NFL Player News

Head coach Sean McDermott noted that Samuel (rib) will be limited in Friday's practice and listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

Samuel also was deemed limited in Wednesday's walkthrough and Thursday's practice as he manages a rib issue. In any case, now that Keon Coleman is back in action after missing time with a wrist injury, Samuel looks like a hit-or-miss fantasy option in a Buffalo wideout corps that also includes Amari Cooper, Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins. In 13 games this season, Samuel has posted a 24-201-1 line on 38 targets, while adding five carries for 14 yards.

Mims caught three of five targets for 62 yards and rushed once for three yards in Thursday's 34-27 loss to the Chargers.

Mims played 47 percent of the Broncos' offensive snaps, a season high for the speedy wideout. The second-year receiver's five targets matched a season high, as well, pointing toward an effort to get the Oklahoma product more involved in Denver's offense. As rookie quarterback Bo Nix has developed this season, the Broncos have found more success moving the ball through the air and spreading targets around to several pass catchers each week. Mims should continue to benefit from more dynamic play calling, but he'll also continue to be difficult to trust for consistent production while competing for targets with fellow wideouts Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin. Next up for the Broncos is a Week 17 matchup against the Bengals.

Vele brought in two of three targets for 21 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.

Vele would have had a very disappointing fantasy night overall if not for his six-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter. The score was certainly encouraging, but the 14-185-1 line on 18 targets Vele posted in Weeks 10-12 seems like an increasingly distant memory considering he's contributed just three receptions for 37 yards on eight targets in the last three contests. The rookie will have a favorable matchup with which to potentially bounce back during Week 17, however, as the Broncos will face the porous Bengals defense on the road Saturday, Dec. 28.

Sutton brought in five of six targets for 50 yards in the Broncos' 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.

Sutton finished second across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Broncos on the night. The veteran wideout saw a highly productive six-game stretch with at least six catches and 70 receiving yards in each contest snapped Week 15 against the Colts, and although he saw a slight uptick Thursday, he still delivered relatively modest numbers for fantasy managers relying on him in playoff matchups. Sutton should have a good chance of bouncing back in a Week 17 road matchup against the vulnerable Bengals defense on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Johnston secured three of six targets for 18 yards in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.

Johnston played a minor role as his final line implies, finishing the night with the sixth-fewest receiving yards on the Chargers. The second-year speedster had put together back-to-back five-catch, one-touchdown efforts in his previous two games, so Thursday's modest and scoreless line represented a notable downturn. Johnston will look to take advantage of the Patriots' non-Christian Gonzalez inconsistent secondary coverage during a Week 17 road matchup in New England on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Palmer secured three of six targets for 41 yards and caught a two-point conversion pass in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.

The veteran wideout was second to Ladd McConkey in both receptions and receiving yards while tying for the team lead in targets. Palmer's two-point conversion grab also was important, as it gave the Chargers a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter following a Derius Davis' go-ahead 19-yard touchdown grab. Palmer remains a clear complementary option in Los Angeles' passing attack and has yet to surpass 78 receiving yards in any game, but he could see some additional opportunities in a Week 17 road clash against the Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 28 if New England's standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez spends the majority of his time on McConkey.

McConkey secured all six targets for 87 yards in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.

McConkey set the pace in receptions and receiving yards while sharing the team lead in targets with fellow receivers Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston. The rookie wideout's final catch of the night came early in the fourth quarter but was a critical one, as his 17-yard grab took the ball down to the Broncos' 19-yard line and Justin Herbert threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Derius Davis on the next play to give the Chargers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. McConkey has come on strong down the stretch, as he'll head into a Week 17 road matchup against the Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 28 with at least six receptions and 83 receiving yards in four of the last five contests.

Brooks (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Wilson wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, so it appears his knee injury is a new one. It's not clear how severe the injury is, but Friday's practice report will give a better idea of his status heading into Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. The 2023 seventh-round pick caught the first touchdown pass of his NFL career this past Sunday against the Panthers.

Palmer (illness) was listed as a DNP on Thursday's injury report.

Palmer hasn't registered a catch over his last three games and it appears he is now under the weather. It's unclear what sort of ailment he's working through, but Friday's practice report should provide clarity on Palmer's status heading into Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

Metcalf (shoulder) was a full practice participant Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Metcalf followed up Wednesday's absence with full participation one day later, setting him up to continue to play through a shoulder issue for a fourth consecutive contest. In the previous three outings, he gathered in 11 of 18 targets for 143 yards and no touchdowns.