NFL Player News

Hardman (thumb) won't play Sunday against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, Hardman is dealing with a sprained right thumb that may sideline him beyond this weekend. Since returning to the Chiefs in a trade with the Jets last month, Hardman has caught eight of his 10 targets for 41 yards, so his looming absence is of more import to his team's wideout depth than it is to fantasy managers.

Pickens (shin) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickens was sidelined for the Steelers' first Week 12 practice Wednesday due to the shin issue, but he erased any lingering concern about his health by advancing to limited activity Thursday and then full participation Friday. The second-year wideout has played at least 85 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps in each of his first 10 appearances of the season, and he should comfortably clear that threshold once again Sunday since he's not carrying a designation into the contest.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Friday that Kupp (ankle) will be available for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Since the Rams have yet to complete their final Week 12 practice Friday, it's not yet clear if Kupp will be listed as questionable heading into Sunday, or if he'll avoid a designation. Either way, McVay's comments indicate that Kupp will be ready to go come Sunday, when the wideout will return to action after exiting early in the Rams' Week 11 win over the Seahawks with a right low-ankle sprain. Though Kupp may be operating at somewhere less than 100 percent health against Arizona, his track record of being a high-volume target for quarterback Matthew Stafford should make fantasy managers comfortable enough with keeping the 30-year-old receiver in fantasy lineups.

Brown (heel) didn't appear to be participating in the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Brown opened Week 12 prep Wednesday as a limited participant due to the heel issue, but with the receiver tracking toward a second straight absence from practice to close out the week, he doesn't appear to be trending toward playing Sunday against the Rams. The Cardinals will provide an update on Brown's status after Friday's practice, when the team will likely give him a designation for Sunday's contest or rule him out in advance of the weekend. Michael Wilson (shoulder) has already been ruled out for the Week 12 contest, and if Brown ends up sidelined against the Rams as well, the Cardinals would be left with Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal (hamstring) and Andre Baccellia at receiver, plus an addition or two from the practice squad.

Cobb is active for Friday's game against the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Cobb returns to the mix Week 12, with Allen Lazard having been made a healthy scratch versus Miami. The veteran slot man remains a speculative fantasy lineup option, but Cobb may see some looks Friday as the Jets look to mix things up on offense with Tim Boyle starting at quarterback. Cobb had been a healthy inactive for both of the Jets' previous two contests.

Claypool (knee) is inactive for Friday's game against the Jets.

Claypool, who the Dolphins had listed as questionable for the contest, will sit out Friday after he managed nothing more than limited participation in practice this week. With just one catch for 15 yards on two targets in three games with Miami so far, the 2020 second-round draft pick is off the fantasy radar for now.

Lazard (coach's decision) is inactive for Friday's game against the Dolphins.

After going without a reception in Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Bills and dropping his seventh pass of the season, Lazard finds himself as a healthy scratch Week 12. It's a precipitous fall down the depth chart for Lazard, who has turned in a disappointing 20-290-1 receiving line on 41 targets through his first 10 games with the Jets since signing a four-year, $44 million contract in the offseason. With Lazard in street clothes Friday, Xavier Gipson, Randall Cobb, Jason Brownlee and Irvin Charles will round out the Jets' receiving corps behind top target Garrett Wilson.

Hollins (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

The wideout will miss a second straight game despite having a Week 11 bye in between. Van Jefferson and KhaDarel Hodge are the strongest candidates to play a lot of snaps across from WR Drake London this Sunday, with Scotty Miller also likely to have some kind of role. None figures to see a lot of targets, as the Falcons have two tight ends (Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith) and a running back (Bijan Robinson) that consistently get more looks than the team's Nos. 2 and 3 wide receivers. Hollins' next chance to play is Week 13 at the Jets.

Beckham (shoulder) considers himself a game-time decision for a matchup with the Chargers on Sunday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Beckham reportedly sounded optimistic about his chances, following a limited practice Thursday and continued participation Friday. He'll likely be listed as questionable on the final injury report, which also will reveal if he was a limited or full participant in Friday's practice.

Flowers (hip) told reporters Friday that he's feeling good and will play in Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Flowers said his availability was never in doubt, noting that he "had to take a little break" due to the minor hip injury. It sounds like he'll practice again Friday and either avoid a game designation of be listed as questionable.