NFL Player News

Claypool (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest against the Packers, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.

Ironically Claypool is the lone Steelers wideout unavailable Sunday despite both Diontae Johnson (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) being listed on the injury report all week. Expect to see James Washington get a healthier boost from a snap-count perspective. The 25-year-old had played a combined 28 offensive snaps through the first two weeks, but he saw a whopping 62 snaps in the Week 3 loss to the Bengals with a number of pass catchers banged up by the end of the contest.

The Packers are expected to place Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) on injured reserve, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Once Green Bay makes the move official, Valdes-Scantling will miss at least the next three games due to the hamstring injury that he suffered this past Sunday in San Francisco. However, when the clock starts to tick on his absence remains to be seen. If he lands on IR on Saturday, he'll be sidelined through at least Week 6 at Chicago. With Valdes-Scantling out of the picture for the time being, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers and Malik Taylor will pick up the slack behind top wide receiver Davante Adams, while Equanimeous St. Brown, Juwann Winfree and Chris Blair are candidates to be called up from the practice squad on a weekly basis.

The Titans will need to rely on Westbrook-Ikhine and other backups with both Julio Jones (hamstring) and A.J. Brown (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.

With Brown exiting early and Jones limited last week, Westbrook-Ikhine caught four of four targets for 53 yards and a touchdown (but also lost a fumble) in the 25-16 win over Indianapolis. His 78 percent snap share was tops among the team's wide receivers, followed by Jones (50 percent), slot specialist Chester Rogers (41 percent), Cameron Batson (40 percent) and Racey McMath (25 percent). The team also has Josh Reynolds, who was a healthy scratch the past two weeks. Given last week's usage, Westbrook-Ikhine and Rogers looks like the best bets for usage and production, though the Titans mostly figure to run the ball when possible.

Allen (ankle) remained limited at practice Friday.

Despite back-to-back limited practice sessions, so far there's been nothing to suggest that Allen's Week 4 status is in any danger. In any case, Saturday's final injury report will reveal whether Allen approaches Monday night's game against the Raiders carrying an injury tag or is cleared to play in the contest.

Lazard has mostly contributed to the Packers with his blocking this year, but he could see more targets this weekend with teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) ruled out against the Steelers, Jason Wilde of ESPN.com reports.

Lazard has seen just five targets through three games, despite playing 65-68 percent of snaps in each contest. He may get more snaps and perhaps a few more targets, but it's still more or less the same story in Green Bay's offense, with volume unpredictable beyond Aaron Jones and Davante Adams.

Lockett (hip) appears likely to play Sunday against the 49ers, as coach Pete Carroll sounded optimistic after the wide receiver was a full practice participant Friday, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Carroll isn't exactly reliable when it comes to injury intel, but it does seem a full practice Friday gives Lockett a strong chance to play, even after he was a non-participant Thursday. Fantasy managers nonetheless would be wise to keep at least one eye on the situation ahead of Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, as it wouldn't be the first time Seattle's inactive list contained a surprise that contradicted Carroll's previous statements.

Eskridge (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game in San Francisco, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Eskridge has been recovering from a concussion since Week 1, which didn't allow him to get back on the practice field until Thursday. He was limited in that session, and his designation for Week 4 indicates he hasn't made enough progress through the protocol for head injuries to make a play to suit up Sunday. With Tyler Lockett (hip) questionable, Seattle may be even more shorthanded at wide receiver this weekend. In the event both Lockett and Eskridge are sidelined, DK Metcalf (foot), Freddie Swain, Penny Hart and a member of the practice squad (perhaps Phillip Dorsett) could compose the team's receiving corps.

Metcalf (foot) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest in San Francisco, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Metcalf made a sudden appearance on Seattle's practice report Thursday, when he was limited due to a foot injury. The health concern won't impact his availability for Week 4, but the same can't be said for Tyler Lockett, who officially is questionable. If Lockett is hindered or sits out entirely Sunday, Metcalf would be in line for a huge share of Russell Wilson's passes.

Lockett (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest at San Francisco, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

It's no surprise Lockett's status is in limbo after his leg was twisted at the end of a catch this past Sunday at Minnesota. The issue limited his practice reps Wednesday before he didn't take the field at all Thursday, but the Seahawks still are keeping the door open for the seven-year pro to suit up this weekend. Ultimately, the team will make a decision on Lockett's availability about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

Johnson could have a significant role this Sunday with both Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Darius Slayton (hamstring) ruled out to face the Saints, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

A few weeks back, Johnson was claimed off waivers by a Giants team with three experienced starters plus a rookie first-round pick at his position. Following a pair of healthy scratches, Johnson was active for Week 3 as the No. 5 receiver, ultimately catching five of seven targets for 51 yards after Shepard and Slayton left early. Johnson even led the team's wideouts with an 84.8-percent snap share in the second half, as No. 1 receiver Kenny Golladay was battling through a hip injury. Of course, Golladay seems healthier this week, and the Giants also have John Ross (hamstring) on track to return from injured reserve. It amounts to an unpredictable situation behind Golladay, with each of Johnson, Kadarius Toney, Ross and C.J. Board in the mix for WR snaps.