NFL Player News

Shaheed (thigh) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

During this past Sunday's loss in Atlanta, Shaheed left the game and wasn't able to return due to what was termed a thigh injury. It was reclassified as a quadriceps issue Monday, and he proceeded to miss all three practices during Week 13 prep and won't play this weekend. With one question mark out of the way, the Saints are waiting on Chris Olave (concussion) to gain clearance from an independent neurologist. Whether or not Olave is active Sunday remains to be seen, but A.T. Perry, Lynn Bowden and Keith Kirkwood currently are the health wide receivers on New Orleans' active roster.

McCloud (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

McCloud gets a few snaps per game as the No. 4 wide receiver, but that's far less important than his role returning both kickoffs and punts. The 49ers list No. 5 receiver Ronnie Bell as the backup return specialist on their depth chart, and Bell might also take a few extra snaps on offense if McCloud can't play.

Burks (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Burks, who suffered a concussion Nov. 2 and hasn't played since, was listed as a full practice participant Thursday and Friday, but the wideout still has to gain final clearance from the NFL's protocol for head injuries in order to suit up for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET contest. If Burks is able to play Week 13, he'd profile as a hit-or-miss fantasy option, given that prior to being sidelined the 2022 first-rounder logged a modest 8-122-0 line on 18 targets through five games.

Austin (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

After he missed practice Wednesday, Austin was able to return in a limited capacity Thursday before upgrading to full participation Friday ahead of the Steelers' game in Week 13. The 2022 fourth-rounder probably won't see any target volume Sunday as long as George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson remain available.

Olave (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest against the Lions, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Considering he suffered a concussion this past Sunday in Atlanta, Olave understandably had practice restrictions Wednesday and Thursday, but a full showing Friday seemingly has him on course to be available this weekend. Still, his questionable designation indicates he has yet to get through the protocol for head injuries, which coach Dennis Allen confirmed when he told Paras on Friday that "there's a chance that he could clear it." The only obstacle now is an evaluation with an independent neurologist, with a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff on tap Sunday.

Hill (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at the Commanders, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Hill was never believed to be in serious danger of missing the game and managed limited practices Thursday and Friday. He should be fine for his usual leading role this Sunday against a miserable Washington defense that's given up a league-high 28 touchdown passes and a league-worst 9.8 YPT to wide receivers. Matchups don't get much better, especially after the Commanders ruled out DE James Smith-Williams (hamstring) and CB Emmanuel Forbes (elbow) on Friday.

Allen (quadriceps) returned to practice Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

His return at the end of the week suggests Allen will try to play through a quad injury one week after overcoming a shoulder issue to catch 14 passes for 106 yards in a 20-10 loss to Baltimore. He'll be facing a lesser defense if he suits up this week, playing at New England, but the lack of practice participation before Friday suggests his quad is more bothersome than the shoulder was.

Johnson (illness) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

After not practicing Thursday due to an illness, Johnson was a full participant a day later, which sets the stage for him to face the Cardinals in Week 13. In last Sunday's 16-10 win over the Bengals, Johnson caught four of his eight targets for 50 yards, marking his second consecutive outing with eight targets, a rate of volume that gives him a degree of fantasy utility this weekend while facing 2-10 Arizona.

Carolina signed Strachan to its active roster Friday.

Strachan has bounced back and forth between the Panthers' active roster and practice squad this season, and he's appeared in two games thus far. In those appearances, the third-year wideout was able to catch one of his two targets for 45 yards. Strachan's signing is likely in response to Laviska Shenault (ankle) shifting to injured reserve Thursday.

Brown (heel) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Brown didn't practice during Week 13 prep due to a heel injury, but coach Jonathan Gannon told Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com on Friday that the wide receiver was "trending in the right direction" for Sunday. With Kyler Murray back in action the last three games, Brown has compiled a poor 9-134-0 line on 21 targets, but he is coming off a six-catch, 88-yard performance on 12 targets this past Sunday against the Rams. Assuming he's able to suit up this weekend, Brown will be taking on a Steelers defense that has given up the eighth-most yards per target (8.6) to opposing wide receivers on the campaign.