NFL Player News

Allen (heel) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Raiders.

Fifth-year signal-caller Easton Stick will be making his first NFL start after the Chargers placed Justin Herbert (finger) on injured reserve earlier this week, but Stick won't have the Chargers' top pass catcher at his disposal after Allen was unable to shake the heel injury ahead of Thursday's contest. In Allen's absence, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Alex Erickson and Jalen Guyton are expected to serve as the Chargers' top options at receiver this week. Allen will target a potential return to action Dec. 23 against the Bills in Week 16.

Wicks (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

According to Lauren Hembrecht of WFRV Green Bay, Wicks is believed to be dealing with a high-ankle injury in the wake of Monday's loss at the Giants, so his estimated absence from practice to begin Week 15 prep doesn't come as much of a surprise. Wicks may be hard-pressed to log any on-field work at all Thursday and/or Friday, after which the Packers may make a ruling on his status ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Fellow wide receivers Christian Watson (hamstring) and Jayden Reed (ankle) also made appearances on Wednesday's injury report, leaving just Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Samori Toure as Green Bay's healthy options at the position at the moment.

Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

In a 21-18 win over the Steelers this past Thursday, Smith-Schuster played all but one of the Patriots' 57 snaps on offense and finished the day with four catches for a season-high 90 yards on six targets. The heavy snap count and increased involvement in the passing game were due in part to the Patriots' receiving corps being depleted by injury, but assuming Smith-Schuster's ankle issue isn't anything that keeps him from playing Sunday against the Chiefs, he could face more competition for snaps and targets. DeVante Parker (knee), Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) were all sidelined against the Steelers but could be back in action Sunday after joining Smith-Schuster as limited participants in Wednesday's practice.

Reed was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate due to an ankle injury, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

For the previous three weeks of game prep, Reed tended to a chest injury, but he's dealing with a new health concern to kick off Week 15 prep. He at least seems to be healthier than fellow wide receivers Christian Watson (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), both of whom were listed as non-participants Wednesday. The next two days of practice likely will determine who among the trio will join Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Samori Toure as the Packers' options at receiver Sunday versus the Buccaneers.

Jones (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Jones' knee injury has been a lingering issue since September, but he's now played four straight games after missing six of previous seven contests. His involvement on offense also appears to be growing; he piled up 22 targets the past two weeks while taking 93 and 84 percent of snaps on offense, with the larger role born out of necessity due to Christian Kirk (groin) landing on injured reserve. Efficiency has been an issue for Jones this season, with his catch rate plummeting to 48.9 percent and his yards per target to 4.6 after he managed only five caches for 29 yards on 14 targets in the 31-27 loss to Cleveland in Week 14. He'll face off another tough secondary this Sunday, when the Ravens visit Jacksonville.

Parker (knee) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

Parker was inactive for last Thursday's 21-18 win over the Steelers, but the veteran wideout's ability to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday suggests that he has a chance to return to action Sunday against the Chiefs. He was one of four Patriots receivers listed as limited Wednesday, with Demario Douglas (concussion), JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) also joining him in on the Week 15 injury report.

Jefferson (chest) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

In his return from a seven-game absence this past Sunday at Las Vegas, Jefferson lasted just 13 offensive snaps before taking a big hit from Raiders safety Marcus Epps in the first half. Jefferson didn't return to the game, and after being taken to a local hospital to have his chest injury evaluated further, he was able to travel with his teammates back to Minnesota following the 3-0 victory. On Monday, head coach Kevin O'Connell called Jefferson "day-to-day," according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, and the wide receiver followed up Tuesday's limited listing on the Vikings' first Week 15 injury report with a capped session one day later. Jefferson even told Seifert on Wednesday that he expects to log his typical workload Saturday at Cincinnati, but the team may still tag him with a designation ahead of that contest following the release of Thursday's practice report.

Douglas (concussion) was a limited participant in his return to practice Wednesday.

Douglas has missed the Patriots' last two games, but the wide receiver's return to practice in some capacity marks a step forward as he makes his way through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. He's one of four Patriots receivers on the Week 15 injury report, with all of DeVante Parker (knee), JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) also practicing on a limited basis Wednesday.

Godwin was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury.

Godwin's last appearance on the Buccaneers' injury report due to a legitimate health concern came back in Week 13 when he was nursing a neck issue, but he's dealing with a new injury coming out of this past Sunday's 29-25 win over the Buccaneers. The wideout didn't appear to be inhibited against Atlanta while he played more than 80 percent of the offensive snaps and drew 11 targets, so it's possible that he was held out of Wednesday's practice for maintenance-related reasons. Godwin's activity during practices Thursday and Friday will be more telling with regard to his availability for Sunday's game in Green Bay.

Boyd (foot/ankle) was listed as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Boyd was also deemed limited on Tuesday's report, so in order to approach Saturday's game against the Vikings minus an injury designation, he'll presumably need to upgrade to full participation Thursday. Fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase (ankle) was also listed as limited Wednesday, but he told Ben Baby of ESPN.com prior to the session that he feels 100 percent healthy and expects to play this weekend.