NFL Player News

Evans (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Evans will make his return from a one-game absence as expected after also overcoming a COVID-19 designation earlier in the week. He only managed one limited practice, which occurred Friday, over the last two weeks, leading to reports he could have his snap count somewhat limited Sunday. The multi-time Pro Bowler, who has 17 receptions of greater than 20 yards this season, will face a Jets team that's struggled with preventing downfield plays, allowing a co-NFL-high 12 percent explosive pass play rate.

The Saints elevated Baker from their practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

After making his season debut in Week 16, Baker will be elevated for a second straight game. In his first contest, the rookie seventh-round pick recorded one tackle while playing 16 snaps on special teams. He's expected to have a similar role in Week 17.

The Dolphins elevated Merritt from their practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Merritt will be active for the first time since Week 9. During that contest, he played 11 offensive snaps and caught one of three targets for 13 yards. The 24-year-old is expected to have a similar role against the Titans in Week 17.

Slayton (illness) won't be available for Sunday's game in Chicago after the Giants didn't activate him from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Saturday's deadline for week 17 roster moves, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports.

The Giants elevated wide receiver Alex Bachman from the practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement for Slayton, who tested positive for the virus Wednesday. In addition to Slayton, New York will be without Kadarius Toney (shoulder), Sterling Shepard (Achilles), John Ross (knee) and Collin Johnson (hamstring), leaving the team woefully thin at receiver beyond No. 1 option Kenny Golladay. Bachman, Pharoh Cooper and David Sills will be called upon to fill snaps alongside Golladay.

Benson is expected to see an increased role within Detroit's receiving corps Sunday against the Seahawks with both Josh Reynolds (illness) and Kalif Raymond (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

No. 1 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are probably the safest bets to earn targets from quarterback Tim Boyle, but the likes of Benson, KhaDarel Hodge, Tom Kennedy and Javon McKinley could all see increased snaps with two starting receivers out of the lineup. Benson has played more than 29 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps in all seven of his appearances on the season, but he was a healthy inactive for three straight games before sitting out the Week 16 loss to Atlanta while he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Hodge is expected to see an increased role within Detroit's receiving corps Sunday against the Seahawks with both Josh Reynolds (illness) and Kalif Raymond (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

No. 1 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are probably the safest bets to earn targets from quarterback Tim Boyle, but the likes of Hodge, Tom Kennedy, Trinity Benson and Javon McKinley could all see increased snaps with two starting receivers out of the lineup. Since Detroit's Week 9 bye, Hodge hasn't logged more than 13 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps in any of the team's seven games, turning in just two receptions for 30 yards on three targets.

Raymond (illness) won't be available for Sunday's game in Seattle after the Lions didn't activate him from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Saturday's deadline for week 17 roster moves, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Raymond was placed on the list Thursday after testing positive for the virus, so he never seemed likely to test out of the NFL's COVID-19 protocol prior to Sunday's contest. With Josh Reynolds (illness) also sidelined Week 17 after testing positive for the virus Monday, the Lions won't have much in the way of established depth behind No. 1 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions' remaining four available receivers -- KhaDarel Hodge, Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy and Javon McKinley -- have combined for 20 catches for 191 yards during their NFL careers.

Reynolds (illness) won't be available for Sunday's game in Seattle after the Lions didn't activate him from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Saturday's deadline for week 17 roster moves, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Detroit will be without two of its top three wideouts in Reynolds and Kalif Raymond, who also tested positive for the virus Thursday. Head coach Dan Campbell had been hopeful that Reynolds would be able to test out of the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocol before Sunday's contest, but the wideout is apparently still symptomatic after a five-day quarantine. With Reynolds and Raymond out, more reps should be available for Tom Kennedy, KhaDarel Hodge and Trinity Benson behind No. 1 wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Evans (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, is expected to play in a limited capacity, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

After being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Evans was activated Thursday, but he's still not 100 percent after straining his hamstring in the Buccaneers' Week 15 loss to the Saints. He sat out every practice Week 16 before sitting out the Bucs' win over the Panthers, and his lack of full activity this week looks like it will prompt Tampa Bay to take a cautious approach with him Sunday. Antonio Brown (ankle) is also listed as questionable but is expected to play, so he'll likely continue working as Tom Brady's top target, especially if Evans' snaps are limited.

Trammell was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Trammell will help fill the void left due to Tajae Sharpe's presence on the COVID list. If the Rice product gets on the field, it will mark his NFL debut.