NFL Player News

Kneeland (6’3/267) was a largely unrecruited two-star prospect at the FBS level who also played basketball and ran track in high school. He played sparsely for his first couple of seasons before earning a starting role in 2022, racking up 25 pressures and 24 stops to go with a 77th percentile PFF overall grade in nine games. He has had trouble staying on the field at times, missing multiple games in each of the last two campaigns with calf and elbow injuries. Being a small school athlete, Kneeland’s combine testing was an important part of his evaluation process. While the straight line speed marks were decent with a 4.75s 40-yard dash (79th%) and 1.65s 10-yard split (77th%), his 4.18s shuttle (97th%) and 7.02s 3-Cone (91st%) were outstanding. His solid 35.5” vert (88th%) and 9’11” broad jump (81st%) helped elevate Kneeland’s Relative Athletic Score to a very respectable 9.08 RAS. A rare power-edge in a speed-rusher-dominated draft class, Kneeland explodes into contact with the intention of caving in his opponent’s chest and driving him into the backfield. What Kneeland lacks in refined technique, he makes up for in sheer tenacity and desire. Kneeland has the requisite strength and athleticism to develop into a fearsome edge-setting defensive end if he can develop his moveset with NFL-level coaching.

That makes two weeks in a row where Conklin will sit with a concussion, and he didn’t practice all week. Joel Bitonio (knee/back) is questionable after not practicing either of the first two days, while Wyatt Teller (calf) remains out. Cleveland’s OL injuries are dire enough that we must point out that Zak Zinter (back) is also questionable.

He didn’t practice all week after having the “hand” listing added to his injury on Wednesday. Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams will back up Quinshon Judkins in Week 15, with neither player approaching the FLEX conversation at this point.

Njoku did not practice all week after re-aggravating the injury in Week 14’s game against the Titans. He had played through the knee listing for a few weeks. It’s possible that Njoku gets shut down for the season with Cleveland eliminated from the playoffs. This rule out is great news for Harold Fannin’s Week 15 prospects.

Ward did not practice at any point this week since suffering the injury in Week 14. He certainly could be a candidate for an IR shut down with the Browns eliminated from the playoffs. Ward has had the worst PFF coverage grade of his career so far in 2025, at 54.4 in 701 defensive snaps.

Bucker’s 21-day return window was opened earlier this week, but the veteran lineman will miss at least one more game before being activated. Buckner hasn’t played since Week 9 but can be activated any time over the next three weeks.

Riley Leonard (knee) has practiced in full all week, so it sure seems like he’d be available to go if the Colts wanted him to. Of course, if they really wanted him to go, they probably would not have signed a 44-year-old grandfather in the first place. So there’s that. We’ll likely get a report that Rivers will start at some point in the next 36 hours. He’s not to be trusted in superflex leagues in his first start in five years.

The Colts will be without their starting right tackle for Sunday’s road game against a stout Seahawks defense. Backup Jalen Travis is expected to draw the start in his place and will be tasked with keeping one of either Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers upright. In addition to Smith, the Colts also ruled out WR Anthony Gould (ankle) and CB Sauce Gardner (calf).

Horn was injured in Week 12 and missed the Panthers’ Week 13 game against the Rams. The star corner was able to practice throughout this week and has now been cleared in time to take on Tyler Shough and the Saints in a game that could further push the Panthers’ lead in the NFC South. Horn has totaled 25 tackles this season along with a career-high five interceptions and will be a full-go for Sunday.

Higgins has been concussed twice over the last three weeks and will now miss a second game due to his brain injury. Despite being limited in both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice, the star receiver felt like a long shot to play after landing in protocol following Week 14’s game against the Bills. When Higgins missed Week 13’s game against the Ravens, backup Mitchell Tinsley stepped up to run a season-high 31 routes while also drawing a season-high eight targets. He could have some upside as a dart-throw WR4 in deeper leagues.

Harrison will miss a second-straight game due to his heel injury. His absence likely spells another high-volume target day for Michael Wilson, who has seen 18, 14, and 16 targets in three games without Harrison this season, turning into fantasy gold for managers down the stretch. Even with a tough Week 15 game against the Texans on tap, Wilson will be a must-start. Harrison will look to make his way back to the field for Week 16’s game against the Falcons.