chiefs' wideout depth could be taxed in Week 11, with the status of Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness, limited at practice Thursday) also worth monitoring.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) won't practice Thursday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Nor will Mecole Hardman (abdomen), which sets the stage for what the two pass catchers are able to do Friday to be pivotal with regard to their chances of suiting up Sunday night against the Chargers. On the plus side for the Chiefs, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness) is slated to return to practice Thursday and take the field along with fellow wideouts Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore.

Smith-Schuster (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

The same applies to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness) and Mecole Hardman (abdomen), which leaves Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson and Skyy Moore as Kansas City's healthiest wideouts at this stage of the week. Smith-Schuster -- who is in the NFL's concussion protocol -- now has two more chances to take the practice field ahead of Sunday night's game against the Chargers.

Smith-Schuster is in the NFL's concussion protocol after being forced out of Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

Prior to his exit from Sunday's contest, Smith-Schuster caught two of his four targets for 33 yards. In his absence, added Week 10 snaps are available for fellow WRs Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Smith-Schuster racked up 10 receptions on 12 targets for 88 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over the Titans.

Smith-Schuster was unable to extend his touchdown streak to three games, but he continued to produce like a WR1 with new season highs in both receptions (10) and targets (12). The veteran wideout finished second in targets in a game where Patrick Mahomes slung the ball 68 times, signifying the trust Juju has earned with his new club and quarterback. Smith-Schuster continues to be a hot fantasy asset heading into next Sunday's tilt against the Jaguars.

Smith-Schuster hauled in seven of eight targets for 124 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 44-23 win over San Francisco.

Smith-Schuster appears to be settling in with his new offense, posting consecutive games with at least 100 yards and a score. The 25-year-old now carries a 34-494-2 line while operating as the Chiefs' top wideout and Patrick Mahomes' second-favorite target. Smith-Schuster is looking like a fantasy steal through seven weeks, and should be held through the upcoming bye week. Kansas City will be back in action against Tennessee on Nov. 6.

Smith-Schuster caught all five of his targets for 113 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Bills.

After going five games for Kansas City without getting into the end zone, Smith-Schuster finally found paydirt on a 42-yard catch-and-run early in the second quarter that saw him get past three would-be tacklers before dashing down the sideline. The former Steeler also put up his best yardage total of the season, giving him plenty of momentum heading into a Week 7 clash with the 49ers.

Smith-Schuster recorded three receptions on eight targets for 33 yards in Monday's 30-29 win over the Raiders.

Smith-Schuster played through a hamstring injury that popped up during the week, potentially hampering his performance. He tied for the team lead with eight targets, but he managed only 4.1 yards per target. While his output was disappointing, Smith-Schuster has seen exactly eight targets in four of five games this season, meaning he has a significant role in one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring/quadriceps) is listed as active for Monday night's game against the Raiders, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Smith-Schuster approached the contest listed as questionable after his hamstring tightened up during Saturday's practice, per Teope, but afterward coach Andy Reid indicated that he thought the wideout would "be fine" for Monday night action. With Smith-Schuster's active status now confirmed, barring any in-game setbacks look for the 25-year-old to continue to be a key WR target for QB Patrick Mahomes alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling, with Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore also in the mix. Four games into the 2022 season, Smith-Schuster has put together a 19/224/0 stat line, with three eight-target games to his credit thus far.

Smith-Schuster (hamstring/quadriceps) is expected to suit up for Monday Night Football versus the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster's hamstring tightened up during Saturday's practice session and he's officially listed as questionable, but it looks like he should be available versus Las Vegas. The 25-year-old is second on the Chiefs' offense in terms of both catches and receiving yards, behind Travis Kelce, though he hasn't scored through four contest. A final word on Smith-Schuster's availability will come roughly 90 minutes prior to Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster's hamstring tightened up during Saturday's practice, which caused the wideout to be limited, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports. Smith-Schuster is officially listed as questionable for Monday's matchup against the Raiders.

Smith-Schuster was previously listed on the injury report as a full participant due to a quad injury, but he logged a limited session Saturday after picking up a hamstring issue. Reid seemed optimistic about the wideout's availability and said, "I think he'll be fine." Through his first four games with Kansas City, Smith-Schuster has caught 19 passes for 224 yards, both good for second on the team behind Travis Kelce.

Smith-Schuster is listed as questionable for Monday's contest against the Raiders after experiencing hamstring tightness during practice this week.

Head coach Andy Reid seemed dismissive of the notion Smith-Schuster could possibly miss the big AFC West divisional matchup, but it's worth noting the veteran receiver appeared to pick up an injury to his hamstring at some point during Friday or Saturday's practice. Since coming over from the Steelers this offseason, the 25-year-old has been a solid PPR option with 19 receptions off 27 targets, but he's failed to score a touchdown and has seen just two red-zone targets total this season.

Smith-Schuster caught five of eight targets for 46 yards in Sunday's 41-31 win over the Buccaneers.

Smith-Schuster posted another solid PPR stat line and now has 21 receptions for 224 yards through four games with his new club. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound wideout figured to make a better red-zone target for Patrick Mahomes this year, but the duo have yet to connect for a score. Juju has lost some of the explosiveness from his heyday with the Steelers, but he is in a role that provides him with flex appeal heading into a matchup against the Raiders next Monday.

Smith-Schuster secured five of eight targets for 89 yards in the Chiefs' 20-17 loss to the Colts on Sunday.

Smith-Schuster led the Chiefs in receptions and receiving yards while tying for the team lead in targets. The veteran's yardage tally was also his best of his first three games in Kansas City, and he now has a pair of eight-target tallies during that span as well. Smith-Schuster's 53-yard reception was a game-long grab as well, making it a solid all-around day for the ex-Steeler. Smith-Schuster appears to have solid rapport with Patrick Mahomes early, giving him a positive fantasy outlook despite a tough Week 4 road matchup against the Buccaneers.

Smith-Schuster brought in all three targets for 10 yards in the Chiefs' 27-24 win over the Chargers on Thursday night.

After producing a solid 6-79 line on eight targets against the Cardinals in his Chiefs debut on Sunday, Smith-Schuster was much quieter four days later. The veteran wideout saw four players log more targets than his three, and he was utilized strictly in a short-area role as his numbers imply. Smith-Schuster's production could well fluctuate a good bit from game to game as Patrick Mahomes enjoys more freedom to spread the ball around with Tyreek Hill no longer part of the air attack, but he'll aim to boost his numbers back up against the Colts in a Week 3 road battle.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.

