NFL Player News

Bates was not targeted during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.

Bates played 43 percent of offensive snaps but didn't draw a single target from fill-in quarterback Josh Johnson, while Ben Sinnott (61 percent of snaps) secured three of four looks for 29 yards. Expect Bates to again contribute as the No. 2 tight end behind Sinnott during Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18.

Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Pittsburgh, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku is going to miss his third straight game due to a lingering knee injury. The veteran tight end didn't practice at all this week, so he may be facing a challenge to return in time for Cleveland's season finale Week 18 against Cincinnati. Browns No. 1 tight end Harold Fannin is questionable to play this Sunday due to a groin issue, and if he can't suit up, it would likely fall on Blake Whiteheart and possibly Brenden Bates (ankle) to lead the team's tight-end corps.

Gabriel (shoulder) is officially questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gabriel is a late addition to Cleveland's injury report, a seeming indication that he injured his left shoulder at some point this week. In the event that Gabriel isn't cleared for Saturday's divisional matchup against Pittsburgh, Bailey Zappe will stand to be elevated from the practice squad in order to operate as the backup to starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Fannin (groin) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Fannin sustained a groin injury during Friday's practice, and the Browns want to see how the tight end feels this weekend before deciding whether he will be available versus Pittsburgh. With David Njoku (knee) already ruled out for the contest and Fannin now questionable, Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates could see added snaps Sunday if Fannin ends up inactive.

Sampson (hand) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Sampson returned to practice as a limited participant during Week 17 prep after having missed Cleveland's prior two contests. The team will provide official word on his status no later than 90 minutes ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If Sampson is cleared to face Pittsburgh on the road, he'll have an opportunity to handle the starting role in the Browns backfield, while Trayveon Williams and Raheim Sanders operate as depth options.

Scott didn't play a snap on offense in Thursday's 23-10 win over the Lions, though he logged 10 snaps on special teams and made two tackles.

With Jordan Mason (ankle) unable to play Thursday, there was some expectation that Scott could move into the RB2 role. Instead, that assignment went to Ty Chandler, who was just activated from IR on Tuesday and was available for the first time since Week 1. Even as the Vikings went to a run-heavy game plan on Christmas Day, Scott didn't log an offensive snap, with Aaron Jones (18-53-1) and Chandler (7-24-0) handling all of the RB reps. Even if Mason remains out to action for the season finale against the Packers next Sunday, it doesn't look like Scott will be targeted for a big role (unless the out-of-contention Vikings decide to rest vets like Jones and/or Chandler).

Sinnott secured three of four targets for 29 yards during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.

Sinnott logged his first game of the season with more than a single grab during Washington's loss on Christmas Day, though he recorded a higher yardage total Week 15 versus the Giants due to a 36-yard downfield catch. The second-year pro played 61 percent of offensive snaps versus the Cowboys. Sinnott will close out the year as Washington's starting tight end during the team's regular-season finale on the road against Philadelphia in Week 18.

Nailor did not catch his only target in Thursday's 23-10 win over Detroit.

Minnesota went with a run-heavy approach on offense, and QB Max Brosmer threw for only 51 yards, so Nailor's goose egg wasn't entirely of his doing. In fact, the only Vikings wideout who caught a pass in the contest was Justin Jefferson, who put up a 4-30-0 receiving line. With that said, Nailor now has gone without a reception in two straight games, so he's a very unreliable fantasy target. That figures to remain the case regardless of whether Brosmer or J.J. McCarthy (hand) is Minnesota's starting QB in the season finale Week 18 versus Green Bay.

Burks secured one of two targets for one yard during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.

Burks also attempted one pass on a trick play near the end of the third quarter, but he was sacked. Though Burks has found limited success as a deep threat in Washington, he was unable to get anything going with No. 3 quarterback Josh Johnson under center on Christmas Day. It will be beneficial to Burks' limited fantasy appeal if Marcus Mariota (hand) manages to return in time for Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18.

McNichols carried the ball once for minus-2 yards and secured all three of his targets for 12 yards during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.

McNichols saw little involvement on offense even with Chris Rodriguez (illness) a late scratch for Thursday's divisional contest. Instead, Jacory Croskey-Merritt dominated backfield opportunities, rushing 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. If Rodriguez is able to retake the field Week 18 against Philadelphia, expect McNichols to revert to his usual No. 3 role.