NFL Player News

Jones should see extra opportunities Sunday against the Panthers with Marvin Jones (knee) ruled out for the contest, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Jones hasn't been able to take advantage of the Golden Tate trade, drawing just four targets the past two weeks while essentially splitting the No. 3 receiver job with Theo Riddick. Now down another wideout, the Lions likely will push Jones outside and continue to use Riddick from the slot, though Bruce Ellington and/or Brandon Powell could also get involved. It's hard to count on anyone besides Kenny Golladay seeing more than a handful of targets in Week 11, but Riddick and Jones do at least offer some upside in PPR formats.

Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Jones didn't practice at all this week and is scheduled to get a second opinion on what was initially reported to be a bone bruise in his knee. He may be dealing with a more serious injury, though an earlier MRI ruled out damage to his ACL or MCL. The Lions are left without much help behind Kenny Golladay at wide receiver, with Theo Riddick potentially playing more slot while TJ Jones fills in for Marvin Jones outside. The team might also find some snaps for Bruce Ellington and/or Brandon Powell. It's an ideal situation for Golladay to soak up targets, though he may struggle for efficiency with the Carolina defense having little else to worry about.

Wims (knee) carries the questionable tag for Sunday's matchup against the Vikings, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Wims was added to the injury report in the middle of the week after logging a limited practice Thursday. The Georgia product was able to practice in full Friday, however. If Wims is able to play Sunday, his role will likely be limited -- Wims logged just eight offensive snaps in his last three games.

Coutee (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Washington after practicing in a limited fashion all week.

Per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com, coach Bill O'Brien said that Coutee "has a chance" to play Sunday, so the rookie fourth-round pick should be viewed as a game-time decision leading up to the 1 p.m. EST kickoff. If Coutee is limited or out this weekend, Demaryius Thomas would be in line for added work while playing alongside Houston's undisputed top pass catcher, DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins (foot) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Washington.

Hopkins was on the field for all but one of the Texans' 62 offensive snaps in Week 9 against the Broncos, hauling in 10 of his 12 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. With no reported setbacks in that contest and no injury designation attached to him following Houston's bye week, it's assumed that any limitations in practice Wednesday through Friday were for maintenance purposes. He's therefore in line to fill his usual high-volume role, with Demaryius Thomas next in line among the Houston wideouts to draw targets.

Coach Sean McVay confirmed Kupp (knee) underwent successful surgery Friday to repair a torn ACL, Myles Simmons of the Rams' official site reports.

McVay didn't offer a specific timeline for Kupp's recovery from the procedure, but noted that doctors detected no additional structural damage in the wideout's left knee. That seemingly bodes well for Kupp's odds of being available for the start of the 2019 season, though the lengthy rehab process could keep him sidelined for the first few weeks of training camp and the preseason. As for the rest of the current campaign, the Rams will likely prepare Josh Reynolds for a regular role in three-wideout sets on the outside of formations, while Robert Woods shifts inside to fill Kupp's usual duties in the slot.

Godwin (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants after logging a full practice session Friday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Held out of practice the previous two days, Godwin now appears on track to play after making it through Friday's session without limitation. Of course, Godwin's fantasy owners will still want to keep a close eye on this situation when the Buccaneers release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. EST kickoff. DeSean Jackson would get more snaps with Godwin out of the lineup, while the other skill players on offense might benefit from added opportunities in the red zone. Godwin is tied for third in the NFL this season with nine targets inside the 10-yard line.

Diggs (rib) isn't listed on the Vikings' final injury report for Sunday's game in Chicago.

There was never any much doubt regarding Diggs' availability after he came out of a bye week with full practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday. The Bears have been a tough opponent for quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends, but only seven teams have allowed wideouts to produce more receiving yards per game (177.6) this season. Chicago's dominance against the run (3.6 yards per carry) has often forced opponents to attempt a high volume of passes (37.4 per game, ninth-most in NFL). Diggs has been surprisingly inconsistent on the stat sheet for a player with double-digit targets in six of eight appearances.

Jones is scheduled to receive a second opinion on the knee injury he suffered in the second half of Sunday's 34-22 loss to the Bears, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

The Lions haven't commented on the specifics surrounding Jones' injury, but Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Tuesday that the wideout was being viewed as day-to-day after sustaining a bone bruise in his knee rather than any damage to his ACL or MCL. While Schefter's report suggests Jones isn't at risk of a long-term absence, the 28-year-old may be presently dealing with some significant pain. He failed to practice in any capacity Wednesday and Thursday and wasn't spotted on the field for the media-access portion of Friday's session, suggesting he'll likely carry a designation into the Week 11 tilt with the Panthers if he's not ruled out entirely. The Lions will provide another update on Jones' situation when the team releases its final injury report of the week later Friday.

Crowder (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans.

This was expected after an MRI earlier in the week revealed lingering issues with the slot receiver's ankle. Crowder will sit out for a sixth straight game, but the Redskins still seem to be optimistic about his injury eventually healing with rest. Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson and Maurice Harris are the best bets to draw targets from Alex Smith on Sunday.