Kansas City listed Smith-Schuster as a limited participant on Monday's estimated report, but he didn't face any restrictions when the team held a more traditional practice session Tuesday. The wideout thus looks to be in the clear to play Thursday against the Chargers, coming off a solid debut in last week's 44-21 win over the Cardinals in which he recorded six receptions for 79 yards on eight targets while playing 46 of the Chiefs' 70 snaps on offense.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) was listed as limited on Monday's practice estimate, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

In his debut with Kansas City in Sunday's 44-21 win over the Cardinals, Smith-Schuster logged 46 of a possible 70 snaps on offense en route to catching six of his eight targets for 79 yards. Following his listing on Monday's initial injury report, the wideout's status will be worth monitoring ahead of Thursday night's game against the Chargers, but so far there's nothing to suggest that Smith-Schuster is in danger of sitting out the contest.

Smith-Schuster caught six of eight targets for 79 yards in Sunday's 44-21 win over the Cardinals.

The former Steeler led all Kansas City wide receivers in receptions, yards and targets on the day, although Marquez Valdes-Scantling (4-44 on four targets) and Mecole Hardman (3-16-1 on six targets) also saw significant volume. With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, Patrick Mahomes figures to spread the ball around more than he did in years past, but Smith-Schuster made an early case to be his No. 2 option behind Travis Kelce.

Smith-Schuster relayed Wednesday that his knee is fully healed ahead of Week 1 action, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, the wideout dealt with some preseason knee soreness, but Smith-Schuster has moved past the issue and is on track to play in Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals. In that contest, Smith-Schuster is in line to be a key cog in a wide receiver corps that no longer includes Tyreek Hill, and will also feature Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.

Smith-Schuster (knee) returned to practice Monday, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

His return comes one day after Marquez Valdes-Scantling's, with the Chiefs getting their projected top two receivers back after both missed the preseason finale. The team never expressed much concern over Smith-Schuster's knee injury, and he'll now have two weeks to practice before facing the Cardinals on Sept. 11 in KC's regular-season opener.

Smith-Schuster (knee) and the Chiefs have agreed to an amended contract that increases his per-game roster bonuses from $30,000 to $60,000, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster is signed to a one-year, incentive-heavy contract, allowing the Chiefs to delay much of the cap hit until 2023. He may end up in Kansas City for just the one year, but Smith-Schuster undoubtedly is headed for a key role on offense, with he and fellow offseason signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling (concussion) getting most of the first-team reps this summer. Neither was healthy for Kansas City's final preseason game, but both should have enough time to get there before Week 1 against the Cardinals. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Tuesday that Smith-Schuster had "turned the corner" with his knee injury and was expected to play in the season opener.

Coach Andy Reid relayed Tuesday that Smith-Schuster (knee) has "turned the corner" and should be fine for the start of the regular season, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

The report notes that Smith-Schuster has been dealing with knee soreness since the Monday (Aug. 15) after Kansas City's first preseason game. The wideout won't play in Thursday's exhibition finale, after which he can turn his focus to readying for the team's Week 1 contest against the Cardinals. Once he's back at practice and up to speed, Smith-Schuster is slated to be a key cog in a wide receiver corps that no longer includes Tyreek Hill. Also in the mix for their share of early-season WR snaps are Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.

Smith-Schuster (knee) won't play in Thursday's preseason finale against Green Bay, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Coach Andy Reid said last week that he expected Smith-Schuster back in practice this week, but it didn't happen Monday or Tuesday with the Chiefs preparing for their preseason finale. The veteran wide receiver still has two and a half weeks to recover from his knee injury before facing the Cardinals in Week 1.

Coach Andy Reid noted Thursday that there's a good chance Smith-Schuster (knee) will return to practice next week, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

With that in mind, Smith-Schuster isn't in line to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Commanders, but Reid's comment suggests that the wide receiver's knee issue isn't viewed as a major concern. When healthy, Smith-Schuster is slated to be a key target for QB Patrick Mahomes in a Kansas City offense that has plenty of targets up for grabs following the offseason departure of Tyreek Hill.

Smith-Schuster missed Tuesday's practice due to knee soreness, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Smith-Schuster otherwise seems to have been healthy since signing with the Chiefs, following an injury-marred final season in Pittsburgh. While he finished the preseason opener without a target, Smith-Schuster was on the field for every snap QB Patrick Mahomes took, getting a bit more first-team run than Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a lot more than Mecole Hardman. There should be more opportunities for Hardman (and rookie Skyy Moore) in the regular season when the Chiefs use three-wide formations more often -- a configuration where Smith-Schuster figures to see a lot of slot snaps. It's unclear if the sore knee is a threat to the 25-year-old's availability for an upcoming exhibition with Washington this Saturday.

Smith-Schuster started Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears but did not receive a target.

The game was Smith-Schuster's first chance to connect with his new quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, but he failed to receive any looks during Mahomes' lone drive. The pair will still have two more chances to sync up before the start of the regular season.

Smith-Schuster has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Per the report, Smith-Schuster is slated to earn $10.75 million this coming season. Injuries limited the 25-year-old to five games with the Steelers during the 2021 campaign, during which he logged a 15/129/0 stat line. Smith-Schuster was able to return to action in time for Pittsburgh's playoff loss to Kansas City, so he's presumably past the shoulder issue that had landed him on IR. In his new team context, Smith-Schuster will provide a quality complementary option alongside the Chiefs' top playmakers, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, with his fantasy ceiling boosted by the prospect of catching passes from star signal-caller Patrick Mahomes.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) started and finished with five receptions on eight targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Chiefs.

Smith-Schuster was able to return from a lengthy stay on injured reserve to suit up with Ben Roethlisberger one last time. The 24-year-old experienced the last wave of Big Ben's prime, providing fantasy value for a good portion of the four years prior to an injury-plagued 2021 campaign. The Steelers will enter a new era under a new quarterback next season, but Smith-Schuster may find a new home as an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster tweeted on his personal account saying he'd play in Sunday's playoff matchup against the Chiefs, setting the stage for the star wide receiver to make his return after missing the past 13 games. Even prior to the injury it was clear Diontae Johnson had usurped Smith-Schuster as Ben Roethlisberger's favorite target, but the fifth-year wide receiver should act as a capable underneath option alongside Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) had no issues in his return to practice Thursday and is "trending toward playing" Sunday at Kansas City, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Thursday was Smith-Schuster's first official day back at practice, but it apparently went well despite initially being considered out for the season after shoulder surgery in mid-October. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old is officially activated for the wild-card game, but his return would bring a significant boost to Pittsburgh's passing game for the playoffs.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) practiced Thursday, but coach Mike Tomlin indicated that a determination has yet to be made as to the wideout's readiness for game action in advance of the Steelers' playoff opener against the Chiefs on Sunday, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports. "We just started the 21-day window," Tomlin noted of Smith-Schuster's current IR status. "What transpires out here and a lot of other questions are part of the equation."

