NFL Player News

Ossai (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Las Vegas.

Ossai will end up missing a third consecutive game while recovering from an ankle injury that he sustained against the Browns in Week 5. He's been unable to practice since picking up the injury, so he would need to return to the practice field to have a realistic chance of returning for Week 9 against the Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 8. Will McDonald and Nate Lynn will continue to operate in elevated roles defensively while Ossai is on the mend.

Hawkins (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Buffalo.

Hawkins has missed six-straight practices due to a knee injury, which will result in him being sidelined for a second consecutive game. K'Von Wallace was the listed starter at safety alongside Malaki Starks in Week 7 against the Bengals, although Keyon Martin and Keondre Jackson are also in line for more defensive snaps in Hawkins' absence. Hawkins' next opportunity to play is Week 9 against the Jaguars on Thursday.

Smith (knee) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Buffalo.

Smith -- who has been working through a knee injury -- saw his practice participation increase over the course of Week 8, and his full session Friday was enough for him to fade an injury tag ahead of Sunday's road tilt. The 2018 first-rounder has registered 55 tackles (24 solo), including 2.0 sacks, two pass defenses (including one interception) and one forced fumble through the first seven games of the regular season.

Waddle (chest) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs after he was a limited participant in Friday's practice.

After opening the week with a missed practice and then logging limited sessions Thursday and Friday, Waddle's status remains unsettled heading into the weekend. The Broncos and Chiefs are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, which could mean limited alternatives for fantasy managers if Waddle comes down to a game-time decision and then doesn't play. If that were to happen, Denver would likely look to Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey to take more WR snaps alongside Courtland Sutton.

Hamilton (knee) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Hamilton opened the week as a DNP while tending to a right knee injury, but the fifth-year defensive back ended Week 8 prep with a full practice, which was enough for him to avoid an injury tag for Sunday's contest. Hamilton has accumulated 50 tackles (35 solo), four pass defenses (including one interception) and one forced fumble through the first seven games of the regular season.

Alford (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Alford opened the week as a limited practice participant before sitting out of both Thursday's and Friday's session. He's working through a lingering ankle injury that he sustained in Week 4 against the Patriots, but despite the consecutive DNP's, the door has not been shut on Alford suiting up for Sunday's contest. C.J. Gardner-Johnson (suspension) is not available, so If Alford is also inactive, then more snaps in the secondary would be available for Damar Hamlin, Jalon Kilgore and Maxwell Hairston.

Verse (knee) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Steelers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Verse opened Week 8 prep with a DNP due to a knee injury, but his full practice Friday was enough for him to avoid an injury tag for Sunday's AFC North showdown. The third-year pro has 17 tackles (10 solo) through seven regular-season games and has yet to record a sack in his first year with the Browns after accumulating 12.0 sacks over his first two NFL seasons with the Rams.

Jeremiyah Love (ankle) has been cleared to return from a two-game absence to face the Cowboys on Sunday, so Knight is expected to revert to rotational role in the Cardinals' backfield.

The rookie first-rounder was a full participant in Friday's practice, which was enough for him to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's contest. Love could operate on a snap count in his return, so Knight and Tyler Allgeier -- who have co-led the Cardinals' backfield for each of the last two games -- could both still see a fair amount of involvement in Arizona's offensive gameplan. Over his last two outings, Knight has turned 22 carries into 128 yards (5.8 YPC) and caught five passes on seven targets for 33 yards.

McDuffie (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

MCDuffie was limited in practice all week due to a groin injury, which has prevented him from playing in each of the Rams' last two games. Josh Wallace would continue to operate in an elevated role defensively if McDuffie is not cleared to play in Sunday's battle of Los Angeles.

Whittington (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Nate Atkins of The Athletic reports.

Whittington is working through a back issue that flared up during Thursday's practice, and he was held out of Friday's session as a precaution, per Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio. If he's unable to play Sunday, then Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell and CJ Daniels would all be in line for more offensive snaps. Despite the absence of Davante Adams (hamstring, IR), Whittington was not targeted once during the Rams' Week 7 win over the Raiders.