NFL Player News

Waynes joined Cincinnati after playing out his rookie deal with the Vikings. The former first-round pick signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bengals but a torn pec kept him from taking the field in 2020. Then a hamstring injury held him out for all but five games last year. He was mostly ineffective when healthy. Waynes allowed 9.5 yards per target and was only credited with one pass defense. The second injury-plagued season all but assured his release. Waynes could sign somewhere else on a prove-it deal and look to ink a more substantial contract next offseason.

Hunt has been designated to return and looks likely to be active against the Rams, perhaps swinging the run game matchup. The 29-year-old power guard has been on IR since Week 2’s torn bicep. Chandler Zavala (IR/calf) is also questionable for Saturday’s game.

Tom did not play at all after leaving Week 15’s game against the Broncos and was given Friday off. At this point it seems likely that they are managing his injuries to try to get whatever they can out of him here. He’s a re-injury risk on Saturday, but the Packers have to let Tom play through it if he can. He’s simply too much of an upgrade for them.

He never progressed past a limited session this week, just as it was ahead of Week 18’s game where he was ultimately the inactive emergency quarterback. If Willis can’t go this week, Desmond Ridder will be Green Bay’s backup against the Bears. The fact that Ridder was signed to the active roster early in the week seems to forecast that there’s a real chance of Willis sitting again this week.

Outstanding. Williams may only participate in a limited capacity today, but his return is promising. Williams is no stranger to playing through injury, though this is his first career hamstring strain. His 49ers squad faces the Eagles on Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, he upgrades to full participation tomorrow and remains setback-free.

Wicks didn’t progress past a limited participant stage all week, so he may find it tough to clear concussion protocol. He does still have some time to do so ahead of Saturday’s late kick, but we’ll probably know by mid-day Saturday if he can’t go. Wicks went for 6/94/2 against the Lions on Thanksgiving and 24/238/0 on 39 targets in his other 13 games this year.

Golden practiced in full all three times this week, but doesn’t currently have enough of a role to be a recommended DFS starter against the Bears.

Hafley has received head-coaching buzz since August. The list of suitors is unsurprising. SNY’s Connor Hughes also previously reported that the Giants could be interested in interviewing Hafley as well. The Packers’ defense allowed the NFL’s ninth-fewest yards per play (5.0) despite suffering consequential injuries in the pass-rush unit this season.

It sure sounds like Prater will be Buffalo’s kicker if healthy on Sunday, and the full designation would appear to have it lean that way. If it isn’t Prater, it will be recent practice-squad addition Matthew Wright.

Per NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson, Reed “practiced for the first time since aggravating a forearm injury against the Indianapolis Colts and undergoing surgery.” Reed was placed on injured reserve, post-op, and he notably began the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform list due to a knee injury.

It’s certain to be the first of several OC interview opportunities for McDaniel if he wants to go that route. With several head-coaching positions open, it wouldn’t be surprising if he wound up receiving an interview for one of the big chairs as well. We’ll see how quickly McDaniel wants to play this, but he’d be hard-pressed to find better weapons to work with than Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams.