NFL Player News

Toney (hip/ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Chargers, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Toney and Rashee Rice (hamstring) are the only Chiefs skill-position players ruled out for Week 18 for injury-related reasons, but with Kansas City already locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs heading into the regular-season finale, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and several other key contributors are expected to be rested for the contest or play only limited snaps. Given that Toney hasn't played since Week 15 and regressed from limited practice participation Wednesday to no participation Thursday, it's far from a lock that he'll be ready to play the following week, when the Chiefs host a to-be-determined opponent in the wild-card round. Toney finishes the regular season with 27 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown on 38 targets to go with 11 carries for 31 yards over 13 appearances.

Jarrett (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Carolina.

Jarrett was a full participant at practice all week, so it will be somewhat surprising if the Buccaneers do not activate him from their injured reserve list prior to 4 p.m. ET Saturday so that he can play in Week 18. If he sits out, though, it could mean more snaps for David Moore on Sunday.

Rice (hamstring) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Rice is one of four players the Chiefs have ruled out for Week 18 due to injury-related reasons, though with Kansas City having already been assured the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, other key contributors like quarterback Patrick Mahomes are expected to be rested for most or all of the game. Provided he doesn't experience a setback with his hamstring during practices next week, Rice should be good to go for the Chiefs' home game during the wild-card round of the playoffs. The second-round pick out of SMU emerged as the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver down the stretch of his rookie campaign and finishes the regular season with 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets over 16 games.

Waddle (ankle) returned to practice Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Per Oyefusi, head coach Mike McDaniel said that Waddle -- who is dealing with a high-ankle sprain -- would "get a little work" in during practice Friday. At this point, Waddle hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, with added context on that front slated to arrive when Miami's final Week 18 injury report is posted later Friday.

Palmer (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Palmer will take an injury designation into the weekend after he was a limited participant in practices Wednesday through Friday while managing the hip issue. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin remain the Buccaneers' unquestioned top two receivers, but Palmer has carved out a solid role of his own as the team's No. 3 wideout over the second half of the season. He's drawn at least five targets in five of Tampa Bay's last seven games, putting together a 20-187-1 receiving line while carrying three times for 22 yards over that stretch.

Watson (hamstring) isn't practicing Friday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

This may (or may not) be indicative of a setback, after the Packers listed Watson as a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday. The wideout suggested Wednesday that he expects to play Sunday against the Bears, and coach Matt LaFleur also made fairly optimistic comments.

Goodwin (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Goodwin was able to play through his knee injury in Week 17, so he's likely on the probable end of the official questionable designation. If he can't play Sunday, though, it could mean more outside reps for James Proche.

Cooper (heel) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bengals, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Considering that the Browns are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs, it's no surprise that the veteran wideout will be held out of the Week 18 contest while he continues to nurse the heel injury. Cooper will thus target a potential return to action in the team's postseason opener in the wild-card round next week. In his absence this weekend, look for Cleveland's depth receivers to see added snaps, with fellow starter Elijah Moore (concussion) listed as questionable and also profiling as a candidate to be rested by the team.

Samuel (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Dallas, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Samuel was a full practice participant Wednesday, sat out Thursday and then came back Friday. He'll face a tough Dallas secondary to finish out the season, catching passes from QB Sam Howell.

Moore (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Per Petrak, coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Moore is still in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, but the receiver is trending in the right direction. The Browns are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC regardless of Sunday's result, so they will likely lean on the side of caution if there's any doubt about Moore's readiness after he exited last Thursday's win over the Jets due to a concussion.