NFL Player News

Westover (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets.

Westover was not listed on the week's injury report, indicating that the illness likely arose Saturday. The fullback for the Patriots' offense will likely be a game-time decision, with his ability to suit up likely directly correlating to his immune system's ability to heal. If Westover is unable to play, D'Ernest Johnson or CJ Dippre could be asked to fill the fullback role against the Jets.

The Cardinals placed Johnson (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.

Johnson sustained his MCL injury in the Cardinals' Week 14 loss to the Rams, and the offensive tackle's season has now officially ended. The 2023 first-rounder played his most snaps at tackle for the Cardinals this season, logging 804 total before succumbing to injury.

The Broncos signed Schrader to the practice squad Saturday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

The Broncos claimed Schrader on Dec. 15 before waiving him Thursday. The running back has yet to play in a game for the team, but he will wait for a potential elevation opportunity. With RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie all healthy and active, Schrader is not a likely candidate for elevation to the active roster next week.

The Seahawks have elevated Akers from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Panthers, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Akers has played one prior game with the Seahawks, in Week 16 against the Rams. The running back did not have any offensive snaps in the contest and was relegated to a 12 percent special-teams snap share in the overtime victory. The 26-year-old will likely fill a similar role in this week's contest, filling a reserve role behind starting rushers Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.

The 49ers elevated Willis from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears.

Willis has played in five games for the 49ers this season, totalling 12 offensive snaps and 74 special-teams snaps in the contests. The tight end was on the active roster for three of those games and was elevated for the remaining two, making the Week 17 elevation his third and final of the 2025 season. If the team would like to use Willis for Week 18 or in the playoffs, it will have to sign him to the active roster.

Sanders (hip) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Sanders will not be activated off injured reserve for Week 17. The kicker will have just one more chance to start a game in the 2025 regular season, and it is unclear if his hip injury is in a place where that would be possible. Riley Patterson will continue to kick for the Dolphins in this Sunday's game.

The Dolphins signed Wease to the active roster from the practice squad Saturday.

Wease was elevated for the Dolphins' Week 16 loss to the Bengals. The wide receiver played 36 percent of offensive snaps in the contest, catching two of his four targets for 32 yards. The signing was coupled with Dee Eskridge's (toe) move to injured reserve.

Jones (back) was placed on the injured reserve list Saturday.

Jones had already been ruled out for the Dolphins' Week 17 matchup against the Buccaneers due to a back injury, but following his placement on IR, his 2025 season is over. The Ole Miss product appeared in 14 games this year, recording 15 total tackles and one pass defensed over 260 defensive snaps. Jones signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Miami in March, so he's set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The Dolphins placed Eskridge (toe) on the injured reserve list Saturday.

The Western Michigan product sustained a toe injury in the Week 16 loss to the Bengals and will now be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Eskridge appeared in 13 games this year, catching four of seven targets for 62 yards while recording a career-high 726 kick-return yards. Expect Malik Washington to operate as the Dolphins' top return man while Eskridge misses the remainder of 2025.

The Jets signed Skinner off their practice squad Saturday.

The 24-year-old from Kansas joined the Jets' practice squad in late August after failing to make the initial 53-man roster, but he's now been elevated ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots. Skinner has yet to make his NFL debut after posting 557 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 25 catches during his final collegiate season in 2024.