NFL Player News

Gay (groin) was a full participant in Thursday's practice and won't carry a designation into Saturday's game against the Texans, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Gay was limited for the Buccaneers' first two practices of Week 16 while battling a right groin injury. Since Tampa Bay didn't work out any other kickers, there was never much concern about the rookie's status, and his ability to put in a full workout to close the week supports that notion.

Zuerlein (quadriceps) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.

Zuerlein has been sidelined this week while rehabbing a strained quadriceps. The development has spurred the Rams to explore other options, as coach Sean McVay told Thiry on Monday. To date, though, the team hasn't added another kicker to the 53-man roster or practice squad, so Zuerlein remains the top in-house option to handle such duties Saturday in San Francisco.

Gay (groin) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

The Buccaneers have yet to work out or sign another kicker, so they appear confident Gay will be ready in time for Saturday's matchup against the Texans. Gay has been quite effective this year, connecting on 25 of 29 field goals (86 percent), including 14 of 17 tries from beyond 40 yards.

Koo (left foot) was limited in Wednesday's practice, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Koo has been excellent for the Falcons this season, connecting on 17 of 19 field goals (89 percent), including six of seven from beyond 40 yards. The 24-year-old is perhaps the most effective kicker in the league at onside kicks as well. Koo is dealing with an injury to his plant foot, though, so it'll be important to keep an eye on his practice status this week as well as whether the Falcons bring in kickers for workouts or sign one to the practice squad.

Joseph is on track to serve as Tennessee's placekicker for the remainder of the season after the team placed Ryan Succop (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

After being signed off the Panthers' practice squad earlier Wednesday, Joseph is slated to debut with his new team Week 16 against the Saints. Joseph converted 17 of 20 field-goal attempts (85 percent) last season with the Browns, but he made just one kick from 50-plus yards and missed four PATs.

Joseph agreed Wednesday to a contract with the Titans, John Glennon of The Athletic reports.

Poached from Carolina's practice squad, Joseph could get a chance to kick for Tennessee as soon as Week 16. Titans placekicker Ryan Succop has converted just one of six field-goal attempts since the team activated him from injured reserve in early November, seemingly putting his job in jeopardy. However, it isn't entirely clear if Joseph is coming in as kickoff specialist to replace the departed Ryan Santoso or if he's a legitimate threat to Succop's job.

Gay was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice due to a right groin injury, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Gay racked up eight points on a field goal and five extra points in the Buccaneers' 38-17 win over the Lions over the weekend, but a misfire from 54 yards out ended a streak of 15 converted kicks in a row. The rookie appears to have ironed out his early-season accuracy issues, but he now has a health-related complication to contend with heading into Saturday's game against the Texans. The Buccaneers haven't yet worked out any other kickers, signaling that the team isn't yet concerned about his availability for Week 16.

McLaughlin didn't attempt a field goal and made a lone extra-point attempt in Monday's 34-7 loss to the Saints.

The game script kept McLaughlin from making a real impact in this blowout loss. The Colts opted to punt from the Saints' 39-yard line in the first quarter, and that would've been the only chance for McLaughlin to attempt a field goal, as they finished with just 205 yards of total offense. McLaughlin made two of three field goals, including a 50-yarder, in his Colts debut in Week 14, and he'll hope for more opportunities in this Sunday's matchup against the panthers.

Lutz made both of his field-goal attempts as well as all four extra-point tries in Monday night's 34-7 win over the Colts.

Lutz has been good for this exact same stat line in four of his last five games. Only the distances of the field goals have varied. He remains a top kicking option heading into Week 16 at Tennessee.

Carlson made three of four field-goal attempts and an extra point in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Jaguars.

Carlson converted on tries from 33, 34 and 27 yards, but he kicked a 45-yard try in the fourth quarter wide left. The second-year kicker has now missed three of his last eight field-goal tries -- all from beyond 40 yards. Still, coach Jon Gruden said he won't bring in kicker competition this week, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports. "We are going to see this kid kick himself out of it," Gruden said. " I got a lot of faith in this guy. I really do." For now, Carlson's job is safe, but he'll need a strong end to the season to up his chances of becoming a Las Vegas Raider.