NFL Player News

The Lions elevated Alexander from the practice squad to the active roster Thursday.

Alexander was waived by the Lions this past Saturday, but he opted to stick around in Detroit by signing to the practice squad Tuesday. He'll serve in a depth role at wide receiver, though if he does see the field against the Packers on Thursday, it'll likely be in a special-teams role.

McConkey (knee/shoulder) remained limited at practice Thursday.

McConkey also was limited Wednesday, so he'll probably need to practice fully Friday in order to approach Sunday night's game against the Chiefs without an injury designation. Through 12 games to date, McConkey -- who has scored four TDs in that span -- paces the Chargers in catches (58), targets (81) and receiving yards (815), a level of production that will keep the 2024 second-rounder firmly on the Week 14 fantasy lineup radar, provided he's available.

Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Wednesday that Olave (concussion) will meet with a specialist next week before the team provides an update on his status, Jacob Camenker of USA Today reports.

Olave was placed on injured reserve Nov. 9, just under a week after he sustained his second concussion of the season and his fourth documented concussion in just over four calendar years. According to Rizzi, Olave is in "great spirits" and has been feeling well enough to attend Saints practices, but the coach wouldn't commit to the receiver returning to practice Week 15, when New Orleans is first able to open his 21-day evaluation window. The Saints will have a better idea regarding Olave's chances of playing in their final four games once he visits the specialist, but given the receiver's history of concussions as well as the 4-8 Saints' place in the standings, it wouldn't be surprising if he was shut down for the season.

Thrash (shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice.

Thrash injured his shoulder during the Browns' 41-32 loss to the Broncos on Monday night. He didn't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough but upgraded to limited participation a day later, boosting his chances of being available in Week 14. However, Michael Woods could be elevated off the practice squad for a second straight game in the event that Thrash is unable to play this weekend.

Smith (hamstring) practiced fully Thursday.

The Eagles held a walkthrough Wednesday, so Smith's listing of full was merely an estimate. With an uncapped practice now under his belt this week, he's set to put an end to a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury. On Sunday, Smith will be taking on a Panthers defense that has given up a 25-287-2 line on 39 targets to opposing wide receivers over the last two contests.

Chase was a limited participant at practice Thursday due to an ankle injury.

Chase logged a 97 percent snap share in the Bengals' Week 13 loss to the Steelers, a game in which he recorded six catches (on nine targets) for 86 yards and a touchdown. It's unclear if the wideout's ankle issue stems from that contest, or if it's something that materialized during Thursday's practice. Either way, Chase's status is now worth monitoring in advance of Monday's game against the Cowboys.

Lamb (shoulder) officially didn't practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Lamb initially injured his right shoulder Week 9 in Atlanta, but he's been able to suit up in the ensuing four contests with Cooper Rush taking over for Dak Prescott (hamstring) under center, compiling a 26-220-0 line on 40 targets over the last four games. During the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day win against the Giants, he again was seen clutching the same shoulder after taking a hard fall in the second half. On Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy told Jon Machota of The Athletic that Lamb would be limited in practice, and the wide receiver himself relayed to Machota that he has full range of motion and strength back in the shoulder. "As far as Monday goes, I'll be fine by then," Lamb added. Despite not practicing after all Thursday, he'll have two more opportunities to mix into drills this week before Monday's contest against the Bengals.

Boyd (foot) didn't practice Thursday.

Boyd took a step back in terms of activity from Wednesday, when he opened the week as a limited participant in practice. The veteran wideout will have one more chance to get back on the practice field before the Titans decide whether he carries a designation into Sunday's game against the Jaguars. Boyd has held down a regular spot in three-receiver sets for the Titans all season, but the steady role hasn't translated to meaningful fantasy production. He has yet to score a touchdown in 12 appearances and is averaging just 2.7 receptions and 26.1 yards from scrimmage per game.

Palmer was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a hip injury.

Palmer wasn't included on the Buccaneers' initial Week 14 injury report Wednesday, so his limited listing Thursday could be indicative of an in-practice setback. The wideout will likely need to upgrade to full participation in Friday's practice to avoid taking a designation into Sunday's game versus the Raiders.

Washington was a limited participant at practice Thursday due to a shoulder injury.

Washington practiced fully Wednesday, but he may have hurt his shoulder at some point during that session, as he was spotted in an orange non-contact jersey when he took the field Thursday, per Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union. Friday's injury report will clarify whether the wideout's shoulder issue is anything that could affect his status for Sunday's game against the Titans. Washington is coming off a 6-103-1 receiving effort on 12 targets in the Jaguars' 23-20 loss to the Texans in Week 13.