NFL Player News

Smith-Schuster (ankle) remained a limited participant in practice Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Steelers.

Fellow wide receiver DeVante Parker (knee) is also questionable, while Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) have been ruled out for Week 14. Smith-Schuster has surpassed 15 receiving yards only three times over his 10 appearances in what has been a disappointing season, but with New England's receiving corps banged up, he could see additional opportunities against the team with whom he spent his first five NFL seasons.

Parker (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game at Pittsburgh.

The Patriots listed him as a limited practice participant Monday through Wednesday, making Parker more likely than not to play. He led the team with nine targets and 64 receiving yards in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers, stepping up as the de facto No. 1 receiver with Demario Douglas inactive due to a concussion. Douglas and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) both have been ruled out again for Week 14, while JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) also is listed as questionable after three straight days of being listed as a limited participant on practice reports. Quarterback Bailey Zappe won't have many playmakers to work with Thursday, and the running game is missing its engine with Rhamondre Stevenson ruled out due to a high-ankle sprain.

Douglas (concussion) has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Pittsburgh.

Douglas hasn't returned to practice since being concussed Week 12 and now officially will be out for a second straight game. DeVante Parker saw a team-high nine targets in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers, and he'll be the favorite to serve as New England's de facto No. 1 wideout again, assuming he's able to play through the minor knee injury that has him listed as questionable. JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) -- also listed as questionable -- was a near-every-down presence for the Patriots this past Sunday, and should benefit from a full-time role Thursday. Beyond those two, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor are the best bets to fill snaps at receiver for New England.

McCloud (ribs) was a limited participant during practice Wednesday, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

McCloud was considered day-to-day to start the week after missing the 49ers' Week 13 win over the Eagles. His return to practice Wednesday gives him a chance to suit up Sunday against the Seahawks, especially if he can ramp up his practice activity to full participation Thursday or Friday.

Shaheed (thigh) didn't practice Wednesday, Brooke Kirchhofer of New Orleans Football reports.

Shaheed missed this past Sunday's loss to the Lions after injuring his thigh in the Saints' Week 12 loss to the Falcons. He hasn't practiced since sustaining the injury, but the speedy receiver and kick returner still has two more chances to return to the field before the Saints host the Panthers on Sunday. With Michael Thomas (knee) on injured reserve, Shaheed could be in store for a larger role on offense if he's able to recover from his thigh injury.

Bateman missed Wednesday's practice with an illness.

Head coach John Harbaugh said Bateman may return to practice as soon as Thursday. Bateman will likely be fine for Sunday's game against the Rams, with Odell Beckham and Nelson Agholor being the top candidates for added playing time in the unlikely event the third-year wideout doesn't end up playing.

Camp signed with the Panthers' practice squad Wednesday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Camp was most recently with the Steelers organization after not making the Texans roster out of training camp. The Georgia Tech product has appeared in five games combined between the last two seasons, all with Houston and has recorded one catch for seven yards.

Sims signed with the Panthers' practice squad Wednesday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Sims has had difficulty sticking anywhere this season after spending the previous five years with Washington. After not making the Raiders' roster out of camp, the Alabama product has spent time with the Giants and Eagles, and will now work to make the most of his chance in Carolina.

Smith-Marsette played 12 of the Panthers' 72 snaps on offense and went without a target in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Buccaneers.

Since being acquired from the Chiefs shortly before Week 1, Smith-Marsette has suited up in all 12 of the Panthers' games while serving as the team's top punt returner. Though most of the value he provides to Carolina comes through his contributions on special teams, Smith-Marsette has started to see a slight uptick in playing time on offense at receiver while the Panthers have made Terrace Marshall a healthy inactive the past three weeks. The 12 snaps Smith-Marsette picked up Sunday represented a season-high total.

Cooper (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Cooper is unsurprisingly a spectator for the Browns' first Week 14 practice session after he was confirmed to have suffered a concussion during this past Sunday's loss to the Rams. Players typically miss at least a week after suffering concussions, though Saints wideout Chris Olave managed to avoid that fate just this past week, as have a few other players this season. After Cooper left in the second quarter of the loss to Los Angeles, Eljiah Moore (four catches for 83 yards on 12 targets) stepped up as the top option in the passing game for Cleveland.