NFL Player News

Houston has claimed Johnson off waivers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Johnson was waived by Baltimore on Friday after a tumultuous tenure with the club. The veteran wideout logged only one catch over four games with the Ravens and was suspended for Week 15 against the Giants for conduct detrimental to the team. Johnson did have some productive games earlier in the campaign, including Week 3 versus Las Vegas when he tallied eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown while he was with the Panthers. The Texans' decision to claim Johnson comes after the announcement that Tank Dell (knee) will be out for the remainder of the season.

Pearsall had four receptions on as many targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 29-17 loss to Miami.

Pearsall experienced more success against the Dolphins than he did against the Rams last week (1-16-0) on the same amount of targets. The first-round rookie wound up logging 43 snaps on offense (70 percent) Sunday, his highest total since making his pro debut against the Chiefs in Week 7. With the 49ers officially being eliminated from playoff contention, perhaps the coaching staff will want to take a harder look at Pearsall over the club's final two games, starting with a home tilt against the Lions next Monday.

Pickens (hamstring) was estimated as a full participant in a walkthrough practice Monday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickens stated earlier Monday that he hasn't yet been cleared to return to action Wednesday against Kansas City, but his full participation in practice Monday suggests that he's certainly leaning toward that outcome. The star wideout has missed each of Pittsburgh's past three games while dealing with a hamstring issue. If he's able to return Christmas Day, it would be a big boost to the Steelers' passing game and could result in less looks for Calvin Austin.

Duvernay caught his only target for three yards and returned four punts for 37 yards during Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Raiders.

The return man entered the contest with multiple receptions in the previous three games, but he played a lesser offensive role Sunday as nine different Jacksonville players caught at least one ball. Duvernay played fewer offensive snaps than Josh Reynolds, but Brian Thomas and Parker Washington are the only Jacksonville wideouts consistently involved in the offense at this point.

Washington caught all six of his targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Raiders.

The 22-year-old and Brian Thomas (nine catches for 132 yards) were the only Jacksonville pass catchers to tally more than two receptions on a day when quarterback Mac Jones completed a pass to nine different players. Washington was targeted once in the red zone and earned a pass interference call, which set up a goal-line touchdown for Tank Bigsby. Washington has 17 catches for 226 yards and one touchdown across the past four games and should continue to operate as the Jaguars' No. 2 wideout down the stretch.

Bateman caught one of three targets for 14 yards and a touchdown Saturday against the Steelers.

Though listed on the injury report with a foot injury going into the game, Bateman was able to play a healthy 81 percent of the snaps. He also notched his eighth touchdown of the season, adding to his career year. His eight touchdowns tie him for ninth in the league. Bateman and the Ravens have a quick turnaround as they will face the Texans in Houston on Christmas Day.

Flowers (shoulder) is not participating in practice Monday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Flowers also was listed as a non-participant on Sunday's estimated practice report, after he caught five of eight targets for 100 yards in Saturday's 34-17 win over the Steelers. Coach John Harbaugh has offered optimism that the second-year pro will be able to suit up Wednesday on the road against Houston, but it looks as though Flowers may have to participate in at least a limited capacity Tuesday in order to be cleared for Week 17 action.

Pickens (hamstring) said Monday, "I feel good," but that he hasn't yet been cleared to play Wednesday versus Kansas City, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickens has missed three consecutive games due to a lingering hamstring injury, but he resumed handling individual drills Monday, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com. The standout wide receiver was listed as limited on Sunday's estimated practice report, in which coach Mike Tomlin said he has a "real chance" to return Week 17. Tuesday's final practice report figures to be pivotal in determining Pickens' status for Week 17.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Dell (knee) will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap in his left knee, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Dell will miss the remainder of his Year 2 campaign due to a pair of severe injuries sustained during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, which occurred while hauling in a 30-yard touchdown from QB C.J. Stroud in the third quarter. The severity of Dell's injuries required that he was carted off the field and transported to a local hospital. Expect Houston to officially place Dell on IR in the near future and for him to undergo surgery to begin his recovery process. John Metchie (shoulder), Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson will now be called upon to step up at wide receiver behind Nico Collins.

Smith-Schuster failed to reel in his only target during Saturday's 27-19 win over the Texans.

Smith-Schuster saw his snap count decline to 39 percent with the return of Hollywood Brown to the lineup Saturday, after having played over 50 percent of snaps in his prior four appearances. With Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins also available as starters in three-wide sets, Smith-Schuster's role on offense for Kansas City is now clearly a depth one, especially with Brown's involvement to be ramped up. Smith-Schuster can safely be relegated to the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy formats heading into a road matchup against the Steelers on Wednesday.