NFL Player News

Cooper (concussion/ribs) was present for practice Friday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

After missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, Cooper's presence on the field Friday suggests that the wideout has a chance to play this weekend against the Jaguars. For that happen, however, Cooper will need to be fully cleared per the NFL's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's 1:00 ET kickoff.

The Jaguars placed Kirk (groin) on injured reserve Friday.

Per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, Kirk will undergo surgery to address a core muscle/groin injury and will miss at least four games following his placement on IR. While Kirk is out of the lineup, rookie Parker Washington should step into a steady role in three-receiver sets alongside Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones.

The Jaguars are expected to place Kirk (groin) on injured reserve Friday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Per Wolfe, Kirk will require surgery to address a core muscle/groin injury. Once the wideout lands on IR, he would miss at least the next four games, making him ineligible to return to the Jacksonville lineup until Week 18. Kirk's upcoming absence should open up a few extra looks in the passing game for Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones and Evan Engram, while rookie Parker Washington -- who recorded six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 34-31 overtime loss to Cincinnati -- should settle into a regular role in three-receiver sets.

Montgomery was on the field for six of a possible 57 snaps on offense in Thursday's 21-18 win over the Steelers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) sidelined Thursday, Montgomery served as Ezekiel Elliott's top backup, while Kevin Harris didn't log any snaps. In that role, Montgomery was limited to one catch on two targets for 17 yards, so even if Stevenson continues to miss time, Montgomery will remain off the fantasy radar as long as Elliott is available. The Patriots' next game is Dec. 17 against the Chiefs.

Thornton logged a season-high 54 (of a possible 57) snaps on offense in Thursday's 21-18 win over the Steelers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With fellow WRs Demario Douglas (concussion), DeVante Parker (knee) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) all inactive, Thornton drew the start alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster, who led the team with 90 receiving yards. Thornton, on the other hand, finished with three catches for 17 yards on five targets, failing to take advantage of a big opportunity. With New England's next game coming 10 days after Thursday's win -- Dec. 17 against the Chiefs -- the team's wideout corps could be less thinned-out for Week 15, a context that likely would leave Thornton with less playing time.

Pickens secured five of six targets for 19 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.

The talented second-year wideout struggled yet again to make an impact, although Mitch Trubisky's lackluster play certainly played a large part in Pickens' struggles. Pickens' catch total was a team high on the night, but his 3.8 yards per reception made it a completely unproductive performance outside of season-long or daily full-PPR formats. Pickens does have at least four receptions in three of the past four games, and he'll aim to take advantage of a more vulnerable Colts secondary in a Week 15 road matchup.

Johnson secured three of seven targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.

Johnson's receiving yardage paced the Steelers on the night by a wide margin, and his targets were also a team high. The fifth-year pro's yardage tally was also his highest since Week 9, and he's now scored in consecutive contests for the first time this season after recording a 25-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter. Johnson was the intended target on Mitch Trubisky's fourth-down heave down the left sideline with 1:55 remaining, but the speedy wideout was unable to gain enough separation to come close to making a catch. Johnson next takes aim at a more vulnerable Colts secondary in a Week 15 road matchup on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 16.

Smith-Schuster secured four of six targets for 90 yards in the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers on Thursday night.

Smith-Schuster led the Patriots in receiving yardage with what was also his highest tally since Week 7 of last season with the Chiefs. The 2017 second-round pick of the Steelers burned his original squad with a game-long 37-yard grab on New England's third offensive play, and he added 17- and 28-yard receptions later in the first half. Smith-Schuster's overall performance was easily his most productive of what has otherwise been a mostly lackluster campaign, but he could have a difficult time putting together a successful encore against the highly talented secondary of his other prior team, the Chiefs, in a Week 15 home matchup on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Eskridge (ribs) did not participate in practice Thursday after fully participating in Wednesday's session, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

The wide receiver sat out of the Seahawks' Week 13 loss to the Cowboys with the injury. Eskridge does not have a catch this season on 16 offensive snaps, though he is Seattle's kick returner.

Bobo (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday after participating on a limited basis Wednesday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

The depth wide receiver first appeared on the injury report Wednesday. Bobo has 15 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown in 2023.