NFL Player News
-
Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: Not spotted at practice Friday
Collins (concussion) is not participating in the early portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Collins has yet to resume practicing in even a limited capacity since having sustained a concussion during Houston's wild-card win at Pittsburgh on Monday, which seemingly puts him on the wrong track for Sunday's divisional-round game at New England. Friday's official injury report will reveal whether the Texans leave the door open for Collins to play this weekend, but in order to retake the field he would need to gain full clearance from the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, including from an independent neurologist.
-
Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Questionable for Saturday
Pearsall (knee) will be listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Seahawks, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Pearsall, who continues to manage a PCL injury in his right knee, was inactive in Weeks 16 and 18 as well as the 49ers' wild-card win over the Eagles this past Sunday. For his part, the wideout has been able to practice in a limited fashion this week and is optimistic that he'll play this weekend, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, but given his official 'questionable' designation, Pearsall's status will still need to be monitored ahead of the 8:00 p.m ET kickoff.
-
Rome Odunze WR | CHI
Bears' Rome Odunze: Limited practice listing Thursday
Odunze (foot) was limited at practice Thursday.
Both Odunze and DJ Moore (knee) have logged back-to-back limited practice listings, which gives the WR duo one more opportunity to upgrade to full participation before the Bears assign injury designations ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams. Odunze returned from a five-game absence in this past Saturday's wild-card win over the Packers en route to recording a 69 percent snap share, and with no reported setbacks, it's plausible that his listed limitations are maintenance-related.
-
DJ Moore WR | CHI
Bears' DJ Moore: Logs another limited listing
Moore (knee) was limited at practice Thursday.
The same applies to fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot) after both players also were listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report. The Bears' next report is destined to clarify whether either of the duo are able to upgrade to full participation Friday, as well as their official game statuses ahead of Sunday's divisional-round contest against the Rams.
-
Nico Collins WR | HOU
Texans' Nico Collins: Missing another practice
Collins (concussion) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Collins, who sustained a concussion during this past Monday's wild-card win over the Steelers, also didn't practice Wednesday, so his continued absence a day later clouds his status for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Patriots. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether the Texans' top wideout has a chance to play this weekend, but if Collins ends up being unavailable in New England, Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson would be in line to pace Houston's WR corps, with Jaylin Noel also in the mix.
-
Curtis Samuel WR | BUF
Bills' Curtis Samuel: Could return Saturday
Samuel (elbow) will practice in full Thursday and will be listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round matchup against the Broncos, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
The 29-year-old from Ohio State has missed the Bills' last eight games due to an elbow injury, but following a week of full practice sessions, he's got a chance to return for the divisional round. Across six appearances this season, Samuel has caught seven of nine targets for 81 yards and a touchdown while also accumulating 223 kick return yards. If Samuel is added to Buffalo's active roster in time to play Saturday, he'll likely operate as one of the team's top wideouts, as Joshua Palmer (ankle), Tyrell Shavers (knee) and Gabe Davis (knee) are all on IR.
-
Jordan Whittington WR | LAR
Rams' Jordan Whittington: Trending towards playing Sunday
Whittington (knee) was not listed on the Rams' injury report Wednesday, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Whittington sat out the Wild Card Round due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 18 versus the Cardinals, but it now appears he'll be ready to go for the Divisional Round against the Bears. However, as long as first-team All Pro Puka Nacua and veteran Davante Adams are available, there probably won't be room for the Rams' other receivers to draw many targets.
-
Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Limited again Wednesday
Pearsall (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Pearsall sat out Weeks 16 and 18 and also the 49ers' wild-card victory at Philadelphia this past Sunday due to the lingering PCL injury in his right knee. He followed up Tuesday's limited walkthrough with a capped session one day later, giving him one more chance to get back to full before the weekend. For what it's worth, Pearsall told Vic Tafur of The Athletic on Wednesday that his knee "feels fine" and that he's optimistic that he'll play Saturday in Seattle, but it remains to be seen if the 49ers tag him with a designation for the divisional-round contest.
-
Justin Watson WR | HOU
Texans' Justin Watson: Unable to practice Wednesday
Watson (concussion) did not participate in practice Wednesday.
Watson suffered a concussion in the Texans' wild-card game against the Steelers on Monday. The 29-year-old has both Thursday and Friday to have a chance at returning to practice. Watson still faces an uphill battle in clearing the NFL's concussion protocol in preparation for the Texans' AFC divisional-round matchup Saturday.
-
DJ Moore WR | CHI
Bears' DJ Moore: Listed as limited Wednesday
Moore (knee) was listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report.
Moore also was limited at last Tuesday's walkthrough before capping the week with a full practice Thursday and heading into the weekend with no designation. He proceeded to lead Bears wide receivers in snap share (86 percent) in this past Saturday's wild-card win versus the Packers en route to six catches (on seven targets) for 64 yards and one touchdown and one carry for minus-5 yards. Both Moore and fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot) were limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, so their statuses will continue to be monitored ahead of Sunday's divisional-round contest against the Rams.