NFL Player News

The Pats cut Montgomery to make room for linebacker Christian Elliss. They claimed Elliss off waivers after the Eagles cut him earlier this week. Montgomery got a few snaps at backup running back over the past few weeks. That role will now fall to JaMychal Hasty. Given Montgomery’s specials teams utility, he should be able to find a new team or at least a practice squad soon.

Highsmith left the Steelers’ Week 14 game on Thursday with a neck injury and was later ruled out. He will now need to pass through the league’s concussion protocol in order to suit up in Week 15. Few players have suffered a concussion and played in the following week, but Pittsburgh gets a mini-bye after playing on Thursday, giving Highsmith a decent chance at playing against the Colts. Highsmith has six sacks and seven TFLs this season.

Miller missed two games with the same shoulder injury earlier this season but returned in Week 12. He apparently suffered a setback in his return, as he was unable to practice after the team’s Week 13 bye and has since been ruled out. Jermaine Eluemunor is listed behind Miller on the depth chart and will likely draw the start in his absence.

Mitchell did not practice this week after suffering the knee injury in the team’s Week 13 win over the Eagles. Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game that Mitchell was just sore, though that appears to be a bit of an understatement. In his absence, Jordan Mason will handle the RB2 duties. That won’t mean much in the way of touches for Mason, so he can remain off fantasy rosters for now.

Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce said on Friday that he expects Crosby to play. A knee injury held Crosby out of the first two practices to start the week, but he was able to get in a limited session on Friday and sounds like he’ll be ready to go. In addition to Crosby, the Raiders also listed CB Brandon Facyson (shin) and LB Kana’i Mauga (knee) as questionable for Week 14.

Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday that Armstead was unlikely to suit up for Week 14. He did not practice this week before being ruled out. Armstead attempted to play through the foot issue versus the Eagles last week but tweaked his knee in the process and will now miss some time. He has five sacks and four TFLs so far this year.

Smith was added to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday after not appearing on the report at all to start the week. Pete Carroll was non-committal on Smith’s status when talking to reporters, only saying, “We’ll see.” He also told reporters Smith was rested for the final day of practice. Smith should be able to play through the injury, though this is something fantasy managers need to monitor leading up to kickoff. Drew Lock would draw the start versus the 49ers’ vaunted defense. If he does get the nod, every pass-catcher on the roster would take a notable hit from a fantasy perspective.

Ken Walker is also listed as questionable. Pete Carroll said both backs are game-time decisions. With Walker trending toward playing, Charbonnet is likely to resume his backup duties in Week 14. He will still see work on passing downs, but his days as a three-down back may have come to an end for now. Fantasy managers will want to hold him through this week, though he will tumble into the RB4 ranks once Walker is announced as active.

Pete Carroll told reporters Walker and Charbonnet would be game-time calls. Walker returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session. Walker appears to be trending toward a return, though we won’t know his status for sure until after the first wave of games kicks off on Sunday. If he is active, Walker will rank as an RB2 in a tough matchup with the 49ers’ elite run defense.

Surtain was knocked from Week 13’s contest against the Texans with a left knee injury but practiced all three days this week. He was a full participant in the team’s final two practices and will be ready to go against the division-rival Chargers.