NFL Player News

Samuel (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Seattle.

While Samuel didn't practice this week, reporters saw him working on a side field with the training staff Thursday and Friday, suggesting he's still on track to miss only a game or two. There's no direct replacement for Samuel's unique, oft-changing role, but in terms of snaps, Jauan Jennings and Trent Sherfield are the most likely beneficiaries, while Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle also get larger target-share projections. Samuel will try to make it back for either Week 14 against the Bengals or Week 15 against the Falcons.

Boykin (finger) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Steelers. Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Boykin has missed the past two games with the finger issue and is unlikely to play Sunday. James Proche and Tylan Wallace should continue to serve as depth wideouts for Baltimore.

Cooks (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts.

Cooks is one of six men on the Texans' Week 13 injury report due to an ailment, though none of those players' illnesses are related to COVID-19. Though Cooks may still be working to regain conditioning after sitting out practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday, his ability to return to the field as a limited participant Friday bodes well for his chances of being able to serve as Houston's No. 1 wideout come Sunday. Fantasy managers planning on deploying Cooks in weekly lineups will get official clarity on his status no later than 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, when Houston will release its inactive list.

Conley (illness) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts.

This designation was expected after Conley managed to practice in limited fashion Friday following two absences to start the week. Among Houston's other wide receivers, Brandin Cooks (illness) is also questionable after following an identical practice schedule to Conley, while Danny Amendola (knee) has been ruled out.

Davis (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia after logging a limited practice Friday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Davis was able to practice in some capacity for the first time this week after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday entirely. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Davis likely won't play more than a part-time role against the Eagles, if he's able to play at all. With Keelan Cole on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Denzel Mims could see extended playing time opposite Elijah Moore, with Jamison Crowder in the slot.

Hopkins (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Chicago, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Hopkins and coach Kliff Kingsbury downplayed the wideout's absence from Friday's practice, following limited participation Wednesday and Thursday. It might be nothing, but fantasy managers should stay tuned even after mid-week reports suggested both Hopkins and QB Kyler Murray (ankle) were on track to return this Sunday. Kingsbury, while mostly optimistic, did refer to both Hopkins and Murray as game-time decisions for Sunday. To that end, a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff could prove helpful, with the Cardinals releasing their Week 13 inactive list Sunday morning.

Duvernay (thigh) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Steelers, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Duvernay upgraded his activity level with each subsequent practice and ended up avoiding an injury designation altogether. Most of Duvernay's impact comes as a return man on special teams, though he also provides depth at wide receiver on offense.

Darden (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Falcons, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Despite registering a full practice Thursday, Darden wasn't able to practice with contact at all this week and has been officially ruled out for Week 13. The 5-foot-8 wideout has mostly operated as a return specialist this season, so in his absence, Tyler Johnson and Giovani Bernard are the most likely candidates to handle those duties against the Falcons.

Hodge (illness) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Vikings, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Hodge's non-COVID illness kept him from practicing Wednesday and limited his participation Thursday, but he was feeling better Friday and went through a full practice. He'll occupy his usual depth role in Detroit's receiving corps against the Vikings in Week 13.

Grant may be in line to have a regular role in three-receiver sets Sunday against the Cardinals with Allen Robinson (hamstring) listed as doubtful for the contest and with Marquise Goodwin (foot/ribs) ruled out, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Wideout Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet are likely to be the top targets for quarterback Andy Dalton -- who is making a second straight start in place of the injured Justin Fields (doubtful, ribs) -- but the expected absences of Robinson and Goodwin leave Damiere Byrd and Grant as the next men up at receiver. The Bears are expected to promote at least one of Isaiah Coulter, Rodney Adams Nsimba Webster and Dazz Newsome from the practice squad for additional depth at receiver, but none of the quartet has an NFL catch on his resume. With that in mind, Grant looks on pace to see at least a handful of looks from Dalton out of the slot, as he did in the Bears' Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions. After working almost exclusively as a return man since being acquired from the Dolphins on Oct. 5, Grant hauled in two of four targets for 25 yards across 19 snaps on offense in Detroit.