"He's worked hard in rehabilitation and gotten himself to this point," Tomlin added of Smith-Schuster's surprising return to practice Thursday. "We simply started the 21-day window. We'll look at him, see how he feels. Check his level of conditioning when people get into that 21-day window." With that in mind, how the wideout looks in practice Friday could potentially go a long way in helping the Steelers assess his chances of being activated ahead of the team's wild-card contest, which kicks off Sunday night at 8:15 ET.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday after the Steelers designated him for return from injured reserve.

Smith-Schuster was placed on IR back on Oct. 16 after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery, but now that he's been cleared to practice, the Steelers will have a 21-day window in which to activate the wideout to the 53-man roster. While the transaction potentially paves the way for Smith-Schuster to play in Sunday's wild-card game in Kansas City, his availability will likely hinge on how he fares in practice Thursday and Friday.

Smith-Schuster (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

This comes as no surprise considering Smith-Schuster underwent season-ending surgery to his shoulder earlier this week. James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool will split a bigger piece of the target share with the five-year pro sidelined indefinitely.

Smith-Schuster will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday for the right shoulder injury he sustained in Sunday's win over Denver, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated that Smith-Schuster will be placed on injured reserve, though that transaction may not become official until later in the week. With the wideout done for the season, James Washington (groin) -- who sat out against Denver but is expected to return to practice this week -- is expected to step into a regular role in three-receiver sets alongside Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.

Smith-Schuster suffered a shoulder injury during Sunday's game against the Broncos, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Prior to his exit from the game, Smith-Schuster carried twice for six yards and didn't haul in his only target. In his absence, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are slated to head the Steelers' Week 5 wideout corps.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Smith-Schuster has been nursing the rib injury since it forced him out of the Steelers' Week 3 win over the Bengals, but he doesn't look to be at risk of missing game action as a result. He played 95 percent of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Packers and tied his season high with eight targets, but he mustered only two receptions for 11 yards. The fifth-year wideout has yet to find the end zone through four contests and no longer looks like the must-start player he was during his breakout 2018 campaign, when he tallied 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

He played through the same injury last week and took 95 percent of offensive snaps in a 27-17 loss to Green Bay, catching two passes for 11 yards on eight targets. Smith-Schuster should be fine to play again this Sunday against Denver, but he's averaging just 8.6 yards per catch for the second year in a row, and this time it isn't coming with steady volume (he's seen eight, seven, four and eight targets in four games).

Smith-Schuster hauled in two of eight targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Packers.

Smith-Schuster's eight targets Sunday ranked second on the team, but he was unable to generate much production against the Packers' stingy defense. After topping 40 receiving yards in each of the first two weeks of the season, he's now totaled just 36 yards across the last two games. The 24-year-old will have more competition for targets against Denver in Week 5 if Chase Claypool (hamstring) is cleared to return.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Green Bay, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

As does Diontae Johnson (knee), who also practiced in full to wrap up Week 4 prep. At the same time, Chase Claypool (hamstring) actually experienced a downturn on his activity level from limited Thursday to none Friday. If the Steelers opt to sit Claypool, as they did with Johnson this past Sunday, Smith-Schuster could be in line for a larger workload than normal, which so far has equated to 19 targets in three games.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Wednesday, so his return to the field, even in a limited capacity, bodes well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Packers. Meanwhile, Diontae Johnson (knee) -- who was sidelined in Week 3 -- was a full participant Thursday, while Chase Claypool was added to the Steelers' Week 4 injury report after logging a limited session. Friday's injury report will reveal whether any or all of the team's top three wideouts head into the weekend carrying an injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) didn't practice Wednesday.

He's considered day-to-day after X-rays on his ribs came back negative. Meanwhile, Diontae Johnson (knee) returned to a limited practice Wednesday, after missing each session last week and ultimately being ruled out for the loss to Cincinnati. Smith-Schuster left that game early, finishing with three catches for 25 yards on 40 percent snap share.

Smith-Schuster (ribs) is considered day-to-day after X-rays on the injury that knocked him out against the Bengals in Week 3 came back negative, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Smith-Schuster's bruised ribs will likely impact his practice participation this week, but it sounds like he has a real chance to suit up Sunday in Green Bay without missing additional game action. With the Steelers at 1-2 and fellow wide receiver Diontae Johnson's (knee) Week 4 status uncertain, JuJu will likely tough it out on game day if his status comes down to pain management.

Smith-Schuster won't return to Sunday's game against the Bengals due to a rib injury, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Smith-Schuster caught all three of his targets for 25 yards prior to going down with the injury. The Steelers, which are already without Diontae Johnson (knee), will manage the rest of Sunday's contest with Chase Claypool, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud as the team's top wide receivers.

Smith-Schuster recorded six receptions on seven targets for 41 yards in Sunday's Week 2 loss to the Raiders. He added one rush for three yards and a touchdown.

Smith-Schuster was out-targeted and out-gained by both Diontae Johnson (undisclosed) and Chase Claypool. Cutting against his high catch rate, Smith-Schuster's longest gain of the day went for 17-yards and marked his only double-digit reception of the contest. Smith-Schuster did find the end zone on a three-yard rush, though that's not likely to be a consistent source of production. On the other hand, his role could grow if Johnson is required to miss any time after suffering an apparent injury on the final play of Sunday's game.

Smith-Schuster secured four of eight targets for 52 yards in the Steelers' 23-16 win over the Bills on Sunday.

Smith-Schuster led Pittsburgh in receiving yardage while checking in second in targets on the afternoon. The fifth-year wideout was encouragingly deployed a bit further away from the line of scrimmage than he typically was in 2020, when he posted a career-low 6.5 yards per target and 8.6 yards per catch. Whether that continues to hold true under new offensive coordinator Larry Canada remains to be seen, but Smith-Schuster will seemingly have a good opportunity to build on the solid opener in a Week 2 home battle against the Raiders.

Smith-Schuster hauled in five of his six targets for 39 yards in Saturday's 26-20 preseason win over the Lions.

Smith-Schuster and the first-team offense had a chance to work with Ben Roethlisberger on Saturday, and the 2017 second-rounder led the team in receptions. However, his 7.8 yards per catch ranked last among the Steelers' main pass catchers, and he failed to haul in a diving attempt in the second quarter that would have resulted in a 17-yard touchdown. Smith-Schuster was on the field for 64 percent of the offensive snaps in the preseason win and should see plenty of work during the regular season, but his efficiency is somewhat concerning after he had a career-low 6.5 yards per target in 2020.

Smith-Schuster secured all three of his targets for 22 yards in Thursday's 24-16 preseason win over the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster didn't play in last week's Hall of Fame Game, but he recorded catches in each of the Steelers' first two offensive drives Thursday. The 24-year-old returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal during the offseason and is hopeful that he'll see more perimeter work during the 2021 campaign after he lined up in the slot on 74.3 percent of his snaps last season.

