NFL Player News

Mims (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Mims popped up on the injury report last week with the hamstring issue and missed the Broncos' Week 17 win over the Chargers. His limited participation to start Week 18 would seem to suggest he has a better chance of suiting up for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders.

Woods (hip) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice.

Both Woods and Noah Brown (back) have opened the practice week with two straight absences ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Colts. Woods played 64 percent of the Texans' offensive snaps in last week's win over the Titans, catching all four of his targets for 58 yards.

Head coach Sean McVay said Kupp won't play Sunday at San Francisco, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports.

Along with Kupp, quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams are among the healthy skill-position players that won't see action Week 18 while Los Angeles has already secured a wild-card spot. Kupp thus will finish his seventh NFL season with 59 catches (on 95 targets) for 737 yards and five touchdowns in 12 contests.

Brown (back) was a non-participant in Wednesday's practice.

Brown left the Texans' Week 17 win over the Titans early and was unable to return after playing just seven offensive snaps. He's already begun Week 18 prep with two straight absences from practice, so he's not trending in the right direction for Saturday's game against the Colts.

Hill was listed as a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury and a personal matter.

In addition to managing his lingering ankle issue, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com relays that Hill left Wednesday's practice after he became aware that firefighters had been called to battle a fire at his home. Fortunately, nobody living at the home was harmed, per Louis-Jacques. Hill's next opportunity to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills will come Thursday.

Palmer (concussion) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Palmer sat out the Chargers' Week 17 loss to Denver with a concussion, but his ability to open Week 18 prep with a limited practice suggests he's made some incremental progress through the five-step protocol for head injuries. He'll likely need to put in a full practice by the end of the week in addition to gaining clearance from an independent neurologist in order to have a chance at playing in Sunday's season finale versus Kansas City. If he clears the protocol, Palmer could serve as the No. 1 wideout for quarterback Easton Stick, as Keenan Allen (heel) has missed the Chargers' last three games and doesn't appear to be trending toward a return in Week 18 after he was sidelined for Wednesday's practice.

Allen (heel) didn't practice Wednesday.

Allen has missed the last three games, and the Chargers wouldn't seem to have much incentive to rush him back into action for Sunday's season finale against the Chiefs if he's anything less than 100 percent healthy. Though Allen remained sidelined Wednesday, the Chargers' receiving corps got a boost with Joshua Palmer (concussion) practicing in a limited fashion after sitting out the Week 17 loss to the Broncos.

Waddle (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.

Waddle, who has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain, was sidelined for the Dolphins' Week 17 loss to the Ravens after not practicing at all last week. With another missed practice Wednesday, the wideout's status for Sunday's game against the Bills is cloudy, at best.

Smith (ankle) didn't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough.

Smith got rolled up on in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's loss to the Cardinals when he served as a lead blocker on a screen pass to Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell. Afterward, Smith was seen with a walking boot on his right foot while using crutches, which continued into Monday. It's thus no surprise that he's focusing on rehab versus practice to kick off Week 18 prep, especially with two more opportunities to mix into drills to come. The Eagles still have a chance to win the NFC East, so Smith likely will do everything in his power to be available Sunday at the Giants.

Olave (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Since sitting out Week 15 due to the ankle injury, Olave has had mixed results on game days, producing a 9-123-0 receiving line on 13 targets Week 16 versus the Rams and a 3-26-0 line on six targets this past Sunday in Tampa Bay. His practice restrictions this week likely are precautionary, but his status nonetheless should be monitored to ensure he'll be on the field Sunday against the Falcons, who he torched for seven catches (on nine targets) for 119 yards back in Week 12.