NFL Player News

Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has cleared the NFL's protocol for head injuries and is in line to play against the Raiders on Sunday, barring any setbacks, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

The Colts' final injury report of the week will confirm whether Pittman approaches the contest with a designation or fully cleared to face Las Vegas, but at this stage it appears as though the team's top pass catcher will return to the lineup following a one-game absence.

Wicks (chest/ankle) isn't practicing Friday and isn't likely to play Sunday against the Vikings, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Wicks played through an ankle injury last week and filled in for Christian Watson (hamstring) until a chest injury in the second quarter ended his day early. Coach Matt LaFleur said Wicks and Watson would need to practice Friday to have a shot at playing this week, and with neither having done so, it looks like Malik Heath and/or Bo Melton will get significant playing time again.

Watson (hamstring) isn't practicing Friday and isn't likely to play Sunday against the Vikings, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Watson and fellow wideout Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle) would need to practice Friday in order to play Sunday. Neither is doing so, but slot man Jayden Reed (toe/chest) at least seems to have a shot to make it back after missing Week 16.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that he's hopeful Cooper (heel) will be available for next Sunday's Week 18 game against the Bengals, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Per Stefanski, Cooper tried hard to play Thursday against the Jets but ultimately wasn't ready to go on a short week. The Browns won 37-20 despite Cooper's absence, clinching a playoff spot in the process, so Cleveland can afford to take a cautious approach with its top wide receiver Week 18 and hold Cooper out unless his heel is fully healed.

Moore (concussion) was released from the hospital Friday after staying there overnight, but he's been placed in the NFL's concussion protocol, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Moore stayed down on the field and convulsed involuntarily after hitting his head on the ground in the second quarter of Thursday's 37-20 win over the Jets. He eventually walked off under his own power, and it's encouraging that Moore subsequently has left the hospital, though it's no surprise that he suffered a concussion. He'll have a few extra days to try to clear the protocol for head injuries before the Browns face the Bengals in Week 18, though Cleveland can afford to take a cautious approach with the wide receiver after clinching a playoff spot with Thursday's win.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't present for Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Smith-Schuster didn't practice Thursday, so the wide receiver's continued absence Friday clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Bills. If Smith-Schuster remains sidelined this weekend, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas and Jalen Reagor would be in line to lead the Patriots' Week 17 WR corps.

Flowers (calf) returned to practice Friday, Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Flowers didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so it's encouraging that he's practicing Friday, though his participation level has yet to be clarified. The rookie wideout has yet to miss a game in his NFL career, but he may carry an injury designation into Sunday's home game against the Dolphins when the Ravens post their Week 17 injury report later Friday.

Waddle (ankle) won't play Sunday against the Ravens, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports.

With Waddle set to be sidelined Sunday, look for Cedrick Wilson to see added snaps alongside top WR Tyreek Hill, with Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft and Chase Claypool candidates to see elevated roles Week 17. Waddle will now target a potential return to action against the Bills in Miami's regular-season finale.

Coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday that Brown (heel) will be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2023 campaign, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Brown will miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign due to a heel injury that caused him to miss Week 16 and log early exits in the Cardinals' previous two games. That ends the worst statistical season of the 26-year-old's career in which he secured 51 of 101 targets for 574 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing twice for 23 yards. Granted, part of that context can be explained by Brown playing without Kyler Murray (illness) for the first nine games of the season, then working through injury in the second half. As a pending unrestricted free agent, though, Brown's modest numbers in 2023 could impact the team's decision to pursue a new contract or let him walk.

Brownlee caught both of his targets for 28 yards in Thursday's 37-20 loss to the Browns.

After scoring his first NFL touchdown this past Sunday, Brownlee set a new career high in receiving yards Thursday, so it has been a productive week for the rookie from Southern Miss. He'll look to put down some more quality game film in Week 18 against the Patriots and strengthen his case for sticking with the Jets beyond this season.