NFL Player News

Eskridge (foot) was a non-participant at practice Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

All of DK Metcalf (foot/back), Freddie Swain (ankle/personal) and Eskridge haven't stepped on the field during Week 15 prep, while Seattle placed Tyler Lockett (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday. Friday's injury report may reveal who potentially may be available for Sunday's game at the Chargers, but for the time being Penny Hart is the only healthy wide receiver on the Seahawks' active roster.

Metcalf (foot/back) was held out of Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Metcalf has logged more time away from the practice field in recent weeks, primarily due to a nagging foot injury, but a back issue showed up this time around. The pair of health concerns has kept him sidelined, so Friday's injury report will be notable for his status heading into the weekend. With Tyler Lockett's (undisclosed) placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday and reserves Freddy Swain (ankle/personal) and Dee Eskridge (foot) also missing from practice, the Seahawks' receiving corps is in flux during Week 15 prep.

Lockett's placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday was the result of a positive test, but he could still clear the necessary protocols in time to play Sunday against the Rams, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Along with Lockett, the Seahawks placed running back Alex Collins on the list Thursday after he too tested positive, but since both players are vaccinated, they'll have a shot at being available this weekend. Per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com, the NFL and NFLPA reached agreement Thursday on changes to the return-to-play COVID-19 protocol, which will allow players who are vaccinated and asymptomatic to rejoin their teams as soon as 24 hours after an initial positive test. The Seahawks haven't yet disclosed whether Lockett was experiencing symptoms of the virus before landing on the list, but even if he isn't, the wideout may have some reservations about returning to action so soon after his positive test; Henderson notes Lockett was previously hesitant to play in 2020 during the pandemic due to a pre-existing heart abnormality.

Fountain was elevated to the Chiefs' active roster from the practice squad for Thursday's game against the Chargers, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Fountain will provide Kansas City with some receiving depth Thursday while Josh Gordon (undisclosed) is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Fountain appeared in one game earlier this season and primarily played special teams.

Higgins (ankle) returned to a full practice Thursday.

As did QB Joe Burrow (finger), which sets the stage for the duo to suit up Sunday against the Broncos. Over his last three games, Higgins has logged a fantasy-friendly 20-366-2 stat line on 29 targets in that span.

Davis is expected to join Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Panthers with Emmanuel Sanders (knee) expected to miss the contest, Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

The Bills have yet to officially rule Sanders out for the home game versus Carolina, but he hasn't taken part in either of the team's first two practices of Week 15 and was labeled week-to-week after picking up the knee injury in last Sunday's overtime loss to the Buccaneers. While Sanders was sidelined for the entire second half of that contest, Davis stepped in and had a major role in the Bills' comeback bid. He scored on a four-yard touchdown reception with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to cut the Bills' deficit to three, then reeled in a pass on the team's final drive of regulation to convert on fourth down and set up a game-tying field goal. All told, Davis played 84 percent of the offensive snaps and finished with eight targets, both of which were season highs. With dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen nursing a toe injury that could limit his involvement as a runner this week and the team's running backs not inspiring much confidence of late, the Bills could continue to lean into a pass-heavy game plan against Carolina, which could make Davis an intriguing low-cost option in DFS contests.

Goodwin (foot) was absent from Thursday's walkthrough practice.

The wide receiver may have been held out of the walkthrough out of an abundance of caution, as Allen Robinson (undisclosed) was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday and Jakeem Grant (illness) was also unavailable. After missing the last two games with the foot injury, Goodwin still has two more practices to prove his health before the team's contest versus the Vikings on Monday.

Brown missed Thursday's practice due to an illness, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Brown's status thus will need to be monitored as Sunday's game against the Packers approaches. The wideout was a full participant in practice Wednesday, but his absence Thursday places the focus on what -- if anything -- he's able to do during Friday's session.

The Bears placed Coulter on the practice squad COVID-19 list Thursday.

Coulter wasn't expected to play a role in the Bears' Week 15 matchup with the Vikings, but with Allen Robinson hitting the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, the team will look elsewhere for a wide receiver to elevate to the active roster. In two games this season, the 23-year-old has logged 15 offensive snaps, failing to reel in his only target.

Reynolds was limited at Thursday's practice due to a thigh issue.

Reynolds is making a sudden appearance on the Lions' Week 15 injury report, which occasionally implies a health concern picked up during the week and potentially even on the practice field. Friday's report could clear up his status in advance of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Since getting blanked on three targets in his debut with Detroit in Week 11, Reynolds has gathered in 10 of 17 targets for 191 yards and one touchdown over the last three contests.