NFL Player News
-
Jake Tonges TE | SF
49ers' Jake Tonges: Stuck on ST with Kittle back
Tonges logged 11 snaps on special teams and was not used on offense in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks.
George Kittle returned from a one-game absence Saturday, effectively pushing Tonges back down to third on San Francisco's depth chart for Week 18. Blocking TE Luke Farrell logged eight snaps behind Kittle and was not targeted in the regular-season finale. Tonges emerged in 2025 with a 34-293-5 receiving line that was generated primarily while filling in for Kittle at various points of the campaign. Assuming Kittle did not suffer a setback, Tonges will remain a non-factor for the start of San Francisco's playoff run in the wild-card round.
-
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR | DET
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown: Active in Week 18
St. Brown (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Bears.
St. Brown carried a questionable tag into Sunday due to a knee injury that led to him logging just a pair of limited practices during Week 18 prep. However, head coach Dan Campbell said Friday his star wideout was trending in the right direction for active status, and St. Brown's availability for the regular-season finale is now confirmed. St. Brown has already exceeded the 100-catch threshold for the fourth straight season, but he has a chance to set a new career high in touchdown receptions with a pair of scoring grabs against his division rival Sunday.
-
Keon Coleman WR | BUF
Bills' Keon Coleman: Active for Week 18
Coleman is active for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Coleman has been a healthy scratch in each of the Bills' last two games (and four times this season), but the second-year wideout will be available for Sunday's regular-season finale. He did not record a target in his last outing against the Patriots in Week 15, though he could see some involvement in the offense in the absence of Brandin Cooks (coach's decision), and if the Bills opt to sit their regular starters as the game unfolds. Coleman has caught 36 passes (on 55 targets) for 355 yards and four touchdowns across 12 regular-season games.
-
J.J. McCarthy QB | MIN
Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Aggravates right hand injury
McCarthy exited Sunday's game versus the Packers due to a right hand injury.
McCarthy appeared to aggravate his previously injured right hand early in the third quarter of Week 18 action. At the time of his departure, he had completed 14 of 23 passes for 182 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions and took his two carries for seven yards. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer took over for McCarthy.
-
Kendrick Bourne WR | SF
49ers' Kendrick Bourne: Non-factor in Saturday's loss
Bourne failed to catch his only target in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks.
WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) was back on the sidelines for Week 18, but it was Demarcus Robinson (3-24-0) who filled in for the oft-injured starter this time around. Bourne had been elevated ahead of Robinson in similar scenarios earlier this season, but head coach Kyle Shanahan shuffled his veteran backups in the receiver pecking order Saturday. This development, coupled with the potential for Pearsall to return for the wild-card round, severely limits Bourne's upside for the start of the playoffs.
-
Josh Oliver TE | MIN
Vikings' Josh Oliver: Ruled out Sunday
Oliver won't return to Sunday's game against the Packers due to an ankle injury.
Prior to his exit in the third quarter, Oliver had two catches (on two targets) for 29 yards, which is a bit of a disappointment considering he was filling in for inactive No. 1 TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder). Oliver will finish the 2025 campaign with a 15-160-4 on 19 targets in 15 regular-season games. He's under contract with the Vikings in 2026.
-
Kelvin Banks Jr. OT | NO
Saints' Kelvin Banks: Unable to return Sunday
Banks (ankle) is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Banks was able to walk off the field after having his leg rolled over by a teammate in the first half of Sunday's game, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, but he will not be able to return in the Saints' season finale. Asim Richards will replace Banks for the remainder of Week 18.
-
Kevin Zeitler OG | TEN
Titans' Kevin Zeitler: Won't return Sunday
Zeitler (quadriceps) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Zeitler sustained the injury in the first half and will not return. Jackson Slater will take over at right guard for the rest of Sunday's game.
-
Brian Robinson Jr. RB | SF
49ers' Brian Robinson: Just two carries in loss to SEA
Robinson rushed two times for nine yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Saturday's 13-3 loss to Seattle.
Robinson was only on the field for six offensive snaps (his lowest total since Week 8) with his club playing catch-up all evening. The veteran backup typically garners extra touches in contests San Francisco has a lead, but otherwise, it's been the Christian McCaffrey Show in 2025. Robinson appeared in all 17 regular-season contests in his first year with the 49ers, compiling 400 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a change-of-pace role. The 26-year-old will continue spelling CMC in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
-
Denzel Ward CB | CLE
Browns' Denzel Ward: Won't return vs. Cincinnati
Ward (neck) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Ward injured his neck in the first quarter, and medical staff have determined that the injury is severe enough for the veteran cornerback to not return. D'Angelo Ross and Sam Webb will continue to see more snaps on defense in Ward's absence.