NFL Player News

Samuel (hamstring) was held out of practice Thursday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

With back-to-back absences to begin Week 18 prep, Samuel is setting himself up for a fourth straight absence and 12th overall this season on Sunday at the Giants. Friday's injury report may reveal as much, and if so he'll end his first campaign in Washington with 10 touches for 38 yards from scrimmage in five brief appearances.

Anderson (quadriceps) isn't participating at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Unless Anderson is able to fit in some on-field work at Friday's practice, it's looking increasingly likely that the Panthers will be forced to rely on top target DJ Moore and a committee of relatively unproven options at receiver for Sunday's season finale in Tampa Bay. Anderson has missed consecutive practices and is seemingly trending toward sitting out Week 18, while Terrace Marshall (foot) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and Shi Smith (illness) landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday. At this stage, only Marshall can officially be ruled out for Sunday.

Carolina placed Smith (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Smith was a candidate to step in as Carolina's No. 3 receiver for Sunday's season finale in Tampa Bay after Terrace Marshall (foot) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, but the move to the reserve/COVID-19 list will likely deny Smith the opportunity. With both Smith and Marshall on track to sit out Week 18, Brandon Zylstra now looks like the top option to join starters DJ Moore and Robby Anderson (quadriceps) in three-receiver sets.

The Steelers placed Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

As a result, unless Johnson is able to clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocols, Chase Claypool, Ray-Ray McCloud and James Washington are the Steelers' top available options at wideout ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Ravens.

Koski was signed to the Rams' practice squad Wednesday.

The 25-year-old was waived by the Rams on Tuesday, quickly rejoining their practice squad just one day later. Koski has gone back and forth between the active roster and practice squad all season, appearing in five games in 2021, operating exclusively as a special-teams option.

Powell was signed to the Rams' active roster Wednesday.

The wide receiver reverted to the practice squad Monday but was quickly signed to the active roster just two days later. Powell will likely serve as a top return option for the Rams' special-teams unit in Week 18 against the 49ers.

Moore (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

As was the case in his last two sessions of Week 17 prep, Moore had his reps capped in the first practice of this week. Moore, who has missed the Cardinals' last two games, will have two more opportunities to bump up to full activity before Arizona potentially gives him another designation ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Seahawks.

Metcalf (foot) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Metcalf has righted the ship the past two games, gathering in eight of 14 passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns. His score Week 16 against the Bears put an end to a six-game touchdown-less streak, and with 12 on the season he's set a new career high in the category. But Metcalf again is dealing with the foot issue that has affected his practice reps for a good portion of the campaign. He'll aim to ditch the designation for Sunday's game in Arizona before the release of Friday's injury report.

Montgomery (back) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

The 28-year-old was able to play through the back injury in the Saints' Week 17 win over the Panthers, making his limited participation Wednesday less of a concern. Montgomery's status at practice the rest of week is worth monitoring, though his ability to play Sunday won't likely impact the Saints' offensive approach either way.

Moore returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

The wide receiver was placed on the COVID list Dec. 29, missing last week's loss to the 49ers. Moore will return to his role as a depth option on the active roster, a role that has led to 18 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown for him in 2021.