NFL Player News
-
Jordan Phillips DT | BUF
Bills' Jordan Phillips: Questionable for Week 18
Phillip (ankle) practiced in full Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Jets.
Phillips has missed back-to-back games due to a lingering right ankle injury, but he resumed practicing in full Friday after having been listed as limited both Wednesday and Thursday. Barring any setbacks, he seems on track to retake the field Sunday versus New England.
-
Zaire Mitchell-Paden TE | NO
Saints' Zaire Mitchell-Paden: Shifts to IR
Mitchell-Paden (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Mitchell-Paden logged consecutive DNPs to open the Saints' week of practice and has since been placed on IR due to a knee injury. The Florida Atlantic product appeared in eight games with the Ravens and Saints in 2025, catching two of five targets for 17 yards across 107 offensive snaps. With Mitchell-Paden and Jack Stoll (knee) both shifting to IR, expect Moliki Matavao to play a depth role in New Orleans' tight end corps during Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.
-
Jack Stoll TE | NO
Saints' Jack Stoll: Moves to IR
Stoll (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The 27-year-old had already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to a knee injury, but he's now been placed on IR. Across 15 appearances in 2025, Stoll caught six of 11 targets for 46 yards and one touchdown while operating as one of New Orleans' top reserve tight ends. Expect the Saints' tight-end room to consist of Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, and Moliki Matavao in the Week 18 divisional matchup.
-
Nathan Shepherd DT | NO
Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Out for Sunday
Shepherd (ankle/knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Fort Hays State product didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss the Saints' season finale due to ankle and knee injuries. Shepherd had one of the best years of his career in 2025, tallying 47 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 contests. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect John Ridgeway to operate as one of the Saints' top defensive ends.
-
Bryan Bresee DT | NO
Saints' Bryan Bresee: Out for Week 18
Bresee (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Bresee hasn't returned to practice since sustaining a knee injury in the Week 16 win over the Jets, so it's no surprise he'll be sidelined Sunday. The third-year pro from Clemson had a relatively underwhelming 2025 campaign, recording 37 total tackles, including 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble over 15 appearances. Expect Jonathan Bullard and John Ridgeway to have expanded roles on New Orleans' defensive line while Bresee and Nathan Shepherd (ankle) are sidelined in Week 18.
-
John Jenkins DT | BAL
Ravens' John Jenkins: Inks extension with Baltimore
Jenkins signed a one-year, $2.1 million extension with the Ravens on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The 36-year-old defensive tackle was in line to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 season, but he's now set to remain in Baltimore. Jenkins has appeared in 16 games this season, recording 36 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed. Now under contract through 2026, he's expected to remain the Ravens' top nose tackle for the foreseeable future.
-
Josh Oliver TE | MIN
Vikings' Josh Oliver: To start Week 18 with Hockenson out
Oliver is set to operate as the Vikings' starting tight end during Sunday's season finale against the Packers with T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) ruled out for Week 18, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Oliver played 93 percent of offensive snaps during Minnesota's win over the Lions in Week 17 with Hockenson sidelined, though he was unable to rack up much production in that contest with fill-in quarterback Max Brosmer being limited to 51 passing yards. With J.J. McCarthy (hand) having been cleared to return to the starting lineup this weekend and the Packers expected to rest multiple key starters, Oliver will have a solid chance to close out the 2025 campaign on a positive note. While predominantly a blocker, Oliver has logged a career-high four touchdowns across 14 regular-season appearances in 2025, and he figures to be one of McCarthy's top targets in the red zone Week 18.
-
Brandon Dorlus DE | ATL
Falcons' Brandon Dorlus: Out for Week 18
Dorlus (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Dorlus didn't practice all week after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Week 17 win over the Rams, so it's no surprise he'll be sidelined Sunday. The second-year pro from Oregon was one of the NFL's top interior pass rushers in 2025, recording 27 total tackles, including 8.5 sacks, across 15 appearances. While Dorlus is out for the Week 18 contest, expect Elijah Garcia to operate as the Falcons' top reserve defensive end.
-
Chase Brown RB | CIN
Bengals' Chase Brown: Ready for Sunday
Brown (illness) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Browns.
Brown sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday due to an illness, but his return to the field Friday included no limitations, thereby clearing him to continue to lead the Bengals backfield Week 18. Since the team's Week 10 bye, he's reeled off 745 yards from scrimmage and seven total TDs in seven contests, and with QB Joe Burrow starting and no other key skill-position players expected to have a reduced workload Sunday, Brown should be good for his typical 60-plus percent snap share.
-
Minkah Fitzpatrick FS | MIA
Dolphins' Minkah Fitzpatrick: Won't play Week 18
Fitzpatrick (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.
The 29-year-old is in line to miss his third consecutive game due to a calf injury sustained in the Week 15 loss to the Steelers. Across 14 games this season, Fitzpatrick tallied 82 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, six passes defensed, with one interception, and one forced fumble. Ifeatu Melifonwu is expected to operate as Miami's top free safety in Fitzpatrick's stead Sunday.