NFL Player News

Pickens caught four of six targets for 195 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals.

After a tumultuous week in which Pickens' effort in recent games was called into question, the second-year wideout rewarded coach Mike Tomlin's decision to keep him in the lineup by taking a slant to the house for a career-long 86-yard touchdown on Pittsburgh's second offensive play. Pickens added a spectacular 44-yard catch along the sideline in the two-minute drill to set up a 50-yard Chris Boswell field goal, which gave the Steelers a 24-0 lead heading into halftime. He got free for another long touchdown in the third quarter, this time hauling in a deep ball for a 66-yard score. This was the best game of Pickens' young career, as he set a new career high in receiving yards while scoring multiple touchdowns for the first time. He's up to 1,009 receiving yards and five touchdowns heading into a Week 17 road game in Seattle.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday that Jennings, who won't play Monday against the Ravens, "has made steps" through the concussion protocol, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Jennings came out of last Sunday's victory at Arizona with a concussion, and he wasn't able to practice at all during Week 16 prep, per Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site. Shanahan's comments indicate Jennings may be on the cusp of mixing into drills again, but he'll cede his typical WR reps to Ronnie Bell and Chris Conley behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on Monday.

Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game in Atlanta.

Pittman was on the receiving end of a big hit from Steelers safety Damontae Kazee in the second quarter of last Saturday's game and was unable to return. While he cleared the concussion protocol as of Friday, Pittman still entered the weekend as questionable for Week 16 action. After he reported a recurrence of symptoms Saturday, though, he's back in the protocol for head injuries, which he'll be subject to in order to be able to play again this season.

The Cardinals elevated Davis to their active roster Saturday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

The Northwest Missouri State product was elevated along with Dan Chisena to ensure depth at wide receiver ahead of Sunday's affair, as Arizona could be without both Marquise Brown (heel, already ruled out) and Greg Dortch (shoulder, questionable). Davis could make his NFL debut on Christmas Eve after recording 714 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final collegiate season.

Flowers (foot) is listed as questionable for Monday's game in San Francisco.

On Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh revealed that Flowers was tending to a foot injury, but the Ravens weren't worried about his availability for Week 16, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Flowers proceeded to be limited at Thursday's practice before bumping up to full activity Friday and Saturday. Still, his status won't be confirmed until about 90 minutes before Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Cardinals elevated Chisena to their active roster Saturday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

The 26-year-old was elevated alongside Kaden Davis on Saturday, which could very well mean that the Cardinals are preparing to be without Marquise Brown (heel, already ruled out) and Greg Dortch (shoulder, questionable) in Week 16. Chisena has appeared in one game for Arizona this year, playing a total of 13 snaps (one offensive and 12 on special teams).

Jennings (concussion) has been ruled out for Monday's game versus the Ravens, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Jennings made no notable progress through the protocol for head injuries this week after being diagnosed with a concussion following last Sunday's win at Arizona. As a result, he'll miss his second game of the campaign, allowing Ronnie Bell and Chris Conley to handle more WR reps behind the top duo of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

The Vikings elevated Jackson to their active roster Saturday.

The rookie wide receiver out of Western Kentucky is joining an active roster for the first time in his young career, and he'll give the Vikings' some extra depth at WR due to Jalen Nailor (concussion) missing the Week 16 affair. Jackson likely won't see many snaps on offense, but he could very well add value to Minnesota's special teams unit Sunday.

Chase (shoulder), who is inactive Saturday at Pittsburgh, may be in danger of sitting out the Bengals' Week 17 game Dec. 31 in Kansas City, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Chase didn't practice at all during Week 16 prep due to the AC joint sprain that he sustained in his right shoulder last Saturday against the Vikings. It thus came as no surprise that the Bengals ruled him out for this Saturday's game, and Rapoport reported that Chase's injury is "more of the 2-to-4 week variety." Chase thus seems more likely to return Week 18 or even in the wild-card round, assuming Cincinnati secures a playoff spot.

Smith (knee) doesn't have a designation for Monday's contest against the Giants.

Despite logging just one limited practice (Saturday) during Week 16 prep, Smith will play through his knee issue and avoid missing the first game of his three-year career. He confirmed as much to Zach Berman of The Athletic earlier Saturday, saying, "If I can go, I'm going to go." Smith thus will be facing a Giants defense Monday that has allowed the sixth-most catches (195) to opposing wide receivers in 14 games this season.