NFL Player News

Cooks was a limited participant at practice Wednesday with foot and neck injuries.

Cooks briefly exited Sunday's loss to the Colts while being evaluated for a concussion, but he cleared the protocol and was allowed to check back into the contest. His appearance on the Texans' Week 14 report suggests he may have hurt his neck on the play in question that forced him out of the contest, though the origin of the foot injury isn't as obvious. Given the depleted state of the Texans' wideout corps, Cooks should see plenty of involvement in the passing game this weekend versus the Bears if he's able to move past the two injuries.

Lazard (core) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Since his return Week 11 following a six-game absence, Lazard slowly but surely has improved his effectiveness within the Packers offense. Last Sunday against the Eagles, he turned four targets into three receptions for 50 yards while logging 69 percent of the Packers' offensive snaps. Prior to undergoing core-muscle surgery Oct. 1, Lazard earned 87 percent of the snaps on offense, so he may be on the cusp of being a valid No. 2 option behind Davante Adams in Green Bay's passing game.

Watkins (illness) was absent from Wednesday's injury report.

Watkins missed last week's loss against the Packers due to an illness but seems to be fully cleared from the ailment. The rookie has seen action in just two games this season, playing 20 offensive snaps but failing to record a fantasy-relevant stat.

McLaurin (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

McLaurin has been dealing with an ankle injury since Thanksgiving week, but he's suited up in back-to-back contests on his way to a 9-106-0 line on 15 targets. However, the nadir of his season occurred this past Monday at Pittsburgh, when he was held to two catches (on six targets) for 14 yards. Assuming he can get past the health concern yet again this week, McLaurin will seek a bounce-back effort Sunday in San Francisco.

Samuel (foot) didn't practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Samuel's absence is the result of a foot contusion, with coach Kyle Shanahan telling Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee that the wide receiver's injury isn't related to the Jones fracture he suffered in his left foot back in June. The 49ers are coming off a loss to the Bills on Monday Night Football, so Shanahan is treating Wednesday as if it's a typical Tuesday. As a result, with maintenance the likely root cause of Samuel sitting out to start Week 14 prep, he'll have chances Thursday and Friday to get in some work on the field ahead of Sunday's game against Washington.

Grant was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice due to a back injury, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.

Grant's injury likely stems from the flagrant hit he took while attempting to return to a punt during last weekend's win over the Bengals. He'll have two more chances to increase his level of practice activity as he looks to gain clearance for Sunday's contest against the Chiefs. Grant has drawn five or more targets in four of the last five weeks.

Higgins (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

The wideout tweaked his hamstring while jumping over a player at the end of the Bengals' Week 13 loss to the Dolphins, but the report notes that Higgins was at least able to take part in individual drills at Wednesday's practice. His status will be revisited again Thursday, when the Bengals' will hold their second practice of the week in advance of Sunday's game versus the Cowboys.

Godwin (finger) didn't practice Wednesday.

Godwin wasn't seen at the portion of the session open to the media, and he didn't get in any reps before its conclusion. Both Godwin and Mike Evans (hamstring) are tending to injuries following the Buccaneers' Week 13 bye, so their statuses should be watched closely as the weekend approaches to get a sense of their availability for Sunday's game versus the Vikings.

Evans was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

Evans was plagued by injuries earlier this season, but he avoided any limitations on his practice reps since Week 7, a span of five weeks of prep before the Buccaneers' recent bye. On the heels of that respite, he's dealing with a hamstring issue, while fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin (finger) didn't take part in Wednesday's session at all. The pair will look to ditch their designations ahead of Sunday's contest against the Vikings.

Thomas (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

The Saints opened their first session of Week 14 without Thomas on the field, but he must have made an appearance at some point to emerge as a limited participant. Though the ankle issue continues to result in Thomas' practice reps being managed, he's been in top form in three games with Taysom Hill under center, racking up 22 catches (on 29 targets) for 259 yards and no touchdowns.