NFL Player News

Ward (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Ward will miss a second consecutive game, and he has yet to return to practice since sustaining a calf injury during Cleveland's Week 14 loss to the Titans. Sam Webb is likely ticketed for a larger role in Ward's continued absence.

Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Per Oyefusi, coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns will make a decision on whether to add Watson back to the active roster prior to the team's Week 17 game against Pittsburgh. An official transaction activating Watson from the reserve/PUP list will have to be made by next Tuesday, or Watson will be ineligible to play this season. Shedeur Sanders will start Sunday against the Bills.

Thomas (migraine) won't return this season, head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed Friday, Clarence Hill Jr. of alldlls.com reports.

Thomas has been on the reserve/non-football illness list since Nov. 11. The 25-year-old safety will likely need to resolve his migraine issues prior to signing with any NFL team after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Njoku (knee) won't play Sunday against the Bills, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku, who didn't practice this week, thus is slated to miss his second straight contest, with his next chance to see game action set to arrive Sunday, Dec. 28 against the Steelers. In Njoku's continued absence, fellow TE Harold Fannin -- who logged seven catches on a team-high 14 targets for 48 yards in Week 15 -- figures to remain busy versus Buffalo, with Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates (ankle) candidates to mix in.

Sampson (hand/calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Sampson will unsurprisingly miss a second consecutive game after being unable to practice in any capacity throughout the week. The rookie fourth-round pick's next chance to play will come in Week 17 against the Steelers, while Trayveon Williams and Raheim Sanders will fill depth roles behind rookie second-round pick Quinshon Judkins against the Bills.

Moore (elbow) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Moore practiced without limitations all week, but he will need to be activated from injured reserve with an official transaction to be eligible to suit up Sunday. If he rejoins Carolina's receiving corps, Moore would likely return to a depth role behind Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.

Wallace (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Wallace likely sustained the injury during practice, as he practiced without limitations Wednesday then notched limited practices Thursday and Friday prior to being ruled out. Claudin Cherelus will start at inside linebacker in Wallace's absence.

Cherelus will start Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Cherelus will make a spot start at inside linebacker in Trevin Wallace's (shoulder) absence. In 12 appearances (two starts) this season, Cherelus has 24 tackles (eight solo).

Marks (ankle) is working off to the side with a trainer at Friday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Wilson expects Marks to be listed as a limited participant, which would still be a step in the right direction after Marks didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday. Marks injured his ankle during this past Sunday's win over the Cardinals, and while Houston's coaching staff claimed that Marks could have reentered against Arizona, the ankle injury has put his availability for Sunday's game against the Raiders in jeopardy. Nick Chubb and Jawhar Jordan could play larger roles if Marks is sidelined or limited Sunday.

Demercado should have a role off the bench behind starter Michael Carter in Sunday's game against Atlanta, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Demercado seemed to be ahead of Carter on the depth chart for most of the season, but Carter has arguably fared better when tasked with a lead role, while Demercado's success as a bench player hasn't typically translated across larger workloads. Demercado's recent return from a high-ankle sprain may also be a factor, with this being his second game back from a three-game absence. He took just three touches for one yard in last week's 40-20 loss to the Texans, so it didn't come as any surprise Friday when Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon named Carter as the Week 16 starter.