Smith-Schuster says he'll play more snaps outside this season, Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Smith-Schuster has taken more than half his snaps from the slot in each of four NFL seasons, slowly increasing from 57.8 percent (2017) to 61.0 percent (2018) to 66.7 percent (2019), before leaping to 84.7 percent in 2020, per PFF. He's arguably at his best working inside, but a 5.8 aDOT last season didn't give him many opportunities for long gains. While more work outside could help Smith-Schuster get a few deep looks, he may also face tougher target/touch/snap competition this year, after the Steelers improved their backfield in the first round of the 2021 draft (with Najee Harris) and used their second-round pick on a tight end (Pat Freiermuth) who could encourage more multi-TE looks. The team also still has Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and James Washington at wide receiver, competing for targets from 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger.

Smith-Schuster is signing a one-year, $8 million contract with the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport suggests Smith-Schuster received better contract offers from the Ravens and Chiefs but decided to stay in Pittsburgh for at least one more year. He's no doubt hoping for a better free-agent market next offseason, at which point he'll still be just 25 years old. Smith-Schuster hasn't made as many big plays the past couple years, but his cumulative receiving stats through four seasons (308/3,726/26) are impressive.

Smith-Schuster has been talking with the Jets, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Jets recently signed Corey Davis and still have Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder under contract. While there are certainly bigger needs on the roster, it makes sense to prioritize pass-catching weapons as the team prepares to acquire a new quarterback. Plus, the Jets could trade or release Crowder if they end up signing Smith-Schuster.

Smith-Schuster hauled in a whopping 13 passes (19 targets) for 157 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 48-37 playoff loss to the Browns.

The Steelers' offense as a whole looked like the team that was without its head coach and lacking a week of practice in the first quarter. Big Ben and Smith-Schuster finally got things rolling over the next three periods, but the deficit had grown too large to catch up. It was a big win for the 24-year-old from a fantasy perspective, as it was his first 100-plus yard game with a touchdown this season. Smith-Schuster finished the regular season with 97 receptions for 831 yards and nine touchdowns. The combination of receptions and scores kept him useful in PPR formats, but the veteran saw a drop in usage to make room for Pittsburgh's suddenly stacked receiver room. Smith-Schuster will become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason, and a change of scenery seems plausible given the contract he could command and the Steelers' depth at the position. If Smith-Schuster lands in a situation where a receiver help is needed, it could help put the talented wideout back in the upper echelon of wide receivers

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Friday and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Browns, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster was held out of Thursday's practice due to a knee injury he's been dealing with all year, but it never seemed his status for Sunday's playoff bout was in any real danger. After piling up at least 50 yards and a score in three of his last four games to end the regular season, Smith-Schuster will now focus his attention toward dissecting a Browns' secondary that may be without some combination of Denzel Ward (COVID-19 list), Terrance Mitchell (non-injury related) and M.J. Stewart (calf).

Smith-Schuster recorded six receptions on eight targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 against the Browns.

Smith-Schuster continued to be a reliable target for the Steelers, regularly working in the short areas of the field. However, he also turned in a few big plays, highlighted by a 26-yard reception and two-yard touchdown catch. Though Smith-Schuster struggled to command consistent volume at times during the season, he ended up with 128 targets and 97 receptions to go along with nine touchdowns. He'll enter the offseason as a free agent, though for now Smith-Schuster's attention will be on the Steelers' potential playoff run.

Smith-Schuster caught nine of 13 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 28-24 win over the Colts.

Smith-Schuster led the team in catches and receiving yards as he notched a new season high in the latter category. He also helped his team complete the come-from-behind victory with a pretty 25-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Smith-Schuster has primarily been used around the line of scrimmage this season, but he received more looks downfield in this one and responded by averaging over 10.0 yards per reception for just the fourth time. He'll look to finish the regular season on a high note in next Sunday's finale against the Browns.

Smith-Schuster caught three of six targets for 15 yards and lost a fumble in Monday's 27-17 loss to the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster fumbled after taking a massive hit on a crossing route, ending Pittsburgh's fifth possession of the first quarter without a single first down. The slot receiver never really got an opportunity to make amends for that error, falling short of 30 yards for the fifth time this season. Consistency has been an issue for Smith-Schuster in 2020, but he has compiled a respectable 82 catches for 670 yards and seven touchdowns heading into a Week 16 visit from the Colts.

Smith-Schuster had six receptions (seven targets) for 55 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-15 loss to Buffalo.

Smith-Schuster was the lone bright spot on a forgettable offensive night for the normally high-octane Steelers aerial attack. The "elder statesman" of Pittsburgh's young wideout corps led the team in all receiving categories, which hasn't been a regular occurrence in 2020. That's not to say that Smith-Schuster isn't being utilized, as he is averaging a healthy 7.8 targets per game this year. The 26-year-old simply isn't doing a whole lot with those opportunities, falling below 50 receiving yards on seven occasions while failing to register a 100-plus yard performance through 13 contests. The bright spot on Smith-Schuster's resume is the 79 receptions he has tallied, which undoubtedly boosts his utility in PPR formats heading into a soft matchup against the Bengals on Monday.

Smith-Schuster brought in seven of his 10 targets for 28 yards in Monday's 23-17 loss to Washington.

The Steelers relied heavily on the passing game once again, with Ben Roethlisberger attempting a season-high 53 passes. Smith-Schuster commanded a sizable target share, but he garnered only 2.8 yards per target, his lowest mark since Week 6. Pittsburgh has passed at least 40 times in each of the last five contests, and Smith-Schuster has received a fair share of targets. However, he's only averaging 4.4 yards per reception over the last three games.

Smith-Schuster recorded eight receptions on nine targets for 37 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 against the Ravens.

Ben Roethlisberger took to the air 51 times in the contest, leaving plenty of volume for all of his receivers. Smith-Schuster was used primarily in the short areas of the field, as he averaged only 4.1 yards per target despite hauling in nearly all of the looks he received. Even with the low yardage total, Smith-Schuster managed to salvage his performance with a one-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter -- his sixth of the campaign. He'll look for a more explosive Week 13 showing against Washington.

Smith-Schuster (foot) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Smith-Schuster has put forth a 'DNP/LP/FP' practice slate over the last three days, seeming to confirm that he isn't in any actual danger of missing time. Pittsburgh's upcoming matchup against the Ravens has been moved from Thursday to Sunday, however, so the team isn't required to officially assign injury designations for game-day yet.

Smith-Schuster (toe) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

The activity represents a step forward for Smith-Schuster, who was listed as non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report. Smith-Schuster would ideally upgrade to full activity in Wednesday's practice and avoid carrying an injury designation into Thursday's game versus Baltimore, but even another limited showing would seemingly put him in good shape to play Week 12.

Smith-Schuster (toe) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Smith-Schuster tripped over the weighted portion of a penalty flag near the end of this past Sunday's win in Jacksonville. While he didn't return to the game, the team noted he could have taken the field again, if he was needed. Smith-Schuster will look to increase his activity level in advance of Thursday's game versus the Ravens.

Smith-Schuster suffered a toe injury during Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

On his way to the sidelines, Smith-Schuster tripped on the weighted portion of a penalty flag and immediately started limping. The team relayed that he could return if necessary, but the game has turned into a blowout in the Steelers' favor. Smith-Schuster will finish Sunday's game with four catches for 19 yards, and he'll look to recover quickly with a Thursday night game against the Ravens up next.

Smith-Schuster recorded nine receptions on 13 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown in Week 10 against the Bengals.

Smith-Schuster led the team with 13 targets, the second time he's surpassed 10 in his last four contests. He didn't turn that opportunity into a massive yardage total, though he still recorded receptions of 24 and 12 yards. Smith-Schuster also found the end zone for the fifth time this season, slipping free from coverage for an eight-yard catch halfway through the second quarter. After a slow start to the season, Smith-Schuster has topped 65 yards in each of his last four games, and he'll draw an exploitable matchup against the Jaguars in Week 12.

Smith-Schuster (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Smith-Schuster appears to have received a maintenance day Wednesday, as has been a regular occurrence all season. By returning as a full participant in Thursday's practice, he's successfully shed any concern about his availability for Week 10. Smith-Schuster has averaged 82 receiving yards over the Steelers' last three games, and Cincinnati's exploitable secondary will provide a favorable stage to continue his productive streak Sunday.

Smith-Schuster (knee) did not practice Wednesday, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster has regularly sat out Wednesday practices this season, and Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that his absence can be considered a rest day despite his injury designation. The 23-year-old is coming off a season-high 93 yards plus a score during Sunday's win over the Steelers.

Smith-Schuster caught six of seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-19 win over the Cowboys.

He set a season high in receiving yards in the comeback win, and Smith-Schuster's fourth-quarter TD catch was his first score since Week 3. Despite the productive afternoon, he was only third on the Steelers in targets, and the competition for looks from Ben Roethlisberger should remain fierce in Week 10 against a vulnerable Bengals defense.

Smith-Schuster corralled seven of his eight targets for 67 receiving yards during Sunday's 28-24 win against the Ravens.

Smith-Schuster has been highly involved over the past two weeks in wins over formidable AFC foes, snagging 16 of 22 targets for 152 receiving yards against the Titans and Ravens, his greatest output in a two-game stretch thus far this season. Pittsburgh's passing offense isn't quite the high-octane unit it was during 2018 in Ben Roethlisberger's last full season, ranking 23rd in the NFL with 229 yards per game entering Sunday (compared to a No. 2 ranking in 2018). Regardless, Smith-Schuster's usage of late has been sufficient to produce viable fantasy numbers, as he now prepares for a Week 9 matchup against the Cowboys' bottom-ranked scoring defense.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster's absence from practice Wednesday appears routine and he'll be a go for Sunday's game against the Ravens. The 23-year-old is coming off his busiest game of current campaign, as he was on the field for 65 of a possible 79 offensive snaps in this past Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans, en route to racking up nine catches (on 14 targets) for 85 yards.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Wednesday absences from practice have become the norm for Smith-Schuster, so we expect him return to the field Thursday and in turn to be available Sunday against the Ravens. The starting wideout is coming off his busiest game of the season, as Smith-Schuster logged 65 of a possible 79 snaps on offense in this past Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans, en route to recording nine catches (on 14 targets) for 85 yards.

Smith-Schuster recorded nine receptions on 14 targets for 85 yards in Week 7 against the Titans.

Smith-Schuster didn't find the end zone and wasn't a major deep threat, but recorded a season-best 14 targets and 85 yards. A big portion of that production came on two catches -- a 28-yard catch halfway through the fourth quarter and a 21-yard reception in the second quarter. With Diontae Johnson (ankle) banged up once again, Smith-Schuster could be in for plenty of targets in Week 8 against Baltimore.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Wednesday absences from practice have become the norm for Smith-Schuster, but he'll suit up Sunday against the 5-0 Titans alongside Diontae Johnson (back), who's practicing fully this week after sitting out the 5-0 Steelers' Week 6 win over the Browns. Smith-Schuster has nowhere to go but up this weekend after logging just two receptions on four targets for six yards against Cleveland.

Smith-Schuster (knee) did not practice Wednesday, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster has regularly received Wednesday practices off this season, so it's safe to assume he's once again simply resting his lingering knee injury. Diontae Johnson (back) returned to practice as a full participant Wednesday, so as long as Smith-Schuster is able to resume handling unrestricted reps as usual Thursday, Pittsburgh's lethal receiving corps will be on track to enter Sunday's contest against the undefeated Titans at full strength.

Smith-Schuster recorded two receptions on four targets for six yards in Week 6 against the Browns.

The Steelers led the game throughout, limiting Ben Roethlisberger to only 22 pass attempts. While Smith-Schuster matched Chase Claypool and Eric Ebron in targets, he did very little with his opportunity. His longest reception of the day went for just five yards and he was not targeted deep down the field. It's another concerning performance for Smith-Schuster, who has not topped 50 receiving yards since Week 1 against the Giants. With Diontae Johnson (back) likely to return to the field soon and the emergence of rookie Chase Claypool, it appears that Smith-Schuster's days as the Steelers' alpha receiver may have come to a close.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Wednesday absences from practice have become routine for Smith-Schuster, but he'll be out there Sunday against the Browns. To date, Smith-Schuster is averaging six targets a game, which has yielded a 21/188/3 stat line through four outings. He'll remain a key weapon for QB Ben Roethlisberger this weekend versus a Cleveland defense that has allowed an average of 296.4 passing yards per game. Only the Seahawks and Falcons have surrendered more thus far.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Wednesday's off have been routine of late for Smith-Schuster, as he manages a knee issue. Look for him to return to practice -- likely as a full participant -- come Thursday.

Smith-Schuster recorded four receptions on five targets for 28 yards in Week 5 against Philadelphia.

