NFL Player News

The fourth 100-yard game of Pierce’s career was his third of 2024 and first since Week 5. It also came after he missed Week 16 with a concussion. That impressive statline doesn’t even include the 44-yard DPI Pierce drew in the second quarter. That play, frankly, should have gone down as a Pierce drop despite Deonte Banks’ clear interference. Pierce’s score was an unusually short 13-yarder where Joe Flacco made a perfect timing pass into the end zone. As volatile as it gets with an uncertain quarterback situation heading into Week 18, Pierce will at least have an A+ matchup in the Jaguars.

The fact that Washington is able to practice is a plus. The Steelers’ jumbo-size tight end suffered a concussion in Week 14 against the Ravens. Players frequently miss at least one game due to concussions, but the Steelers play on Monday night this week, so the added rest day may have increased his odds of playing.

Raiders backup QB Kenny Pickett is extremely likely to be the team’s starter in Week 15 against the Eagles. Even if Smith is able to return in time for Week 16, he would face the Texans’ elite pass-rush unit. Smith does not need to be rostered in re-draft.

He was both added to the report on Thursday and seen in the locker room by reporters with a “short walking boot” — this is raising alarm bells that he may not be ready for Week 15’s pivotal game with the Patriots. His status should be updated on Friday, but we’re expecting him to be questionable at best based on this report.

Back-to-back practices is good news for Odunze even if both of them have been limited sessions. He’s likely to at least find the questionable line ahead of Sunday’s game against the Browns. Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) was also limited for a second straight day. If both can return, it will likely lower Luther Burden’s WR4/FLEX stock in Week 15.

He will be on “somewhat of a pitch count” coming back from the collarbone injury. That’s good news for fantasy managers who were relying on Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka in Week 15, but it makes Evans a bit of a risky start in his first week off injured reserve. Evans probably belongs on the WR4/FLEX line if you’re going to play him, though the promise that he’ll be out there on “the big downs” is promising.

Eagles LG Landon Dickerson (calf) was also absent for the portion of practice open to the media. He was limited yesterday. Both players are questionable to play in Week 15 against the Raiders. Hopefully, at least one of them can resume practicing tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Jacobs told reporters that his “knee stiffened up during the second half last Sunday.” Despite the stiffness, Jacobs played on 16-of-19 backfield snaps and handled 10-of-12 backfield touches in the second half. He underwent “another scan” on Monday, and the knee is reportedly “structurally sound.” We tentatively expect Jacobs to suit up and handle close to his typical workload against the Broncos this weekend. Ideally, he returns to practice tomorrow. Stay tuned.

It seems likely that he’ll clear concussion protocol and play against the Saints in Week 15 after upgrading from a limited session on Wednesday. LB Claudin Cherelus (concussion) also upgraded to a full practice today and figures to be available as well.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday that Metcalf should be able to play in the team’s Monday Night Football game against the Dolphins this week, but there was a chance Metcalf could miss practice time. Instead, Metcalf took the field for the week’s first practice. Expect him to play on Monday night.

Lamb was a limited participant on Wednesday. We do not yet know his participation level today, but his continued activity is a good sign. The Cowboys’ No. 1 wide receiver suffered a concussion in last week’s Thursday Night Football game. The extra time off could help him clear the NFL’s concussion protocol without missing any time.