NFL Player News

Conley (knee) wasn't spotted at Thursday's practice, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Conley also missed Wednesday's session, so what the wideout is able to do Friday will be pivotal with regard to his chances of suiting up for Sunday's season finale against the Titans. In Houston's Week 17 loss to the 49ers, Conley logged 49 of a possible 67 snaps on offense, while catching one of his two targets for minus-2 yards and carrying once for three yards.

Slayton (shoulder/ramp up) was limited at Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The Giants placed Slayton (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list last Thursday, which caused him to be unavailable for a Week 17 game in Chicago. Upon his activation Wednesday, he was listed with both a shoulder injury and also the COVID-19 ramp up that has been customary of players returning to the active roster. Ultimately, Friday's practice report may clear up Slayton's status ahead of Sunday's game against Washington.

Toney (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Toney took part in the Giants' team stretch during the open portion of Thursday's practice, but he didn't join his healthy teammates for drills and focused on rehab work. The Giants haven't formally ruled Toney out for Sunday's game against Washington, but the rookie wideout's lack of practice reps of late seemingly puts him on track for another absence. Toney has already sat out five of the Giants' last six games.

Samuel (hamstring) was held out of practice Thursday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

With back-to-back absences to begin Week 18 prep, Samuel is setting himself up for a fourth straight absence and 12th overall this season on Sunday at the Giants. Friday's injury report may reveal as much, and if so he'll end his first campaign in Washington with 10 touches for 38 yards from scrimmage in five brief appearances.

Anderson (quadriceps) isn't participating at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Unless Anderson is able to fit in some on-field work at Friday's practice, it's looking increasingly likely that the Panthers will be forced to rely on top target DJ Moore and a committee of relatively unproven options at receiver for Sunday's season finale in Tampa Bay. Anderson has missed consecutive practices and is seemingly trending toward sitting out Week 18, while Terrace Marshall (foot) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and Shi Smith (illness) landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday. At this stage, only Marshall can officially be ruled out for Sunday.

Carolina placed Smith (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Smith was a candidate to step in as Carolina's No. 3 receiver for Sunday's season finale in Tampa Bay after Terrace Marshall (foot) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, but the move to the reserve/COVID-19 list will likely deny Smith the opportunity. With both Smith and Marshall on track to sit out Week 18, Brandon Zylstra now looks like the top option to join starters DJ Moore and Robby Anderson (quadriceps) in three-receiver sets.

The Steelers placed Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

As a result, unless Johnson is able to clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocols, Chase Claypool, Ray-Ray McCloud and James Washington are the Steelers' top available options at wideout ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Ravens.

Koski was signed to the Rams' practice squad Wednesday.

The 25-year-old was waived by the Rams on Tuesday, quickly rejoining their practice squad just one day later. Koski has gone back and forth between the active roster and practice squad all season, appearing in five games in 2021, operating exclusively as a special-teams option.

Powell was signed to the Rams' active roster Wednesday.

The wide receiver reverted to the practice squad Monday but was quickly signed to the active roster just two days later. Powell will likely serve as a top return option for the Rams' special-teams unit in Week 18 against the 49ers.

Moore (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

As was the case in his last two sessions of Week 17 prep, Moore had his reps capped in the first practice of this week. Moore, who has missed the Cardinals' last two games, will have two more opportunities to bump up to full activity before Arizona potentially gives him another designation ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Seahawks.