NFL Player News

Dowdle (toe) is inactive for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Colts.

The veteran running back will miss a third consecutive game while tending to the toe injury he sustained in a Week 2 loss to the Patriots. Dowdle was able to practice in limited fashion during each session of Week 5 prep, so there appears to be a good chance he manages to gain clearance for a Week 6 road matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren, who's logged 23 touches apiece in each of the first two games Dowdle has missed, will continue in a workhorse role out of the Steelers backfield against Indianapolis on Sunday.

Klein (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans.

Klein has now been a healthy scratch in consecutive weeks. The fifth-string tight end continues to be a reserve option behind Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau, Cade Stover and Brevin Jordan.

Green (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets, though he will serve as the Browns' emergency quarterback.

Green will be inactive for the fifth consecutive contest but is listed as the Browns' QB3, meaning he will take over if Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders exit the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Tate (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Texans.

Tate was limited in the Titans' final two Week 5 practices due to the back issue, but the injury apparently won't be enough of a concern to keep the rookie wideout off the field Sunday. The No. 4 overall pick in the draft is coming off a career-best performance in the Titans' 24-18 loss to the Ravens in Week 4, when he tallied nine catches for 145 yards on 12 targets.

Williams (hamstring) is listed as inactive Sunday in Green Bay.

Despite his standing this weekend, Williams appears to be trending in the right direction after being limited at Friday's practice and entering the weekend listed as questionable for Week 5 action. He'll miss his third game in a row due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Williams is aiming to return in Week 6 versus the Falcons, and he even put in a pregame workout before this Sunday's game, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tyson Bagent again will get the start in place of Williams, with Case Keenum backing him up.

Allen (groin) is active for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Steelers.

The veteran receiver had entered the weekend with optimism surrounding his status for Sunday's game after getting a full practice in Friday, and Allen's availability is now official. Before sitting out Indianapolis' Week 4 victory over the Commanders in London, Allen put together the most productive performance of his brief Colts tenure, posting a 6-63-1 line on nine targets during a Week 3 win over the Texans. In his return Sunday against Pittsburgh, Allen is expected to slide back into his usual No. 2 receiver role alongside Josh Downs.

Addison (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game at New Orleans, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Addison is sitting out his first game of the campaign due to a sore hamstring that contained him to a pair of limited sessions during Week 5 prep. Meanwhile, fellow WR Justin Jefferson (ankle) is back in action for the first time since the second quarter of a Week 3 victory at Tampa Bay, leaving him as the Vikings' unquestioned No. 1 pass catcher for QB Kyler Murray. Minnesota has a Week 6 bye on tap, so Addison's next chance to suit up is Sunday, Oct. 25 versus the Colts.

Higgins (groin/neck) is active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

After exiting last week's loss to Jacksonville due to what the Bengals initially referred to as an adductor injury, Higgins ended up appearing on the team's initial Week 5 injury report as a non-participant on account of groin and neck issues. He remained sidelined for practice Thursday before upgrading to full participation Friday and carrying a questionable tag into the weekend. Higgins apparently checked out fine following his pregame workout and has been given the green light to suit up Sunday along with fellow starting wideout Ja'Marr Chase (concussion), who had also been listed as questionable heading into the day. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network relays that the Bengals plan to monitor Higgins' snap count, but the wideout is still slated to take the field mostly "meaningful plays," which could suggest that he'll be given more frequent breaks from running plays where he would serve as a blocker.

Jefferson (ankle) is listed as active Sunday at New Orleans.

Jefferson thus is set for his first in-game action since the second quarter of a Week 3 win in Tampa Bay, when he initially picked up a left ankle injury. After sitting out last Sunday versus the Dolphins, he logged three limited sessions during Week 5 prep, and with his status confirmed for Sunday, there's a good chance he serves as the top pass catcher for QB Kyler Murray with fellow WR Jordan Addison (hamstring) inactive, even if Jefferson can't handle a full workload.

Chase (concussion) is active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Forced out early in last Sunday's loss to the Jaguars after sustaining a concussion, Chase was a spectator for the Bengals' first Week 5 practice Wednesday before upgrading to limited activity Thursday and full participation Friday. He carried a questionable tag into Sunday's contest, but after passing the final stage of the five-step concussion protocol by gaining clearance from an independent neurologist, Chase has been deemed ready to play. Tee Higgins (groin/neck) is also suiting up after being listed as questionable, so quarterback Joe Burrow will have his top two targets available for Week 5.