NFL Player News

Johnson is unlikely to make his Texans debut in Wednesday's game against the Ravens, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from Baltimore on Monday, bolstering the team's wideout corps after Tank Dell sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 16. Due to the lack of time he had to familiarize himself with the Houston playbook, Johnson looks set to be inactive for Week 17, though Rapoport notes that the receiver is planning to make his Texans debut Week 18 against the Titans. Prior to joining the Texans, Johnson recorded 31 catches for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games on the season, with most of his production coming over his seven appearances with Carolina.

Lockett caught both of his targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Vikings.

Though Geno Smith attempted 43 passes on the day, Lockett didn't attract much of the quarterback's attention, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba (12) and DK Metcalf (seven) dominated the targets. With Smith-Njigba becoming a much bigger part of the offense in recent weeks, the 32-year-old Lockett has been mostly an afterthought in Seattle's aerial attack. Since the Seahawks' Week 10 bye, the veteran has recorded just 96 receiving yards over six games.

Flowers (shoulder) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Wednesday against the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After being listed as a non-participant on injury reports issued Sunday and Monday, Flowers was upgraded to limited participation Tuesday. Though Flowers looks like he's trending toward playing Wednesday, official word on his status won't arrive until Baltimore posts its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Tuesday that Dowell (knee) won't be activated from the PUP list in advance of Sunday's game in Jacksonville, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site.

Dowell has spent the entire season on the reserve/PUP list after tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee in Week 17 of the 2023 campaign and undergoing surgery. The wideout was cleared to resume practicing Dec. 16, but he was a limited participant throughout the past week. Callahan said that Dowell still has an outside chance of playing in Week 18 against the Texans, but the 22-year-old will almost certainly need to resume practicing in full before being activated.

Jones (groin) was a limited participant in the Bengals' practice Tuesday, Jay Morrison of SI.com reports.

Jones hasn't played since the team's Week 8 loss versus the Eagles but is now closer to making his return. If the 26-year-old ends up being able to play Saturday versus the Broncos, he will likely resume his role as the team's top return specialist.

Higgins was listed as a limited participant for Tuesday's practice due to ankle and knee injuries.

Higgins previously appeared on the Week 16 injury report with the knee issue, but he entered this past Sunday's 24-6 win over the Browns without a designation and finished with eight receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. He's now managing an ankle injury is addition to the lingering knee concern in Week 17, but the fact that he was on the field in some capacity Tuesday is a good sign he'll be ready to go for Saturday's game against the Broncos.

The Texans elevated Wayne from the practice squad to the active roster Tuesday.

Wayne will be elevated for a second straight week and the third time this season. He played eight offensive snaps during the Texans' Week 16 loss to the Chiefs. However, Wayne could see more snaps on offense Wednesday due to Tank Dell being out for the rest of 2024 due to a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap.

The Ravens elevated Miller from the practice squad to the active roster Tuesday.

Miller was elevated for the Ravens' Week 16 win over the Steelers, though he played just one snap on offense. However, he could see more offensive snaps Wednesday due to Nelson Agholor (concussion) being ruled out, and Miller would be in line for even more playing time if Zay Flowers (shoulder) is not cleared to play.

Agholor (concussion) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Texans.

Agholor will miss his second straight contest due to the concussion, after he was placed in the NFL's five-step protocol following the Ravens' Dec. 15 win over the Giants. He wasn't able to log any practice activity this week before being ruled out, but Agholor should be helped by the lengthier turnaround for the Ravens' regular-season finale Jan. 5 versus the Browns. Agholor's absence for Wednesday's contest will likely pave the way for Tylan Wallace to earn more snaps as the team's No. 3 receiver, assuming Zay Flowers (shoulder) -- who is listed as questionable -- is able to play.

Flowers (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Texans.

After being listed as a non-participant on the Ravens' first two Week 17 practice reports, Flowers upgraded to limited activity Tuesday but will still carry a designation into the Christmas Day contest. Fortunately, the Ravens and Texans are playing in the second game of the Week 17 slate, giving fantasy managers who are planning on deploying Flowers in lineups plenty of alternatives in the event he can't suit up for the first time all season. Official word on Flowers' status will arrive when Baltimore posts its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Wednesday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.