NFL Player News

Johnson didn't practice Wednesday due to a knee injury, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Johnson wasn't included Tuesday on the team's initial Week 15 injury report, so his absence from Wednesday's practice is notable. What the wideout is able to do Thursday -- if anything -- thus looms large in terms of his chances of facing the Colts on Saturday. If Johnson is sidelined this weekend, Calvin Austin and Miles Boykin would be candidates to see more reps alongside starting wideouts George Pickens and Allen Robinson.

The Giants estimated Campbell (knee) as a full participant Wednesday on the team's initial Week 15 injury report.

Following Monday's 24-22 win over the Packers, the Giants opened Week 15 prep with a walkthrough, but Campbell would have taken full reps had the team opted for a traditional practice session. Campbell thus looks as though he'll be ready to play Sunday in New Orleans after sitting out the Week 14 game, but he may return to only a minor role in the Giants' passing attack. In his last appearance prior to the Giants' Week 13 bye, Campbell logged just six snaps on offense in a 10-7 win over the Patriots on Nov. 26.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Olave didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Despite coming down with an illness last Thursday, Olave was able to play through the ailment this past Sunday versus the Panthers, albeit at less than 100 percent. His snap share (65 percent) fell well short of the 80-plus percent that he handled in six of the first 10 games of the campaign, and he managed four catches (on five targets) for 28 yards, salvaging his day with his fourth touchdown of the season. With a new health concern in tow, Olave's status will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of his potential to suit up (or not) Sunday against the Giants.

St. Brown (pectoral) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.

St. Brown and fellow wideout DJ Moore (ankle) both opened the week as spectators for practice, though Moore was able to play through the injury in last week's win over the Lions and looks likely at this stage to be available for Sunday's game against the Browns. Meanwhile, St. Brown was sidelined against Detroit, and his inability to practice Wednesday doesn't provide much early optimism that he'll be back in action this weekend. Even if St. Brown is able to overcome the pectoral injury and gain clearance for Sunday's contest, he won't be a high-priority option in Chicago's passing attack.

Shaheed (thigh) returned to practice Wednesday, Brooke Kirchhofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Shaheed is taking part in his first noticeable on-field work since suffering a thigh injury Nov. 26 in Atlanta and missing games in Weeks 13 and 14. He thus appears to be making a push to play Sunday against the Giants, but his odds to do so could receive some clarity once the Saints' first Week 15 practice report is posted later Wednesday.

Chase (ankle) is practicing Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

The Bengals are facing a quicker turnaround than usual for Week 15 with a game Saturday against Minnesota, but the expectation is that Chase's ankle injury isn't anything that will prevent him from suiting up this weekend, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Cincinnati listed Chase as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice estimate, but the wideout is taking a step forward by getting on the field Wednesday in some capacity.

Moore missed Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury that he suffered early in the third quarter of Sunday's 28-13 win over Detroit, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Moore twisted an ankle on his third and final carry of the day, which surprisingly occurred before he saw his first target. He played through the injury without any limitations, going on to catch six of 10 targets for 68 yards and a touchdown during a second half dominated by the Bears. Moore's injury doesn't sound serious, but it's still worth tracking his practice activity ahead of Sunday's game at Cleveland after he opened Week 15 prep with an absence.

Duvernay (back) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

The move doesn't come as a surprise after Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Tuesday that the two-time Pro Bowl return man would likely miss the final four weeks of the regular season due to the back injury he suffered in this past Sunday's 37-31 overtime win over the Rams. Duvernay isn't expected to require a procedure on his back, and the Ravens are optimistic that he'll be eligible to return from IR when first eligible in advance of the postseason. In the meantime, Tylan Wallace is expected to take over as the Ravens' top return man in Duvernay's absence.

Brown (heel) isn't practicing Wednesday, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon suggested Monday that Brown likely would practice this week, after having a Week 14 bye to heal up following an early exit from the Cardinals' Week 13 win over Pittsburgh. Brown is tending to the same heel injury that he played through for multiple weeks before he experienced a setback in Pittsburgh, and he'll still have two more chances to practice prior to Sunday's matchup with San Francisco.

Collins (calf) didn't practice Wednesday, but he was present and moving around on the sideline and hopes to play in Sunday's game against Tennessee, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Collins missed Week 10 with a calf strain but was no worse for the wear after his return, catching 23 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns Weeks 11 through 13. He then left Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Jets in the first quarter with a new calf concern and was unable to return, putting his status in question for Week 15. Quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) and tight end Dalton Schultz (hamstring) also are in danger of missing the game at Tennessee, though Schultz returned to practice Wednesday.