NFL Player News

New England elevated Erickson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Erickson accumulated 90 kick return yards and 15 punt return yards during the Patriots' Week 17 loss to the Chargers. He's exclusively played on special teams over the past two weeks and will likely reprise that role during Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bills.

The Chargers elevated Fitzpatrick from their practice squad to their active roster Saturday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Fitzpatrick has spent most of the campaign on Los Angeles' practice squad and last played in an NFL game last year, when he logged three special teams snaps and zero offensive snaps in one game with the Steelers. The Louisville product hasn't produced a regular-season NFL catch since his rookie 2021 campaign with Tennessee. Fitzpatrick's elevation for Week 18 comes as a result of Joshua Palmer being ruled out due to a foot injury.

Polk (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Polk had already been ruled out Friday, so the transaction is just meant to help the team sign a player to the active roster for the final game of the season. The 2024 second-round pick was a dramatic disappointment given the wide receivers taken after the rookie, as Polk finished with just 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns despite playing 15 games and 412 offensive snaps during those contests. The Patriots are expected to aggressively add to their wide receiver room, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Polk way down the pass-catching hierarchy entering the 2025 campaign.

The Titans signed Martin from their practice squad to their active roster Saturday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Martin began the season on San Francisco's practice squad before being cut in early September. Tennessee signed him to its practice squad shortly thereafter, and he had remained there until signing to the active roster Saturday. Martin played in three games for the 49ers over the previous two seasons, logging four offensive snaps and 25 special teams snaps without recording any additional stats. He'll likely play a depth role at wide receiver for the Titans on Sunday versus Houston if he's active.

Olave (concussion), who was listed as questionable, has been downgraded to out and will not play in Week 18, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Despite Olave being a full participant in practice each of the past two weeks, it would have been a legitimate surprise if the wideout played in a meaningless Week 18 matchup for the Saints. The star wideout missed the team's final eight contests due to a second concussion of the season suffered back in Week 10.

Agholor is inactive for Saturday's game against the Browns.

After being listed as a full practice participant this week, Agholor -- who had missed two straight games with a concussion -- approached the contest without an injury designation. With the wideout inactive for Baltimore's regular-season finale, Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker are candidates to see added Week 18 snaps behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

The Bengals elevated Pryor from their practice squad to their active roster Saturday.

Pryor had been elevated twice earlier this season, though he got into only one game, recording one catch for nine yards and netting 43 yards in kick-return yardage Week 9 against the Raiders. On Saturday against Pittsburgh, Pryor could take on the depth-receiver and kick-returner role typically held by Jermaine Burton (coach's decision), who has been ruled out for the contest. The Bengals must win Saturday in order to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Woods (knee) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Ravens.

Woods approached Saturday's contest listed as questionable after being deemed a limited practice participant Tuesday through Thursday. In his absence in Cleveland's season finale, Jamari Thrash, James Proche and Kaden Davis are candidates to see added wideout snaps behind Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore.

Cooper will not travel with the team Saturday and has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest against the Patriots due to a personal matter.

Unlike a handful of other teams in a similar spot Week 18 with zero playoff implications to play for, the Bills haven't technically ruled out any of their projected starters even though the assumption is the majority will see little playing time in the meaningless precursor to the wild-card playoff round the following week. Cooper will finish his 2024 regular season with 547 receiving yards, the fewest of his 10-year career.

The Ravens elevated Miller from the practice squad to the active roster Friday.

It'll be the third consecutive week that Miller has been elevated to the Ravens' active roster, and he'll be available to play in Saturday's regular-season finale against the Browns. Miller played 12 snaps (eight on offense, four on special teams) in Baltimore's Christmas Day win over Houston and caught his lone pass for 16 yards. Miller might be limited to a special teams role Saturday due to the return of Nelson Agholor (concussion).