NFL Player News

Pettis is positioned as one of the Saints' top remaining wide receivers for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18,

Pettis and Kevin Austin appear set to operate as the Saints' top WRs in Week 18 with Olave ruled out due to a blood clot in his lung and Mason Tipton (groin) having been placed on IR. Behind Pettis and Austin, wideouts Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure have been signed from the practice squad. An experienced veteran with eight seasons in the NFL under his belt, Pettis may be the most reliable target remaining in New Orleans' wide receiver corps, though Austin has demonstrated greater chemistry with rookie QB Tyler Shough, having strung together three straight games with multiple receptions. Pettis, meanwhile, brought in three of four targets for 53 yards versus the Titans in Week 17 and stands to see his opportunity share increase versus Atlanta.

Mafah (shoulder), who remains on injured reserve, is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

The Cowboys ruled out top two RBs Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) for Week 18 on Friday, leaving Jaydon Blue as the only healthy option at the position on the active roster. If Mafah is activated from IR on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday's matchup, he'll at least be available to Dallas' backfield. A 2025 seventh-round pick, Mafah spent the entire regular season through Week 17 on injured reserve and thus is awaiting his first snaps as a pro.

Ferguson (calf) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Ferguson didn't finish last week's game but will be available for the season finale after upgrading to full practice participation Friday. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones noted that the team could remove key veterans at some point Sunday, but there hasn't been any hint of that from the coaching staff.

Carter (illness) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.

The 2025 first-round pick from Penn State upgraded from DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday to a limited practice Friday, suggesting he's moved past his illness in time to play in Sunday's season finale. Carter has started to heat up over the Giants' last four games, recording 16 total tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles during that span. Now fully healthy, he's expected to operate as one of New York's top outside linebackers in the Week 18 divisional matchup.

Worthy (illness) is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's season finale against the Raiders.

Worthy could not practice in any capacity during Week 18 prep due to an illness, and it appears as though he'll sit out Kansas City's season finale. With Tyquan Thornton (concussion) and Rashee Rice (concussion) both on IR, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Royals will be positioned as Kansas City's starters in three-receiver stets to close out the 2025 campaign, assuming Worthy is indeed ruled out prior to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.

Davis (eye/calf) and Javonte Williams (neck/shoulder) have been ruled out for Sunday's game at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Davis reportedly still can't see well after taking a blow to the eye during last week's win over Washington. He finished the game with 20 carries for 103 yards, both career highs, arguably making him the favorite for the No. 2 RB role in Dallas next year. Williams is scheduled for free agency, but the Cowboys likely will re-sign him or pursue a replacement. The 27-year-old Davis has some parallels to Rico Dowdle, who also lingered around the Dallas roster and practice squad for years before getting his shot as the No. 2 RB, which he later parlayed into a starting job.

Toure signed with the Saints' active roster Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The 27-year-old's last in-game action came with the Packers in 2023, when he appeared in 11 contests and caught eight of 18 targets for 78 yards. Now in New Orleans, Toure is expected to operate as one of the Saints' top wideouts in the Week 18 matchup against the Falcons, playing alongside Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis and Ronnie Bell.

Pacheco (rest) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Las Vegas.

Pacheco was listed as limited on all three of the Chiefs' Week 18 injury reports with rest, while fellow RB Kareem Hunt didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to an illness before returning to a full session Friday. Having said that, Pacheco is entering the weekend with a designation, and Hunt is not. Kansas City is out of playoff contention, so the team may opt to rest Pacheco, but such a decision doesn't need to be made until about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. If Pacheco is inhibited or sidelined this weekend, Hunt, Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce would be lined up to handle the backfield.

Austin is positioned as one of New Orleans' top starting wideouts for Sunday's season finale against the Falcons due to Chris Olave (illness) being ruled out for Week 18.

Austin has already played more than 80 percent of offensive snaps in back-to-back games, in which span he's secured six of eight targets for 70 yards and one score. He saw those expanded opportunities due to the absence of Mason Tipton (groin), who has since been placed on IR. With Olave now also out for the regular-season finale due a blood clot in his lung, Austin appears positioned as the No. 1 wideout for a receiving corps that also includes Dante Pettis and practice-squad players Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure. Austin will work to make the most of his elevated opportunity versus Atlanta and continue demonstrating chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

Bell signed with the Saints' active roster Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The third-year pro from Michigan will join the Saints' active roster for the second consecutive week after failing to record an offensive statistic across nine total snaps (seven on special teams, two on offense) in the Week 17 win over the Titans. Bell is expected to operate as one of New Orleans' top wideouts in Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, as Chris Olave (blood clots), Mason Tipton (groin), Trey Palmer (ankle), Devaughn Vele (shoulder), Bub Means (lower leg) and Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) will all be sidelined.