NFL Player News

Thielen (ankle) is listed as inactive Monday at Chicago.

Thielen was considered a game-time decision, despite not practicing since suffering a high left-ankle sprain in a Week 13 loss at Detroit. Per Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Thielen fit in a pregame workout, went to the locker room and then didn't run routes with his teammates, signaling he was poised to miss a second straight contest. With Thielen sidelined and Dede Westbrook (illness) and Dan Chisena (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Myron Mitchell will be the Vikings' options at wide receiver Week 15.

Harry exited Saturday's loss to the Colts after absorbing a hit to his head, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.

The same applies to Nelson Agholor (head), and with Kendrick Bourne having been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Patriots' wideout depth as this Sunday's game against the Bills approaches is now looking taxed. For now, the team's only available roster options free of any Week 16 availability concerns are Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski, with Tre Nixon and Kristian Wilkerson on the practice squad. Prior to his exit from Saturday's contest, Harry caught two of his five targets for 52 yards.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Moore (ankle) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Moore will get his ankle checked out after tweaking it at some point during Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Lions. The rookie was likely primed for a big snap count with DeAndre Hopkins (knee) moving to injured reserve prior to the contest, but Moore was on the field for only 20 plays and contributed three catches for nine yards to go with one carry for another yard before exiting. The MRI should shed more light on the extent of his injury, but his availability for the Cardinals' Week 16 game Christmas Day against the Colts looks to be in question for the moment.

Bourne (undisclosed) has been placed on the reserve/COVID 19 list, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With Nelson Agholor (head) having suffered a head injury during Saturday's game against the Colts, N'Keal Harry (undisclosed) possibly banged up and Bourne now on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski are the Patriots' top available WR options who are free of any Week 16 availability concerns.

Thielen (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Bears, is scheduled to go through a pregame workout before the Vikings decide on his status, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Official word on whether Thielen is playing or sitting out should arrive no later than 90 minutes before the game's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, when Minnesota releases its inactive list. After sitting out the Vikings' Week 14 victory over the Steelers with a low-grade left ankle sprain, Thielen wasn't able to practice in any fashion Thursday through Saturday. While the lack of activity normally would hint at an absence, Fowler suggests that Thielen will have a chance to play Monday if he checks out better than expected during his workout.

Newsome was elevated from the Bears' practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Vikings, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.

Newsome will provide depth at wide receiver Monday since Allen Robinson (undisclosed) remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list while Marquise Goodwin (foot) is doubtful. The 2021 sixth-rounder hasn't yet made his regular-season debut in the NFL.

Webster was elevated from the Bears' practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Vikings, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.

Webster will provide additional depth at wide receiver Monday since Allen Robinson (undisclosed) is unavailable and Marquise Goodwin (foot) is doubtful. Webster appeared in the first four games of the season and played exclusively on special teams.

Robinson will remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list and won't be available for Monday's game against the Vikings, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.

One of 14 Bears roster members or practice squad players who wasn't restored from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to the Week 15 contest, Robinson will miss his fourth game of the season after previously missing three contests due to a hamstring injury. With Robinson out of the mix and Marquise Goodwin (foot) listed as doubtful for Monday's contest, both Jakeem Grant and Damiere Byrd should be in store for heavy snap shares alongside No. 1 wideout Darnell Mooney.

The Giants placed Shepard (Achilles) on injured reserve Monday.

Shepard's move to season-ending injured reserve was fully expected after he was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles following his exit from Sunday's 21-6 loss to the Cowboys. Given the nature of his injury, he likely will require surgery and miss the Giants' entire spring program, and his availability for the beginning of the 2022 season could be in question as well. The sixth-year wideout suited up in just seven games during an injury-plagued 2021 campaign, finishing with 36 receptions for 366 yards and a touchdown on 53 targets.

Tennessee designated Brown (chest) for return from injured reserve Monday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

The transaction opens up a 21-day window for Brown to be evaluated in practice and makes the wideout eligible to rejoin the 53-man roster as soon as the Titans' Week 16 game against the 49ers on Thursday. If Brown shows enough progress in his recovery from the chest injury during practice this week to put an end to his three-game absence, he immediately should step back in as Tennessee's No. 1 pass catcher. Brown's potential return Thursday would be an especially welcome development after fellow receiver Julio Jones suffered another setback with his hamstring injury in Tennessee's Week 15 loss to Pittsburgh, leaving the latter's availability in question.