NFL Player News

The Seahawks have listed Jeron Johnson (elbow) out and tight end Tony Moeaki (calf) as questionable for Sunday's playoff opener against Carolina. The following players on Seattle's injury report were labeled as probable: Michael Bennett (not injury related), Demarcus Dobbs (ankle), Cooper Helfet (ribs), Jermaine Kearse (hamstring), Marshawn Lynch (back), Byron Maxwell (illness), Tharold Simon (shoulder) and Max Unger (knee, ankle).

Seahawks tight end Tony Moeaki (calf) will be a gametime decision Saturday, coach Pete Carroll told the Seattle Times. Seattle is an 11-point home favorite over the Panthers.

Seahawks tight end Tony Moeaki did not practice Wednesday due to a calf injury. He's a new addition to the injury report, and The News Tribune considers it significant because Moeaki's last four catches have gone for first downs.

Moeaki has made eight catches in six games, averaging 16.8 yards per grab.

Seattle is an 11-point home favorite over the Panthers in Saturday's divisional playoff game.

Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell, still upset about the pass-interference flag officials picked up in the fourth quarter of Sunday's playoff loss at Dallas, suggested video replay be used on critical calls like that one, reports the Columbus Dispatch.

"I think, without question, it was probably not officiated correctly in my estimation,” Caldwell said Monday. "Nevertheless, I do think in this day and age, with modern times where we have technology that can take out the human factor in certain key situations in big games, that we should use that technology to do so."

Detroit led 20-17 and had third-and-1 at the Cowboys' 46-yard line when linebacker Anthony Hitchens was called for pass interference against tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Officials reversed themselves and picked up the flag, prompting a Lions punt. Sam Martin shanked it, the Cowboys drove for a touchdown and held on to win 24-20.

"I'm angry about it, and trying to keep my composure here, but I'm probably angry for our team, and the fans," Caldwell said. "That's the thing that stirs your blood."

Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president for officiating, said Hitchens should have been penalized for defensive holding. That would have given the Lions a first down, putting them near field-goal range.

Lions tight end Joseph Fauria, who went on injured reserve Dec. 10, is waiting for one more medical opinion before deciding whether to have surgery on his ankle, reports ESPN.com. Fauria said he should know in a week.

Ankle injuries limited Fauria to seven games. He caught six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown this season after catching seven touchdown passes as a rookie.

Wanting to clear up any misconceptions regarding referee Pete Morelli’s decision to not flag the Cowboys for pass interference during the Lions-Cowboys game Sunday, NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino said on the NFL Network it was a judgment call.

Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was covering Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew on a third-and-one play in the fourth quarter when a flag was thrown for an alleged pass interference. After convening, the referees determined there was no penalty on the play and the Lions punted. The Cowboys would go on to win the game, but controversy over the call did not end.

Hitchens did not play the ball and appeared to be face-guarding, but Blandino said that is not a foul in the NFL. However, Blandino said Hitchens should have been called for defensive holding before the pass was thrown.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew has returned to Sunday's Wild Card game against the Cowboys.

Pettigrew was evaluated for a concussion and deemed questionable to return, so his presence on the field means he must have passed testing. He has caught his only target in the game, gaining 11 yards.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, linebacker Tahir Whitehead and strong safety Don Carey are questionable to return to Sunday's Wild Card game against the Cowboys, the team announced.

Pettigrew is being evaluated for a concussion. Whitehead and Carey are dealing with dehydration.

The Bengals wide receivers and tight ends combined for just seven catches and 75 yards in the team's 26-10 Wild Card loss to the Colts, with wide receiver Mohamed Sanu recording three catches for 31 yards.

With top wideout A.J. Green inactive Sunday, Sanu was the only Bengals receiver to make a catch in the game, racking up his three receptions on seven targets. Brandon Tate was targeted five times, Cobi Hamilton saw two targets and Greg Little was targeted once, but none of the three managed to record a catch.

Tight end Kevin Brock drew the start in place of Jermaine Gresham and caught just one pass for seven years. Rookie tight end Ryan Hewitt caught three of his five targets for 37 yards. Nobody on the Bengals was able to crack 50 receiving yards, with running back Giovani Bernard leading the way with 46 yards on eight receptions.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen caught all three of his targets for 30 yards in the playoff win over the Bengals, while fellow tight end Coby Fleener secured one of two targets for 18 yards. Fleener had a touchdown called back by penalty.

They'll visit the Broncos next Sunday in the divisional playoffs.