NFL Player News

With Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) inactive, Dorsett is in line to see added snaps Sunday against the Jets, Kevin Duffy of the Boston Herald reports.

He'll still be working behind Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan, but Dorsett, who hasn't caught a pass since Week 12, has a chance to factor in Sunday, given that the Patriots' thinned-out wideout corps will be without both Patterson and Josh Gordon (suspension) in Week 17.

Thomas is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers but may not take on his usual snap load, John DeShazier of the Saints' official site reports.

The Saints have already made quarterback Drew Brees and running back Alvin Kamara inactive for a mostly meaningless regular-season finale, and it's expected that other core skill-position players like Thomas and Mark Ingram will see only light action, if any. With New Orleans having already sewn up the NFC's No. 1 seed in the postseason, there's little upside to playing Thomas extensively and exposing him to injury in Week 17. Instead, fill-in signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater is expected to throw to a pass-catching group of lesser established options such as Tre'Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Austin Carr, Tommylee Lewis and Dan Arnold for much of the game.

St. Brown (concussion) is inactive Sunday against Detroit.

St. Brown's presence on the inactive list comes as little surprise, as the wideout entered the week with a doubtful tag after failing to take the practice field. The rookie is coming off his best game of the season with five catches for 94 yards in Week 16, but he'll be unavailable to keep that momentum going in the regular- season finale. With Davante Adams (knee) also on the inactive list, the Green Bay receiving corps will be led by Randall Cobb and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Coutee (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

With Coutee -- who hasn't played since Nov. 26 -- still out, DeAndre Carter figures to continue to see added work out of the slot in Houston's Week 17 offense.

Adams (knee) is inactive Sunday against Detroit.

Adams was listed as a non-participant in practice all week, though it was still thought he had a chance to play because the team technically didn't hold practice Friday. Instead, he'll end up as the latest casualty in a banged-up receiving corps that is in line to be led by Randall Cobb and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, as Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) is also being held out for the regular-season finale. Adams had been in striking distance for franchise records in both receptions and receiving yards, but he'll now have to wait until the 2019 campaign to make another run at those marks.

The Browns promoted Jackson from the practice squad to the active roster Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Jackson, a quarterback in college at Mary-Hardin Baylor, had been signed by the Browns as a wide receiver. He was added to the 53-man roster after Cleveland placed linebacker Tanner Vallejo (hamstring) on injured reserve.

Agnew (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Agnew was a limited practice participant this week to earn the questionable tag but won't be available for Week 17. The 23-year-old was activated off injured reserve last week after missing nine games as he partially tore a ligament in his knee. It remains unclear if Agnew aggravated that injury or is dealing with a new issue, but he'll nonetheless be sidelined for the season finale.

McCaffrey was promoted to the 49ers' active roster Saturday.

McCaffrey was waived by San Francisco in late August and received a four-game suspension shortly thereafter before joining the team's practice squad in November. Marquise Goodwin (calf) was ruled out for Sunday and Dante Pettis (knee) is now on injured reserve, so there could be some offensive opportunities for the 24-year-old in the finale.

Pettis (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

The move means little for the status of Pettis' sprained MCL -- he was already ruled out for Week 17 on Monday -- as the 49ers are just clearing roster space for healthy players prior to the season finale. The rookie second-round pick caught 27 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games, coming on strong towards the end of the season. Kendrick Bourne and Trent Taylor are likely to start at wide receiver Sunday against the Rams, with Marquise Goodwin (calf) also sidelined.

Jones was promoted to the Jets' 53-man roster Saturday.

Jones signed with the Jets' practice squad in October after being waived by the Chargers, and now makes his way to the active roster. The 26-year-old is likely to be buried on the depth chart, but Quincy Enunwa (ankle) is now on injured reserve and Jeramaine Kearse (Achilles) was already ruled out for Week 17. The Jets have no remaining established options at wide receiver behind Robby Anderson, which could lead to a few offensive opportunities for Jones in the finale.