NFL Player News

Pettis (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

The 24-year-old was dealing with a knee injury earlier in the week, but he avoided an injury designation and is now a healthy scratch for Week 5. Pettis has been targeted once through four games and didn't play an offensive snap during last week's loss to the Eagles.

Grant (illness) is active for Sunday's Week 5 tilt against the 49ers.

The speedster was questionable due to a non-COVID-19 illness late in the week, but this confirms Grant has apparently been able to overcome his ailment. He'll slot into his usual No. 4 receiver role against San Francisco while also presumably continuing to handle both kick and punt returns.

Johnson was forced out of Sunday's game against the Eagles with a back issue, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.

Prior to his exit, Johnson's lone reception resulted in a two-yard loss. In the meantime, Chase Claypool, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud are next up for targets alongside Pittsburgh's top wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Arcega-Whiteside is slated to start in Sunday's game against the Steelers, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.

With Alshon Jeffery (foot) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) both inactive, Arcega-Whiteside and John Hightower will join slot man Greg Ward as the Eagles' starting receivers. Before sitting out the Eagles' Week 4 win over the 49ers, Arcega-Whiteside wasn't much of a factor in the passing game, drawing just two targets over the team's first three games. The absences of Jeffery and Jackson should free up some more opportunities for Arcega-Whiteside, but the second-year player could still cede reps at receiver to reserve options Quez Watkins and Travis Fulgham.

Ridley will serve as the Falcons' clear No. 1 receiver Sunday against the Panthers with Julio Jones (hamstring) ruled out for the contest, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

With Jones having only played one half in the Falcons' last two games due to the lingering hamstring injury, Ridley has already had some opportunities this season to serve as Matt Ryan's top option in the passing game. While Ridley was shut out across five targets in Monday's 30-16 loss to the Packers, the third-year wideout opened the season with three straight dazzling performances, racking up 21 receptions for 349 yards and four touchdowns on 35 targets over that stretch. Ridley could be in store for another big outing Sunday in a game that features one of the highest projected totals of the Week 5 slate.

Brown (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Though Brown has yet to score a TD through four games, he's seen decent volume (26 targets) in that span, resulting in 16 catches for 242 yards. Assuming no in-game setbacks Sunday, the speedy wideout -- who scored seven TD in 14 games last season -- should remain a key cog in Baltimore's Week 5 passing attack.

Moore (thigh) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against Cincinnati.

Moore was only able to practice in limited fashion over the week, as Sunday will mark his fifth straight contest missed. With Moore sidelined, duties at depth receiver shift to Miles Boykin and Devin Duvernay.

Perriman (ankle) is inactive Week 5 against the Cardinals.

Perriman entered the week with a "doubtful" tag after failing to take the practice field even once, so his presence on the inactive list comes as little surprise. He'll instead leave Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith with a clear path to leading the passing attack under quarterback Joe Flacco while now targeting a Week 6 return against the Chargers.

Byrd and the Patriots won't play the Broncos on Monday after the game was postponed until Week 6 due to a third positive COVID-19 test in the New England organization within the past eight days, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Patriots and the Broncos are now tentatively scheduled to play Sunday, Oct. 18 in Week 6, which was originally a scheduled bye week for New England. Denver, meanwhile, had been in line to host the Dolphins, but Miami now looks poised to take its bye Week 6.

Harry and the Patriots won't play the Broncos on Monday after the game was postponed until Week 6 due to a third positive COVID-19 test in the New England organization within the past eight days, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Patriots and the Broncos are now tentatively scheduled to play Sunday, Oct. 18 in Week 6, which was originally a scheduled bye week for New England. Denver, meanwhile, had been in line to host the Dolphins, but Miami now looks poised to take its bye Week 6.