NFL Player News

Colts head coach Shane Steichen noted Friday that a decision on who will start at QB in Sunday's game against the Seahawks (between Rivers and Riley Leonard) has yet to be made, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

"We're working through that," Steichen said Friday of the team's Week 15 QB plans. Per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Rivers has looked good and moved around well during practice, while Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis relays that Leonard took some starting reps this week. For his part, James Boyd of The Athletic believes that Rivers will get the nod, a notion put forth by Holder on Thursday. In any case, in order for Rivers to be available as either a starter or backup versus Seattle, he must first be elevated from the Colts' practice squad ahead of Saturday's deadline.

Allgeier carried the ball twice for 18 yards during Thursday's 29-28 win over the Buccaneers.

Allgeier had logged eight or more carries in four of his last five appearances heading into Week 15, but he played just 17 percent of the offensive snaps versus Tampa Bay, his lowest share since Week 3. He'll look to get more involved behind Bijan Robinson again in Week 16, when the Falcons will travel to Arizona on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Tillman (concussion/ribs) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Tillman is managing a rib injury and also will need to gain full clearance from the NFL's concussion protocol, including from an independent neurologist, in order to be eligible to play Sunday. Isaiah Bond will stand to benefit from increased opportunities in the receiving game if Tillman ultimately remains sidelined Week 15.

Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, and it's been confirmed that he'll sit out Sunday's contest and eye a potential return to action Sunday, Dec. 21 against the Bills. In Njoku's absence this weekend, fellow TE Harold Fannin figures to be busy versus Chicago, with Blake Whiteheart available to mix in.

Sampson (calf/hand) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Sampson will miss his first game of the season while managing a pair of injuries. His next chance to take the field will come Week 16 against the Bills. As long as Sampson is sidelined, Cleveland's main depth options behind top RB Quinshon Judkins will be Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams.

Jacobs (knee) returned to practice Friday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur already told reporters that Jacobs would be a limited participant. The running back didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but LaFleur said Friday that Jacobs is"feeling pretty good" ahead of Sunday's matchup in Denver. If Jacobs run into any issues during Friday's session, Emanuel Wilson will step in as the lead back, just as he did in Week 12 when Jacobs missed a game due to the same knee injury. Jacobs came out of Week 14 with swelling in the knee, which led to practice absences Wednesday and Thursday.

Daniels (elbow) has not been cleared for contact, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Daniels re-injured his dislocated left elbow in his first game back in the lineup, making an early exit from the blowout loss at Minnesota in Week 14. The Commanders will now start Marcus Mariota in Week 15 against the Giants, but Daniels hasn't been ruled out beyond that despite not having clearance for contact.

Samuel missed Friday's practice due to an illness, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Terry McLaurin also was absent, but in his case it was a planned maintenance day. Samuel's absence is somewhat more concerning, though he'll have a couple of days to get healthy before a matchup with the Giants on Sunday. Commanders coach Dan Quinn didn't comment Friday on expectations for Samuel's availability.

Coach Zac Taylor said Friday that Higgins (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Ravens, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Though Higgins was able to work in a limited fashion at practice Wednesday and Thursday, the Bengals will play it safe with the wideout, who also sustained a concussion Week 12 against the Patriots and sat out a Thanksgiving matchup against Baltimore. In Higgins' looming absence, added Week 15 snaps alongside top WR Ja'Marr Chase will be available for Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley.

Bateman (ankle) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Bateman was added to the Ravens' Week 15 injury report after being deemed a limited participant in Thursday's practice. With the wideout not present for Friday's session, his status for Sunday's game against the Bengals is now cloudy. If he's unavailable this weekend, added WR snaps alongside Zay Flowers would be available for some combination of DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester.