NFL Player News

Smith secured his only target for six yards and returned three punts for 46 yards during Sunday's 45-17 victory against the Cardinals.

A week removed from a career-high 82 yard performance against the Panthers, Smith regressed back to his typical stat line against the Cardinals. Smith took the field for just 21 snaps on offense, which was still a fair amount more than fellow backup Jordan Whittington's 12. Konata Mumpfield did get an extended look with 32 snaps on offense, but none of the trio of backups managed to earn more than a single target and combined for just 16 yards receiving, leaving them difficult to trust in fantasy playoff lineups with a high-stakes showdown against the Lions up next in Week 15.

Brown wasn't targeted during Sunday's 36-19 win against the Colts.

The 26-year-old was a healthy scratch last week but suited up Sunday with Parker Washington (hip) inactive, yet Brown played just six offensive snaps versus the Colts. Brown hasn't caught a pass since Week 9 in Las Vegas and hasn't been targeted in the last two games he's been active.

Golden was limited by a wrist injury in Sunday's 28-21 victory over the Bears, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

Golden played only five snaps in Week 14 after missing a pair of contests with a wrist issue, and although his snap count may have taken a hit regardless with Jayden Reed returning, the lack of playing time was at least partly due to his injury. Golden could be more involved in Week 15 if he is able to shed his injury tag by Friday, but even still, his role will likely remain limited with all of Reed, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs healthy and ahead of him on the depth chart.

Wicks was limited by an ankle injury in Sunday's 28-21 victory over the Bears, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

Wicks was not listed on Green Bay's final injury report for Week 14, but he played only six snaps due to the ankle injury that slowed him last week as well. The Packers are as healthy at the wide receiver position as they have been in a while, so even when back at 100 percent, it will be tough for Wicks to come anywhere close to replicating the 94 yards and two scores he racked up against the Lions in Week 13.

Thielen secured his lone target for four yards during Sunday's 27-22 win over the Ravens.

Although Thielen's target share was low, it was encouraging that he was on the field for 48 percent of the team's offensive snaps after being claimed off waivers from the Vikings on Tuesday. The 35-year-old had a disappointing start to the year, securing just eight of 18 targets for 69 yards. While he could see more playing time in Pittsburgh down the stretch, the Steelers' passing game has struggled to find much success under Aaron Rodgers, so Thielen's fantasy upside figures to remain limited.

Austin secured one of two targets for 31 yards during Sunday's 27-22 win over the Ravens.

Austin was held without a catch last week against Buffalo for the first time in the 2025 campaign, but he bounced back in Week 14 by logging a deep reception in the third quarter. The 2022 fourth-rounder has been inconsistent this year, but he's recorded double-digit receiving yards in five of his last seven appearances, securing 17 of 19 targets for 170 yards during that time. Austin hasn't found his way into the end zone since Week 3, however.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer noted Monday that Lamb, who sustained a concussion during the Cowboys' loss to the Lions this past Thursday, is "doing good. Progressing nicely," Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

With added recovery time ahead of Week 15, Lamb is trending in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Vikings approaches. The star wideout's progress through the concussion protocol will begin to come into focus when the team's next official injury report is posted Wednesday.

Wilson (knee) is eligible to come off IR this week, but coach Aaron Glenn noted Monday that a determination regarding the wideout's status hinges on a medical decision between Wilson and the Jets doctors, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Wilson last saw game action in Week 10, but it remains unclear if or when he'll return to the lineup as Jets' last four games approach. With the team 3-10 and out of playoff contention, there's no reason to hurry Wilson back, and if he remains sidelined this coming Sunday against the Jaguars, John Metchie, Adonai Mitchell and Isaiah Williams would continue to lead New York's WR corps.

Hopkins was held without a catch on one target Sunday against the Steelers.

Hopkins played just 13 snaps, his lowest total since Week 10. The Ravens leaned on two-wide sets featuring Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman while also deploying multiple tight ends along with fullback Patrick Ricard. That ultimately squeezed Hopkins out of the game plan Sunday. Hopkins has not drawn more than four targets in any game this season and has not scored a touchdown since Week 2. Baltimore plays at Cincinnati in Week 15.

Bateman caught two of three targets for 23 yards Sunday against the Steelers.

Bateman, who missed two weeks with an ankle injury, was more involved Sunday than he was in his Week 13 return, and his snap count jumped from 44 to 69. It didn't translate to a major jump in usage though, as he still drew just three targets. His one target that went incomplete was a crucial third down in the red zone that ended a drive and forced Baltimore to settle for a field goal. Bateman's production has fallen off sharply from his career year in 2024 when he had 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns. Through 11 games, Bateman has 18 catches on 36 targets for 217 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens offense as a whole has struggled relative to 2024, in large part due to Lamar Jackson being at less than 100 percent in recent weeks.