NFL Player News

Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught three of five targets for four yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.

The Panthers' offense couldn't get anything going Sunday until it was too late, and Dowdle wound up falling short of 60 rushing yards for the seventh straight game. Despite the late-season slump, the fifth-year back is still just 14 rushing yards short of setting a new career high after amassing 1,079 yards with the Cowboys in 2024. Dowdle may need to find another gear in Week 18 against the Buccaneers with the NFC South title, and a playoff spot, on the line with a Carolina win. Note that the Panthers can also win the division if the Falcons win their next two games, no matter what Carolina does in the finale.

Smith (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Giants, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Smith limped off the field under his own power in the fourth quarter with the Raiders already down 27-10. If Smith is unable to return Sunday, Kenny Pickett will pilot Las Vegas' offense as the team attempts to orchestrate an unlikely comeback. Smith completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before his departure.

Young completed 14 of 24 passes for 54 yards and an interception in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks. He added 27 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

The third-year QB was completely flummoxed through the air by the Seattle defense, setting a season low for passing yards, but Young salvaged some fantasy value with a 10-yard TD dash in the fourth quarter. Young will take a 21:10 TD:INT on the year, plus two rushing scores, into a Week 18 clash with the Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a playoff spot on the line with a Carolina win. Note that the Panthers can also win the division if the Falcons win their next two games, no matter what Carolina does in the finale.

Smith (lower body) was forced out of Sunday's contest against the Giants in the fourth quarter and walked to the locker room under his own power, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.

Smith left Sunday's contest with the Raiders already down 27-10. The veteran quarterback completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before being forced off the field. Kenny Pickett will line up under center for Las Vegas as long as Smith remains sidelined.

Wright rushed five times for 56 yards in the Dolphins' 20-17 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

The backup running back flashed with a 32-yard run, the longest of his two-year career. Wright also had scored a touchdown in two of the previous three contests and eclipsed 100 yards in one of them, so he's delivered some deep-league, late-season utility behind De'Von Achane. Wright could be the beneficiary of some extra run if head coach Mike McDaniel opts to reduce the snaps of some of his top players in a Week 18 road matchup against the Patriots.

Barner caught all three of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

The second-year tight end snagged his sixth TD of the season on a 17-yard connection with Sam Darnold. Barner has caught multiple passes in seven straight games, putting together a 29-269-2 line on 39 targets over that stretch. and with the Seahawks likely needing one more win to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC, he should see a significant workload again in Week 18 versus the 49ers.

Johnson brought in all four targets for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.

Johnson tied for second in receptions while checking in as the runner-up in receiving yards as well for the Saints, continuing a multi-week run of productive performances. The veteran tight end has at least four receptions in seven straight games, and he's recorded at least 89 receiving yards in three of those contests. Johnson heads into a Week 18 road matchup against the Falcons already boasting a career-high 74 catches and 828 receiving yards across 16 games.

Bernard (calf) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest against the Eagles.

Bernard sustained a calf injury late in the first half, and his night has now officially come to a premature end. In his absence, Dorian Williams and Joe Andreessen will continue to operate in more substantial roles at linebacker versus Philadelphia.

Ward completed 21 of 40 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing twice for 10 yards in the Titans' 34-26 loss to the Saints on Sunday. He also committed two fumbles, losing one.

Ward and the Titans came out on the losing end yet again, but the rookie first overall pick crossed the 250-yard mark through the air for the fifth time in his nascent career while also throwing a pair of touchdown passes for the fourth straight contest. Ward has thrown just a single interception in that span and none in the last three games, although his late first-half fumble Sunday was returned 33 yards for a touchdown by Chase Young. Ward's scoring strikes went to Chig Okonkwo (43 yards) and Elic Ayomanor (seven yards) in the second quarter, and he'll aim to keep his connection with his two talented targets going in a Week 18 road matchup against the Jaguars.

Smith-Njigba caught nine of 12 targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

The star wideout dominated looks from Sam Darnold, as no other Seattle player saw more than three targets. Smith-Njigba has fallen too far off the pace to have a serious chance of threatening Calvin Johnson's single-season NFL record for receiving yards, but he'll still take a 113-1,709-10 line on 154 targets into a Week 18 meeting with the 49ers, with the No. 1 seed in the NFC potentially on the line for the Seahawks.