Smith-Schuster had a great chance to dominate targets after Diontae Johnson (back) was forced from the game early on. However, he was overshadowed by rookie Chase Claypool, who racked up 11 targets compared to Smith-Schuster's five. It's unclear if he's being slowed by a knee issue that has limited is practice availability for the past several weeks, but Smith-Schuster has now failed to surpass 50 receiving yards in each of his past three contests. He'll draw a matchup against the Browns in Week 6.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

As did Diontae Johnson (toe), essentially confirming that the duo's absence from practice Wednesday was maintenance-related. Smith-Schuster heads into Week 5 action with a 17/160/3 stat line through the Steelers' first three contests. He'll look to improve on his yardage rate Sunday against the 1-2-1 Eagles, who allowed San Francisco tight end George Kittle to rack up a staggering 15 catches for 183 yards and TD in Week 4.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

The same applies to fellow starting wideout Diontae Johnson (toe), but Pryor suggests that the duo's listed injuries are "minor things and haven't kept them out of games so far." For some perspective, Smith-Schuster -- who didn't play last week due to the postponement of the scheduled Titans/Steelers contest -- sat out back-to-back practices Wednesday and Thursday before returning to a full session on Friday and approaching the team's game against the Texans in Week 3 minus an injury designation. A similar pattern could be on tap in advance of Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Smith-Schuster and the Steelers will not take the field Week 4 against the Titans following additional positive COVID-19 tests within the Tennessee organization, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The initial plan was to move the game from Sunday to either Monday or Tuesday, but with reports of additional positive tests from another Titans player and personnel member surfacing, the league ultimately decided it would be best to postpone the contest. The Steelers were originally in line for a Week 8 bye, but it remains to be seen if that will stay in tact with a new Week 4 bye now on the calendar.

Smith-Schuster caught four of five targets for 43 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 28-21 win over the Texans.

Smith-Schuster tied for second on the team in targets and receptions while leading the way in receiving yardage on what was a middling day for the Steelers air attack. He scored a 26-yard touchdown on busted coverage from the Houston defense in the Second quarter, salvaging what would have been a more disappointing day from a fantasy perspective. Smith-Schuster's yardage totals have been lackluster the last two weeks, but he could buck that trend next Sunday against a porous Titans defense, and especially if Diontae Johnson (concussion) is forced to sit out.

Smith-Schuster (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation in advance of Sunday's game against the Texans, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster, who didn't practice either Wednesday or Thursday, was back at practice Friday and listed as a full participant. In fact, the Steelers approach the weekend with no players listed with Week 3 injury designations. Smith-Schuster is thus poised to handle his usual pass-catching duties Sunday opposite fellow starter Diontae Johnson. The duo combined for 15 catches on 21 targets in Week 2's win over the Broncos, with Smith-Schuster logging a 7-48-0 stat line off his eight targets. Another busy day figures to be in store for both players versus a Houston squad that's off to an 0-2 start following losses to AFC powerhouses, Kansas City and Baltimore.

Smith-Schuster (knee) was a full practice participant Friday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

This comes on the heels of Smith-Schuster not taking any practice reps at all Wednesday and Thursday, before posting on his personal Instagram on Thursday that he expects to play Sunday versus the Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Still, the Steelers have yet to release Smith-Schuster's game-day availability, which will come out in short order.

Smith-Schuster (knee) sat out practice for the second consecutive day Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

With that in mind, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Smith-Schuster's situation is "worth monitoring for (Friday) but there's been no indication he's in danger of missing" Sunday's game against the Texans. A return to practice Friday on the wideout's part -- in any capacity -- would no doubt ease concerns about Smith-Schuster's Week 3 status.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Wednesday.

Smith-Schuster also sat out last Wednesday's practice before returning to a full session Thursday, and it wouldn't surprise us to see that pattern repeated this week as the Steelers prepare for Sunday's game against the Texans. Smith-Schuster ended up logging 59 of a possible 65 snaps on offense in Week 2's win over the Broncos, en route to hauling in seven of his eight targets for 48 yards.

Smith-Schuster caught seven of eight targets for 48 yards during Sunday's 26-21 win over the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster finished second on the team with a healthy eight targets but was limited to short gains outside his long of 18 yards. Meanwhile, Diontae Johnson led the team with eight catches on 13 targets and seems to be drawing plenty of attention from Ben Roethlisgerber. It is true that Johnson is benefitting from working across from Smith-Schuster, but his ascendance should help balance things out in the coming weeks and will benefit the Pittsburgh offense as a whole. There could be plenty of scoring in next Sunday's matchup with the Texans, giving Smith-Schuster a great chance to bounce back from this subpar outing.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Friday and doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster was held out of practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, but the absence appears to have been maintenance-related to keep the wide receiver in tip-top shape. Look for the 23-year-old to serve as the Steelers' No. 1 wide receiver this weekend, though Diontae Johnson should again be a regular target of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

As did fellow starting wideout Diontae Johnson (toe), after both players sat out Wednesday's session. The duo's quick return to full work suggests that their absences to kick off the practice week were precautionary. Smith-Schuster, who logged 55 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in this past Monday's win over the Giants, is thus presumably on track to handle his usual workload Sunday against the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Wednesday.

Fellow starting wideout Diontae Johnson (toe) also missed practice Wednesday. Smith-Schuster logged 55 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Monday's win over the Giants, en route to catching all six of his targets for 69 yards and two TDs. It's possible that his absence Wednesday is maintenance-related, a notion that would be confirmed if Smith-Schuster practices in any capacity Thursday. The same applies to Johnson. In the duo's absence, added practice reps were available Wednesday for James Washington, Chase Claypool and Ray-Ray McCloud.

Smith-Schuster caught all six of his targets for 69 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's 26-16 win over the Giants.

Smith-Schuster looked happy to have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back under center, as he hauled in everything thrown his way, including a couple scores. The wideout notched Pittsburgh's first touchdown with a 10-yard catch on third down during the second quarter, then effectively ended the game with an eight-yard score on third down with just over five minutes left in the fourth. In doing so, Smith-Schuster is already close to topping his mere three touchdowns from last season, and by leading the Steelers in receiving yards, it's clear having Big Ben back should help his stock rebound significantly this season. The 23-year-old will aim to build on his strong start in his team's home opener in Week 2 versus the Broncos.

Smith-Schuster changed his routine this offseason, working one-on-one with a trainer instead of working out with a group of players, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Prior to last year, Smith-Schuster never seemed to have any problem with strength, conditioning or durability, playing 40 games in three seasons at USC and 30 during his first two years with the Steelers. He then missed four weeks last season after he suffered a knee sprain and a concussion, adding injury to insult amidst a highly disappointing campaign. Ben Roethlisberger's return to the starting lineup puts Smith-Schuster on track for a rebound in the final year of his rookie contract, though it remains to be seen if the 38-year-old QB can match his pre-injury form. Smith-Schuster claims he isn't worried about signing a new contract, though it wouldn't come as any surprise if the Steelers were to announce an extension before Week 1. Absent a new deal, Smith-Schuster will be a top candidate for the franchise tag next spring.

Smith-Schuster (knee) caught two of four targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Jets.

Clearly gutting it out at much less than 100 percent, Smith-Schuster failed to make much of an impact in his first action since Week 11. The banged-up wide receiver will likely be out there when the Steelers try to clinch a playoff berth against the Ravens in Week 17, but his impact will probably be limited.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't carry an injury designation into the weekend after practicing fully Thursday and Friday, but his status was still somewhat unsettled leading up to kickoff after Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com relayed earlier Sunday that the team was monitoring the wideout's ability to tolerate pain in his knee during a pregame workout before determining his fate. Evidently, Smith-Schuster's knee wasn't too bothersome, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Steelers used him cautiously as he returns from a four-game absence. If Smith-Schuster's snap count ends up being limited Sunday, more reps and targets would open up for Diontae Johnson and James Washington.

Smith-Schuster (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's contest against the Jets, but the team is viewing the receiver as a game-day decision in advance of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Though Smith-Schuster has received medical clearance to play through the knee issue, the Steelers apparently aren't entirely convinced that he'll be able to play through the lingering pain he's continued to experience. The Steelers will put Smith-Schuster through a workout Sunday morning, after which the team should have a better idea regarding what kind of workload -- if any -- the wideout is capable of handling. With the Steelers clinging to the AFC's final wild-card spot entering Sunday's action, it would certainly behoove the 8-6 squad to have Smith-Schuster available in some capacity, though his shaky health might make it difficult to justify rolling with him in fantasy lineups.

Smith-Schuster (knee) -- who practiced fully Thursday and Friday -- doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Jets.

While that non-listing presumably puts the wideout on track to play this weekend, Smith-Schuster admits that he isn't completely past his knee issue at this stage. "I don't feel 100 percent but I am going to see what I can do," Smith-Schuster acknowledged Friday. "It depends on what (coach Mike Tomlin) says. It's coming along. It's a process. The knee is kind of tricky. You don't really know you are full go until you run your full speed, when you are getting hit, getting tackled. Hopefully I am able to go this week and play." Given Smith-Schuster's words, it will still be worth confirming his playing status in advance of Sunday's 1:00 ET kickoff, just to be safe. Moreover, assuming he does suit up this weekend for his first game action since Nov. 14, it's plausible that he could be eased back into the mix in Week 16.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Thursday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

That's a big step forward for the wideout, who was limited Wednesday and a nice change from last Thursday, when Smith-Schuster left practice early and ended up not playing in Week 15. Though Smith-Schuster is clearly trending in the right direction, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner fell short of declaring Pittsburgh's top pass catcher good to go at this stage, indicating Thursday that he was "hopeful" about getting Smith-Schuster back for Sunday's game against the Jets. Friday's final Week 16 injury report will reveal whether or not Smith-Schuster heads into the weekend listed as questionable, or minus an injury designation.

Smith-Schuster (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster -- who aggravated his knee injury at practice this past Thursday -- subsequently sat out both Friday's practice and Week 15's loss to the Bills. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, coach Mike Tomlin suggested that the team plans monitor how Smith-Schuster's knee responds to practicing in the coming days before determining the wideout's status for Sunday's game against the Jets.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated Tuesday that he currently views Smith-Schuster (knee) as questionable for this weekend's game against the Jets, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Though Smith-Schuster hasn't played since Week 11 due to a concussion (which he's since recovered from) and a left knee injury, Tomlin's comments suggest that the wideout is viewed as day-to-day rather than week-to-week. Ultimately, a decision on Smith-Schuster's status for Sunday's game will come down to what he's able to do in the Steelers' practices Wednesday through Friday. Smith-Schuster began Week 15 prep as a full participant in practice, but the Steelers chose to scale back his workload the following two days after his knee didn't respond to the activity as hoped.

The Steelers have ruled Smith-Schuster (knee) out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pittsburgh's decision to hold Smith-Schuster out for a fourth consecutive game was fully expected after the receiver aggravated the left knee injury during Thursday's practice. According to Pryor, Smith-Schuster noted Friday that he isn't putting a timeline on his return after his latest setback, leaving his availability for the Steelers' final two regular-season contests in peril as well. Young receivers Diontae Johnson and James Washington will remain pressed into expanded roles so long as Smith-Schuster is sidelined.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Friday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The report adds that Smith-Schuster -- who aggravated his knee injury at practice Thursday -- isn't sure when he'll be able to return to action, so it looks imminent that he'll be ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Smith-Schuster aggravated his left knee injury at practice Thursday and is not expected to play Sunday against the Bills, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 23-year-old appeared on track to return from the three-game absence after practicing as a full participant Wednesday, but he was downgraded to limited participation Thursday after aggravating the knee injury. Smith-Schuster's status will receive additional clarity when the Steelers release their official injury report Friday. James Washington and Diontae Johnson would receive a boost for Week 15, assuming the team's top wideout is unable to play.

Smith-Schuster (knee) was limited at practice Thursday.

Smith-Schuster practiced fully Wednesday, so we'll have to see if his Thursday limitations were maintenance-related or indicative of an issue that could lead to him being listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills. Note that Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com previously reported that "barring any future setbacks" the wideout is "still expected to play Sunday."

Smith-Schuster (undisclosed) was limited at practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

That's a downgrade in participation after Smith-Schuster practiced fully Wednesday, but the report notes that "barring any future setbacks, though, (the wideout is) still expected to play Sunday." We'll circle back later Thursday to note the nature of the injury/issue that led to Smith-Schuster's limitations.

Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.

The same applies to running back James Conner (shoulder), which, in the absence of any setbacks sets the stage for the Steelers to get both players back this weekend following three-game absences on their part. We'll continue to track Smith-Schuster's status as the week rolls along to see if he maintains full practice participation and in turn approaches Sunday night's game against the Bills minus an injury designation.

Coach Mike Tomlin expects Smith-Schuster (knee) to practice this week, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster hasn't done so since suffering a concussion and left knee injury Week 11, resulting in three consecutive absences. Tomlin is hopeful Smith-Schuster takes part "sooner rather than later," so his listing on Wednesday's injury report will be one to watch out for.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is eyeing a return for Week 15 against the Bills on Sunday night, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith-Schuster missed the past three games, including Sunday's 23-17 win over Arizona. The Steelers have stayed in the wild card race with three consecutive wins, and another victory Week 15 would pull them even with one of the teams they're competing against. Smith-Schuster still hasn't practiced since he suffered a concussion and a knee injury Week 11, but he did resume running last Wednesday. He's been out of the concussion protocol for a while, so his Week 15 availability strictly depends on the progress of the injured knee.

