NFL Player News

Ridley (foot) has been cleared from the injury report and will play in Sunday's game against the Saints, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Despite having his practice reps limited this week, Ridley avoided a designation on the final injury report. He should be ready for his usual role coming out of a bye week, hoping to pick up where he left off before he sprained his foot. Ridley is averaging 5.4 catches for 82.1 yards on 8.4 targets per game, with six touchdowns in eight appearances. It'll be a rarity for the Falcons to enter Sunday without any of Ridley, Julio Jones or Russell Gage listed as questionable/doubtful/out.

Johnson (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

Johnson has played less than 15 percent of offensive snaps in back-to-back games, even with Laviska Shenault (hamstring) having missed both those contests. As such, even if Johnson manages to suit up versus Pittsburgh, it's unlikely that he'll handle a significant role on offense.

Higgins (illness) returned to practice Friday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Higgins missed Thursday's session, but his return to the field Friday bodes well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against Washington. Whether he approaches the contest minus a Week 11 injury designation will be revealed later Friday.

Shenault (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

With Shenault slated to remain out this weekend, DJ Chark, Keelan Cole and Chris Conley will continue to head the Jaguars' wide receiver corps. Shenault will now target a possible return Nov. 29 against the Browns.

The Giants will place Pettis on the reserve/COVID-19 list after he tested positive for the virus Friday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Though Pettis positive test comes during the Giants' bye week, he'll still likely have a tough time clearing all COVID-19-related protocols ahead of the team's next game Nov. 29 versus the Bengals. The ex-49ers wideout is still looking to make his Giants debut.

Kirk brought in four of six targets for 50 yards and returned two punts for eight yards in the Cardinals' 28-21 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night.

Kirk checked in third in receptions, receiving yardage and targets behind position mates Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins. The 24-year-old has found true standout production from a reception and receiving yardage standpoint hard to come by with the arrival of Hopkins this offseason, but Kirk has often made up for it with a knack for the end zone that's led to him scoring a career-high six touchdowns. He'll look to find paydirt once again after a two-game lull in a Week 12 matchup versus the Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Hopkins secured five of eight targets for 51 yards in the Cardinals' 28-21 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night.

Four days after bringing in a game-winning Hail Mary heave from Kyler Murray, Hopkins had a much more subdued performance that saw him check in second to Larry Fitzgerald in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the Cardinals for the night. Hopkins could have had a more productive effort had it not been for an uncharacteristic drop on a play where he appeared capable of gaining at least 10 yards and an offensive holding penalty in the end zone on J.R. Sweezy that turned the play result from an eight-yard catch to a safety. Hopkins has had his two quietest games of the season in terms of receiving yardage over the last three contests, and he'll look to reverse that trend at the expense of the Patriots in a Week 12 road matchup on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Metcalf secured three of five targets for 46 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 28-21 win over the Cardinals on Thursday night.

Although he fell short of the 50-yard mark for the second time in five days, Metcalf rewarded fantasy managers with a 25-yard scoring grab in the first quarter, his ninth touchdown reception of the season and fourth in the last three games. Metcalf's combined 5-74 line in the last pair of contests represents a low point for him in terms of any two-game period this season, however, so he'll look to revert back to more productive ways during a Week 12 Monday night road matchup against the Eagles on Nov. 30.

Lockett (knee) secured all nine of his targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 28-21 win over the Cardinals on Thursday night.

Lockett toughed out a knee sprain that had reportedly caused him some early week swelling to pace all pass catchers on either squad in receptions and receiving yardage on the night. The 28-year-old was also the Seahawks' leader in targets and recorded his eighth touchdown reception of the season on a nifty second-quarter grab in the right corner of the end zone. Lockett's score was his first since Week 7, when he crossed the goal line on three occasions against this same Cardinals squad. He'll now have extra time off his feet before a Week 12 Monday night matchup versus the Eagles on Nov. 30.

Shepherd (shoulder) logged a full practice session Thursday.

Shepherd was inactive for Green Bay's Week 10 matchup against the Jaguars, but improvement from limited to full practice participation between Wednesday and Thursday bodes well for his status. The North Dakota State product has recorded five receptions for 46 yards over six appearances this year, also making an impact on special teams with four kick-return attempts for a total of 89 yards and one punt return for six yards.