NFL Player News

Andersen was limited in practice this week but has a chance to suit up for the first time since Week 4. His return would be a welcomed one for a Falcons defense that ranks 19th in points and yards allowed per game, and has struggled recently against the running game. In addition to Andersen, the Falcons also listed C Drew Dalman (ankle) and LG Chris Lindstrom(knee) as questionable.

Brown left in Week 16 against the Raiders and now starts out the week not practicing. He is listed with ankle and knee issues and would be a notable loss if he cannot go Week 17 against the Chargers. With Aireontae Ersery (thumb) getting surgery, the Texans need healthy offensive tackles for their final playoff push. Brown still has a couple days to get a practice in and play on Saturday.

Schultz popped up on the injury report with a knee issue, but was still listed as a limited practice participant. Given it is the first practice of the week, it is possible the knee was just banged up in Sunday’s win over the Raiders. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for the rest of the week’ practice reports, but Schultz is still tracking to be on the TE1 borderline for Week 17 against the Chargers.

He was “day-to-day” per Ian Rapoport’s reporting, but the Chargers signed RB Jarret Patterson back to the active roster earlier today. It’s probably more likely than not that Vidal misses Week 17’s game against the Texans based on this practice status and that transaction.

He left Denver’s Week 16 game against the Jaguars with a non-contact hamstring injury and currently has no timetable for a return. It definitely sounds like he won’t be suiting up against the Chiefs on Thursday.

Very rare that we see a player clear the concussion protocol to play on a short-week Thursday. Even rarer that we see a player who was actually stretchered off the field play on a short-week Thursday. We expect plenty of Marvin Mims and Lil’Jordan Humphrey against the Chiefs on Thursday, is what we’re saying.

He appears on track to start and play the main role on Thursday against the Lions, perhaps with Ty Chandler backing him up as it seems Jordan Mason won’t be able to make it active. Jones will probably be more of an RB3 with Max Brosmer under center against the Lions.

You don’t need to wait for the rule out on Wednesday — with Max Brosmer under center, it’s a run-don’t-walk to the waiver wire to replace Hockenson in your Week 17 lineup. If you somehow made it to the championship with Hockenson in your lineup, we’re impressed.

He’ll presumably miss the rest of the regular season at the very least. Ersery finishes the campaign with a 58.7 PFF grade — decent, but nothing outstanding — and a surprisingly low 52.9 PFF run block grade as a rookie second-round starter on C.J. Stroud’s blind side. Blake Fisher replaced Ersery on Sunday when he left the game, but the Texans have enough versatility that it wouldn’t be a surprise if they lined up someone else there against the Chargers in Week 17.

Kittle’s Week 17 status could be in jeopardy with the 49ers having already clinched a playoff berth, but we’ll keep the light on for the practice report since the 49ers are (miraculously) alive for the No. 1 seed in a must-win game against the Bears. Some are calling it the middest ankle sprain they’ve ever seen, the rare “Jeff Fisher 7-9" ankle sprain. We’ll check back in on Kittle on Wednesday, but fantasy managers should probably start preparing backup plans.

Fields looked downright unplayable for much of 2025, struggling to complete 10 passes at times and crossing 200 yards passing in just four of nine starts. The Jets also failed to really utilize his legs on designed plays for much of the season, leaving him with the worst of both worlds as a fantasy contributor. Still somehow only 26, Fields is no guarantee to see out the second year of his two-year contract with the Jets. A post-June 1 release would save the Jets $10 million in cap space. He also is a trade possibility. The knee injury is not incredibly significant, with Fields telling reporters in the locker room last week that he felt “week to week,” so he should be healthy for the offseason.