Smith-Schuster (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest at Arizona, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

During a Week 11 clash with the Browns, Smith-Schuster was knocked from the contest with a concussion and was seen afterward with a heavy wrap on his left knee. While the first issue is behind him, he hasn't been able to get back on the practice field due to the knee concern. Smith-Schuster thus will miss a third game in a row, giving James Washington and Diontae Johnson another shot to lead Pittsburgh's receiving corps.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Smith-Schuster is trending toward being ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals come Friday, and in that scenario James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Tevin Jones would head the Steelers' Week 14 wideout corps.

Smith-Schuster called himself week-to-week Wednesday and ran for the first time since suffering his knee injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Smith-Schuster only ran in a straight line Wednesday, but he's making clear progress in his recovery and appears close to making cuts again. The third-year-pro is officially considered questionable for Sunday's tilt against the Cardinals, according to Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site . He's nursing a knee issue suffered Week 11 versus Cleveland. Pittsburgh's initial injury report for Week 14 will be released later Wednesday, and James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Tevin Jones would be in line for expanded roles if Smith-Schuster were limited or forced to miss any more time.

Coach Mike Tomlin considers Smith-Schuster (knee) questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

James Conner (shoulder) is also in that category, but has a better chance of practicing Wednesday than Smith-Schuster, according to Tomlin. If Smith-Schuster ends up limited or out this weekend, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Tevin Jones would be in line to head the Steelers' Week 14 wideout corps.

The Steelers have ruled Smith-Schuster (knee) out for Sunday's game against the Browns, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Though Smith-Schuster cleared the NFL's concussion protocol earlier this week, the left knee injury he picked up in the Steelers' previous matchup with the Browns in Week 11 is still bothering the wideout. After he failed to practice in any fashion Wednesday through Friday, Smith-Schuster will be forced out for a second straight game. Smith-Schuster's absence leaves James Washington and Diontae Johnson in line to work as new starting quarterback Devlin Hodges' top two options at receiver in Week 13.

Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't practice Thursday.

Per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site, Smith-Schuster is no longer in the NFL's concussion protocol, but the wideout is still tending to a knee issue that threatens his status for Sunday's game against the Browns. What Smith-Schuster is able to do at practice Friday, if anything, will thus be telling with regard to his Week 13 status. Next up for added targets should Smith-Schuster end up sidelined this weekend are James Washington and Diontae Johnson.

Smith-Schuster has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. However, the wideout missed Wednesday's practice, as he's still dealing with a knee injury.

Per Pryor, Smith-Schuster was sporting a big brace on his knee Wednesday, so that's the injury he'll need to move past in order to gain clearance to suit up Sunday against the Browns. If Smith-Schuster is limited or out this weekend, added Week 13 opportunities would be available for James Washington and Diontae Johnson.

Smith-Schuster (knee) is still in the concussion protocol as of Wednesday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Residing in the protocol doesn't hold players back from taking part in practice, but Smith-Schuster has been a DNP since picking up a concussion and left knee injury on Nov. 14 at Cleveland. It's unclear if he'll take the field for Wednesday's session, but any activity will be noted on the Steelers' first Week 13 practice report.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that rather than Smith-Schuster's left knee injury, the Steelers view the receiver's concussion as the greater obstacle he'll need to overcome to play Week 12 versus the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Given the variable nature of recovery timelines for concussions, Smith-Schuster is no lock to play Sunday, but it's at least reassuring that the knee issue he sustained in the Week 11 loss to the Browns is being downplayed. Concern about the knee issue had arisen Monday, when Smith-Schuster was spotted at the Steelers' facility sporting a bulky brace. Tomlin's comments suggest that the brace may have only been a precautionary matter, but Smith-Schuster's level of participation in practice will still be worth tracking this week while he looks to move past both health issues.

Smith-Schuster was limited by a foot injury at Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't make an appearance on the Week 10 injury report until Friday, so his status bears watching in advance of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. If he's able to take the field, he'll be looking to take advantage of an L.A. defense that has given up 162.9 receiving yards per game and six touchdowns to wideouts in eight contests this season.

Smith-Schuster didn't look to be involved in the portion of Thursday's practice that was open to the media, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. "I don't know about the injury, but I know that we've all kind of the sniffles and the cold stuff going on, me included. I wouldn't speak on the injury aspect of it," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said, when asked if a health-related reason was behind Smith-Schuster's lack of activity.

Smith-Schuster dealt with a toe issue earlier this season, but he avoided the Steelers' injury report entirely ahead of the Week 6 win over the Chargers and didn't suffer any reported setbacks heading into the Week 7 bye. With that in mind, the wideout may be dealing with an unrelated injury or illness, but clarity on that front may not arrive until the Steelers release their first practice report of Week 8 after Thursday's session concludes. Smith-Schuster should benefit from a juicy matchup against the winless Dolphins on Monday Night Football, as well as the return of Mason Rudolph (concussion) under center in place of Week 6 starter Devlin Hodges.

Smith-Schuster will be working with Mason Rudolph moving forward due to Ben Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury, Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Roethlisberger was removed from Sunday's loss to the Seahawks after noticeably clutching at his right throwing elbow a number of times. An ensuing MRI revealed that the long-time Steeler required surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season. His replacement is Rudolph, who connected with Smith-Schuster on a 45-yard completion in the third quarter Sunday en route to the wideout racking up five catches (on eight targets) for 84 yards. While Smith-Schuster's stock lowers slightly, he remains the best pass-catching option in this offense by a long shot, and there should be little hesitation starting him on a weekly basis.

Smith-Schuster suffered a toe injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Patriots but is expected be ready for Week 2, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

After further testing, it was discovered that Smith-Schuster rolled up on his toe during the team's final drive of Sunday's 30-point loss to the Patriots. Fortunately for him and the Steelers, it doesn't look like it is anything too serious, as they expect him to be on the field for next weekend's matchup with the Seahawks. Smith-Schuster hauled in six of his eight targets Sunday night for a team-high 78 yards in what ended up being a dismal overall performance for Pittsburgh's offense. His status is worth monitoring throughout the week, but expect the team's top pass-catcher to be a full go for the home opener.

Smith-Schuster suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's blowout loss to the Patriots, but the injury doesn't appear to be too serious. Dale Lolley of DKSportsPittsburgh.com reports.

Smith-Schuster tweaked his ankle during a meaningless play in the waning minutes of the 33-3 blowout loss. Luckily for his fantasy owners, it sounds like the star wideout avoided serious injury. Smith-Schuster paced the Steelers in receptions (six) and receiving yards (78), which was to be expected following the dramatic departure of Antonio Brown this past offseason. The 22-year-old's next matchup comes against the Seahawks next Sunday, whose secondary was just burned by Andy Dalton and the Bengals for 400-plus passing yards. Expect the team to clarify the status of the wideout's ankle in the coming days.