NFL Player News

Pendleton, 30 in November, was a seventh-round pick of the Jaguars last year. He was cut by Jacksonville last month, and is a roster long shot in Big D.

No surprises here. Dowdle was listed as a full participant yesterday and is good to go for his showdown with the Bucs. Dowdle is ceding some work to Chuba Hubbard every week but remains the Panthers’ clear lead back. He should get plenty of touches in a must-win game versus the Bucs on Saturday. The Panthers can make the playoffs with a win. They can also win the NFC South with a loss and an Atlanta win on Sunday.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Wirfs’ status before the official injury report is out. We suspect Wirfs was limited in practice today. He missed Tuesday’s practice but was back on the field for some light work yesterday. The Bucs need a win on Saturday and an Atlanta loss on Sunday to win the NFC South and secure a playoff berth. We suspect Wirfs will push to play in the must-win game.

Jordan Love is out of the league’s concussion protocol but will get the week off with nothing to play for on Sunday. Malik Willis is dealing with multiple injuries and could be the team’s third-string quarterback this week. Tune made one disastrous start for the Cardinals in 2023. He completed 11-of-20 passes for 53 yards and two interceptions. We don’t expect much offensive output from the Packers this week.

Love is practicing in full and out of the concussion protocol. The Packers are locked in as the No. 7 seed in the NFC, giving them nothing to play for in Week 18. Love will be one of several starters who get the week off. LaFleur told reporters the team hasn’t made a decision on Tune’s backup versus Minnesota. Malik Willis is dealing with shoulder and hamstring issues. He could be inactive as the team’s third quarterback, with Love holding the clipboard for Tune on Sunday.

Per Underhill, the blood clot was “caught early before anything bad could happen and will be fine.” That is a major relief. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later added that Olave is expected to be sidelined for a month, meaning his offseason routine shouldn’t be affected. Olave’s fourth season comes to an end with 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. All three of those marks are career-highs. He finished the fantasy football season as the WR6. Olave has always been a good target-earner, but he hit a new level in 2025, logging a 30 percent target share despite needing to develop chemistry with two quarterbacks throughout the year. Both Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, who can be penciled in as the team’s starter for 2026, locked in on Olave and never looked back. Assuming this health scare passes, Olave will enter his fifth season as a low-end WR1 in early fantasy drafts.

Shaheed was seen practicing without a red non-contact jersey today. That is a good sign regarding his availability for the Seahawks’ Week 18 game against the 49ers on Saturday. If he is indeed cleared to play, Shaheed warrants WR3/FLEX treatment against the 49ers’ fantasy-friendly defense. The game’s outcome determines both the NFC West champion and the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

Rivers could still suit up as a backup one last time, but it appears as though his time in the NFL has finally come to a close. Kay Adams spoke with Rivers on Wednesday, pressing him on the matter. The 44-year-old quarterback reiterated that it is, indeed, time to hang up his cleats. In three games with the Colts, Rivers completed 58-of-92 passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Kittle resumed practicing in a limited capacity on Tuesday. We do not yet know his participation level today, but he is certainly on the right side of questionable for Saturday’s game. The Seahawks field an elite defense, but Kittle should be started as a high-end TE1 all the same.

Chargers starting RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has only ruled out QB Justin Herbert (hand) thus far, though other starters could also be ruled out as the week progresses. Chargers No. 3 RB Hassan Haskins (concussion) was limited as well. Backup RB Jaret Patterson can be stashed by running back-needy fantasy managers.

Hampton is a candidate to sit out in Week 18 against the Broncos. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has already ruled out QB Justin Herbert (hand), and told reporters earlier this week that getting his players healthy is a priority this week. Chargers backup RB Jaret Patterson could handle a decent workload, with Nos. 2 and 3 RBs, Kimani Vidal (neck) and Hassan Haskins (concussion), limited on Wednesday.