NFL Player News

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday that Love has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol but that Clayton Tune will start at quarterback for Sunday's regular-season finale on the road against Minnesota, Bill Huber of SI.com reports.

Love is on track to sit during Week 18 action as Green Bay prioritizes maintaining the starting quarterback's health for the postseason, an unsurprising decision given that the team is already locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC side of the playoffs. LaFleur said the Packers are still working through the process of determining the backup for Tune, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports, with candidates presumably including both Malik Willis (shoulder/hamstring) and recent practice-squad signee Desmond Ridder. As such, Love wraps the regular season with 14 appearances, in which span he completed 291 of 439 pass attempts for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed 47 times for 199 yards.

The Panthers placed Sanders (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Sanders facing recovery from surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered on the first play of Carolina's loss to Seattle in Week 17, with the expectation being that even if the Panthers manage a deep playoff run, he will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign. With Sanders sidelined, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell will hold down the fort at TE for Carolina. Across 13 regular-season appearances in Year 2 of his NFL career, Sanders secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown.

Olave (illness) is expected to sit out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons after a blood clot was detected in his lung, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Olave's blood clot was reportedly detected early and is an issue he will be able to have treated without significant concern, but it will evidently cause the standout wide receiver to sit out New Orleans' regular-season finale. If Olave is indeed officially ruled out for Week 18, he will conclude the 2025 campaign with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns (on 155 targets) across 16 regular-season appearances. Kevin Austin, Mason Tipton (groin), Dante Pettis and practice-squad member Ronnie Bell will lead the Saints' wide receiver corps Sunday, assuming Olave is unable to go. Per Underhill, Olave is in line to be discharged from the hospital Thursday.

Goedeke (ankle) turned in a limited practice Wednesday.

Goedeke was estimated to have turned in a limited practice to begin the week and now has another limited session under his belt. He played through the ankle issue in Week 17 and looks to be in line to do the same once again in Week 18 against Carolina.

Wirfs (toe) practiced in limited fashion Wednesday.

Wirfs was held out of the Buccaneers' Week 17 loss and then was estimated to have not practiced Tuesday. However, he took a step forward Wednesday and seemingly has a chance to return for Tampa Bay's pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Panthers.

Newman was not listed on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

Newman was activated from injured reserve ahead of Chicago's Week 17 loss to the 49ers, but he was still inactive for the contest. He should be ready to suit up while serving as a reserve guard in Week 18 against the Lions.

Trapilo (knee/quad) was estimated to be a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Trapilo has taken over at left tackle since Week 12 but seems to have picked up a knee injury in Sunday's loss to the 49ers. The fact that he was estimated to have practiced at all still bodes well for his ability to play in Week 18 against the Lions.

Kamara was not listed on Wednesday's injury report.

Kamara has missed the Browns' last two games with an elbow injury. He should return to a rotational role along Cleveland's defensive line in Week 18 against the Bengals.

Woods (personal) did not have a designation in Wednesday's estimated practice report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Woods missed Atlanta's upset win in Week 17 due to a personal matter. His absence from the injury report suggests he'll be back in Week 18 against the Saints and should play almost entirely on special teams.

Ford was not listed in Wednesday's estimated practice report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Ford suffered an ankle injury in Monday's win over the Rams and did not return. However, the issue won't jeopardize his status for Atlanta's Week 18 matchup against the Saints, and he should retain his significant role on special teams.