NFL Player News

Melton played nine of the Packers' 53 snaps on offense and recorded a 45-yard touchdown reception on two targets in Sunday's 28-21 win over the Bears.

Green Bay converted Melton to defensive back in the offseason, but the 26-year-old has been seeing more usage on offense in recent weeks in addition to serving as a core player on special teams. He made his biggest play of the season in the Week 14 victory over Chicago, hauling in a deep pass from Jordan Love late in the second quarter to give Green Bay a 14-3 lead. The Packers didn't have Savion Williams (foot) available for a second straight game Sunday, and Matthew Golden was also limited to just five snaps against the Bears due to a wrist injury, so despite delivering a splash play in the Week 14 win, Melton could see his snaps on offense take a hit once Green Bay is back to full strength at receiver.

Brooks played all 19 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Chiefs.

Brooks has been active for each of Houston's last 10 games, but he's been deployed almost exclusively on special teams in those contests. The reserve running back has played just five total snaps on offense across the Texans' last four games.

Palmer (ankle) will be deemed a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-through, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Palmer didn't practice at all last week before being made inactive for the second straight time in Sunday's 39-34 win over the Bengals. The wideout's looming limited listing is a step in the right direction, but unless Palmer practices fully, his status for this weekend's game against the Patriots will remain uncertain.

Wiley played all three of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Texans.

Wiley was one of four active tight ends for Kansas City in Week 14, but the team didn't have any snaps available on offense for him behind Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Robert Tonyan. The second-year player suited up for just the second time all season after recording a four-yard reception over nine snaps on offense a week earlier in the Chiefs' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday that Benson (knee) will not be activated from IR, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2025 season, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Benson had his 21-day practice window opened in late November, and he initially managed limited on-field activity before being downgraded to consistent non-participant status. Instead, Bam Knight, Emari Demercado (ankle) and Michael Carter will handle Arizona's backfield reps for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, had initially seemed primed for a substantial opportunity after starting running back James Conner (foot) went down to season-ending injury Week 3. Ultimately, Benson's durability concerns make his expected role murky for the 2026 season, which will be the last year of Conner's contract with the Cardinals.

Leonard (knee) will practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

With Daniel Jones out for the season due to an Achilles' injury and Anthony Richardson (orbital) still on IR, Leonard is candidate to start Sunday's game against the Seahawks. However, now that he's dealing with a knee injury the QB's status will need to be monitored closely. Leonard's looming practice participation is a positive sign, but at this stage coach Shane Steichen has yet to reveal the Colts' Week 15 QB plans. Also in the mix on that front are Brett Rypien, who was signed to the team's active roster Wednesday, as well as 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who has officially joined Indianapolis' practice squad. Per Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis, when asked if Leonard would start this weekend if healthy, Steichen said "we will see" while noting that Rivers will be evaluated in practice this week.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Otton (knee) is considered doubtful for Thursday's game against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Otton was labeled a non-participant on Tampa Bay's first two injury reports of Week 15, and it appears he's trending in the wrong direction for Thursday's contest against Atlanta. Payne Durham will figure to step up as the Buccaneers' top tight end if Otton is unable to suit up for Thursday Night Football. It's a positive development, at the very least, that Otton returned to practice as a limited participant Wednesday, as Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Tonyan went without a target while playing four of the Chiefs' 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Texans.

As has been a recurring trend all season, Tonyan ranked a distant third in snaps among Chiefs tight ends, with Travis Kelce (91 percent snap share) and Noah Gray (45 percent) comfortably outpacing him. Tonyan has suited up for all 13 of the Chiefs' games this season but has been limited to just one catch for one yard on one target across 126 snaps on offense.

Tillman (concussion/rib) is not in line to practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Tillman was on the field for 64 percent of the Browns' snaps on offense in Sunday's 31-29 loss to the Titans, a game in which the wideout caught one of three targets for 23 yards. He's now contending with a pair of injury concerns ahead of this weekend's contest against the Bears, with two more chances to practice on tap before Cleveland's Week 15 game statuses are posted Friday.

Sampson (calf/hand) is not in line to practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Sampson impressed as a receiver during Cleveland's loss to the Titans in Week 14, securing five of six targets for 64 yards, but he appears to have picked up two injuries in the contest. The rookie fourth-round pick also rushed twice for four yards and lost one fumble. He'll have two more opportunities to get back on the practice field ahead of Sunday's road matchup against the Bears.