NFL Player News

Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Thomas (knee) isn't ready to return to practice, Sean Fazende of Fox 8 New Orleans reports.

Thomas thus appears unlikely to be designated for return from injured reserve due to the right knee injury that he sustained Week 10 at Minnesota. The Saints are vying for a spot in the postseason, but if that doesn't come to pass, Thomas seems destined to finish this season with 39 catches (on 64 targets) for 448 yards and one touchdown in 10 contests.

Chase (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

Chase sat out the Bengals' Week 16 loss to the Steelers while recovering from an AC joint sprain to his right shoulder, and while he returned to action for this past Sunday's 25-17 loss to the Chiefs, he was held to three catches for 41 yards. The Bengals have been eliminated from playoff contention and thus don't have much reason to push their star receiver, but Chase's limited participation Wednesday suggests he's planning to try and play in Sunday's season finale against the Browns.

Reed (chest) was present at practice Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Prior to exiting the Packers' Week 17 win in Minnesota at halftime, Reed was cooking to the tune of six catches (on eight targets) for 89 yards and two touchdowns. While the listed reason for his departure was a chest injury -- something that he's been dealing with since Week 12 prep -- he subsequently underwent X-rays on his ribs Monday that returned negative. Green Bay's upcoming injury report will reveal how much work, if any, Reed was able to handle Wednesday.

Watson (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Watson is set to take part in his first notable on-field work since straining his right hamstring late in a Week 13 win over the Chiefs. At the time of the injury, he had put together his most productive stretch of the season, accumulating 14 catches (on 20 targets) for 186 yards and four touchdowns and three carries for 16 yards from Weeks 11 through 13. Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest/ankle) joined Watson in drills Wednesday, but it remains to be seen how the Packers list the trio of wide receivers' practice participation on their first Week 18 injury report.

Smith-Marsette (illness) didn't practice Wednesday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Both Smith-Marsette and running back Miles Sanders were sidelined Wednesday due to illnesses, so a bug could be making its way around the Carolina locker room. Smith-Marsette has taken on a larger role in recent weeks with Jonathan Mingo (foot) on injured reserve, averaging 31.7 scrimmage yards in the last three games. The third-year wideout from Iowa will try to close out his season on a high note Sunday against the Buccaneers, but he'll first have to recover from his illness.

Flowers (calf) didn't practice Wednesday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

After the Ravens estimated him as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice report due to a calf issue, Flowers remained on the sideline one day later as the team reconvened for actual on-field work ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale against the Steelers. Baltimore is locked in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC side of the playoffs, so if the team has any qualms about Flowers' health, it may err on the side of caution and hold him out this weekend with an eye toward having him healthy for the divisional round.

Palmer was a limited participant at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a hip injury.

Palmer has had two of his top four performances of his rookie season over the last two games, combining for eight catches (on 11 targets) for 126 yards and one touchdown. With a health concern now in tow, his status will be one to watch as the week goes on to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday at Carolina.

Moore was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.

Moore missed part of Chicago's Week 16 win over the Cardinals after a defender rolled up on his ankle, but he returned to that game and looked no worse for wear in the Bears' Week 17 win over the Falcons, posting 159 yards and a touchdown. The star receiver is likely to upgrade to full participation Thursday or Friday and could avoid carrying a designation into the weekend as the Bears look to play spoiler Sunday against the NFC North rival Packers, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win.

Chark (foot) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

The foot injury is a new one for Chark, who has averaged 16.6 yards per catch on his 13 receptions over the last five games. He'll have two more sessions this week to get back to full before the Panthers potentially hand him a designation ahead of Sunday's contest against the Buccaneers.

Cooper (heel) won't take part in practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Cooper has yet to practice since going off for a franchise-record 265 receiving yards to go with two touchdowns on 11 catches (15 targets) during a Week 16 win at Houston. Prior to sitting out last Thursday's win over the Jets, he went through a pregame workout but ultimately didn't feel right. Kicking off Week 18 prep with a absence from practice isn't exactly a great sign for his odds to suit up Sunday at Cincinnati, and with head coach Kevin Stefanski already ruling out a healthy Joe Flacco for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, there's a chance the rest of the offensive regulars like Cooper that are banged up may join the quarterback on the sideline this weekend.