NFL Player News

Williams (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday.

After injuring his ankle during the Lions' Week 17 loss at Dallas, Williams kicked off Week 18 prep with an absence from drills. He continued to sit out practices Thursday and Friday, but he was listed with an illness on both occasions and eventually was ruled out ahead of this past Sunday's regular-season finale against the Vikings. Head coach Dan Campbell told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com on Monday that Williams was expected to practice this week and should be good to go for Sunday's wild-card matchup with the Rams, and after Wednesday's uncapped session, the wide receiver is in the clear to return to action. In eight appearances since Detroit's Week 9 bye, Williams averaged 15.7 yards on his 18 catches, notched three carries for 29 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Raymond (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday and isn't considered likely to play in Sunday's playoff game against the Rams, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Raymond was injured during the Week 18 win over Minnesota and apparently is considered even less likely to play than tight end Sam LaPorta, whom coach Dan Campbell referred to as having an "outside shot" to suit up Sunday earlier this week. Wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) made his return to practice Wednesday, and the likelihood that Williams will be available for the wild-card round alleviates much of the concern about how a potential Raymond absence would impact the offense, but the Lions also need a replacement punt returner if their No. 4 wideout can't go this Sunday. Options to replace Raymond on returns could include fellow wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Tillman (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Tillman entered concussion protocol during the second half of Sunday's loss to Cincinnati. If he isn't ready to play in Saturday's wild-card game at Houston, the Browns will look to Marquise Goodwin (knee) and/or David Bell to take snaps alongside regular starting wideouts Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore. The 23-year-old Tillman played more than 60 percent of snaps on offense in each of Cleveland's last 10 games, averaging 2.0 catches for 21.9 yards on 4.1 targets per contest.

Williams (ankle/illness) is practicing Wednesday, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Williams sprained his ankle Week 17 and missed the Lions' Week 18 win over the Vikings, but head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the wide receiver should return for the start of the playoffs. His participation Wednesday confirms that he's on the right track to be available for Sunday's wild-card game against the Rams.

Cooper (heel/rest) isn't practicing Wednesday, but he said he'll be ready to go for Saturday's game in Houston, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Cooper missed the final two games of the regular season, including a Week 18 contest that had no potential to impact to the Browns' playoff seeding. He didn't practice Tuesday or Wednesday, but the addition of 'rest' to his injury classification on the Browns' practice report for the wild-card round suggests Cooper is expected to play this Saturday. He said he could have played in the Week 18 loss to the Bengals if needed, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.com.

Flowers (calf) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Flowers was inactive for the Ravens' regular-season finale this past Saturday against the Steelers, but with the team having secured a first-round playoff bye, the wideout has added time to recover from his calf issue ahead of the divisional round. Look for added clarity regarding Flowers' postseason status to arrive next week, when Baltimore will be required to post injury reports.

Sutton played 28 snaps on offense and caught one of four targets for two yards in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Raiders before departing with an ankle injury.

Though the ankle injury spelled an early end to his final appearance of the season, the veteran wideout will presumably be fully healthy for Denver's offseason program. Sutton finished the 2023 campaign with team highs in both catches (59) and receiving yards (772) while also scoring a career-high 10 touchdowns in 16 appearances. The 28-year-old operated as the team's No. 1 receiver and a focal point of their passing game, leading Denver with 90 targets and 48.3 receiving yards per game. Sutton's fantasy outlook heading into 2024 will hinge on how Denver elects to address the quarterback position, as the team is expected to part ways with Russell Wilson in the offseason.

Brown (back) wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown, who was inactive for the Texans' playoff-clinching Week 18 win over the Colts, didn't practice Tuesday either, though Alexander noted that the receiver is improving as Saturday's wild-card round game against the Browns approaches. He now has one more chance to practice this week, but the wideout appears destined to head into the weekend with an injury designation.

Woods (hip) returned to practice Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Woods, who was sidelined for the Texans' Week 18 win over the Colts, missed practice Tuesday, but his return to the field a day later suggests that the wideout has a chance to suit up for Saturday's playoff opener against the Browns. The team's second injury report of the week will be released later Wednesday, when the extent of Woods' practice participation will be known.

Baltimore signed Chisena to its practice squad Wednesday.

In a corresponding transaction, the Ravens cut running back Jake Funk from their practice squad Wednesday. Over four games with the Cardinals this season, Chisena played almost exclusively on special teams.