NFL Player News

Diggs caught seven of 13 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-21 win over the Patriots.

Diggs gave Buffalo a 17-7 second-quarter lead with a 12-yard touchdown catch, and his 19-yard grab in the fourth to convert 3rd-and-10 deep in Patriots territory set up Dawson Knox's game-sealing two-yard touchdown two plays later. The star wide receiver was targeted 13 times for the fourth time this season, matching his season high. Diggs has eight touchdowns in his last 10 games and will have an excellent opportunity to get right back into the end zone in Week 17 against the porous Falcons secondary.

Higgins caught 12 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets against Baltimore on Sunday.

The Ravens are badly beaten up on defense, most notably playing without their two top corners, but a game as big as this one is still a testament to Higgins' compelling talent, and a reminder that he and fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase are essentially co-No.1 receivers. Quarterback Joe Burrow took whatever he wanted against the Ravens, throwing for 525 yards and four touchdowns, and Higgins was his lead target by a good margin. Higgins and the Bengals face the Chiefs in Week 17.

Dorsett was forced out of Sunday's game against the Chargers with a foot injury.

Prior to his exit from the contest, Dorsett caught three of his six targets for 55 yards. In his absence, Nico Collins, Chris Conley, and Chris Moore will head Houston's Week 16 wideout corps.

Thielen (ankle) returned to Sunday's game versus the Rams, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

On the Vikings' second snap from scrimmage after halftime, Thielen made a six-yard catch but went back to the sideline afterward. It appears he's attempting to gut out an ankle injury that he seemingly aggravated in the second quarter and previously forced him to sit out Weeks 14 and 15.

Goodwin (foot) is listed as active Sunday at Seattle, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Goodwin set himself up for his first game action since Week 12 with back-to-back full practices to end the week. Now that it's official, he'll be a part of a receiving corps without Allen Robinson (COVID-19) and Jakeem Grant (concussion). Expect Darnell Mooney, Goodwin and Damiere Byrd to handle most of the WR reps for the Bears in Week 16.

Thielen left Sunday's game against the Rams due to an ankle injury.

At the end of his second catch of the game, Thielen was tackled by his ankles and was visibly frustrated as he got to his feet and assisted off the field by team trainers. There's a chance he aggravated the high left-ankle sprain that forced him to sit out Weeks 14 and 15, and if he's unable to return, he'll finish Week 16 with 33 receiving yards.

Perriman (illness) wasn't reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday's game against the Panthers, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Tampa Bay placed Perriman on the list Dec. 18, but the fact that he hasn't cleared the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocol more than a week later suggests he tested positive for the virus. He'll miss his second straight game as a result, with his absence looming larger than normal for Tampa Bay with starting receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (knee) sidelined for the contest. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, Antonio Brown (ankle/suspension) and Justin Watson (knee) are back after extended absences, with the latter representing a candidate to replace Perriman as the team's No. 4 wideout.

Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said Thursday that Collins will likely assume a more prominent role in the Houston passing attack Sunday against the Chargers while Brandin Cooks (illness) is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

Cooks wasn't able to clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocols in advance of the Week 16 contest, while Danny Amendola (knee) was activated from injured reserve but will be inactive Sunday. That leaves Houston with few established options at receiver heading into the game, with Collins presumably the top candidate to serve as the Texans' de facto No. 1 receiver. Collins demonstrated a rapport with Davis Mills in the Week 14 loss to Seattle (five receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown), but the rookie wideout dropped down to four targets in the Week 15 win over the Jaguars while the Texans leaned more heavily on the ground game. Assuming the favored Chargers are able to sit on a lead for most of the day, the Texans will be forced into catchup mode, potentially making Collins a sneaky play in fantasy playoff matchups.

The Raiders placed Edwards on the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota was also added to the list Sunday, leaving both players unavailable for the Week 16 matchup. Wideout Dillon Stoner was elevated from the practice squad to provide depth at the position with Edwards away from the team.

Smith-Marsette (coach's decision) is a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams.

After playing a career-high 48 percent of the offensive snaps and providing one of Minnesota's two touchdowns in its 17-9 win over Chicago in Week 15, Smith-Marsette won't suit up Sunday with fellow wideouts Adam Thielen (ankle), Dede Westbrook (reserve/COVID-19 list) and Dan Chisena (reserve/COVID-19 list) all returning to action this weekend. Currently sixth on the depth chart at receiver, Smith-Marsette could be inactive for the rest of the season so long as the top five options are all available.