NFL Player News

Croskey-Merritt is in line for an increased workload Sunday at the Giants with Chris Rodriguez (groin) inactive for the contest.

Rodriguez managed a pair of limited practices during Week 15 prep due to a groin injury, and after being listed as questionable ahead of the weekend, he'll get at least one week off to focus on his recovery. His 55 touches from the last five games thus are up for grabs, and Croskey-Merritt is the likeliest to benefit in the Commanders backfield due to his ability to handle early downs, while Jeremy McNichols serves as a change-of-pace option. A rookie seventh-round pick, Croskey-Merritt has averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 7.6 yards per catch among his 134 touches in 13 games to begin his career.

Thomas (calf) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Thomas suffered a calf injury during the Raiders' Week 14 loss to the Broncos. He was tagged as questionable for Week 15 after logging a full practice Friday, but he will be sidelined for Sunday's game after going through pregame warmups. With Thomas not playing, Carter Runyon will step up as the Raiders' TE3 behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.

Chubb (ribs) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Though Chubb has a lengthy injury history, he had played in each of the Texans' first 14 games of the season before exiting last Sunday's win over the Chiefs due to the rib injury. He was unable to practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning to practice Friday as a limited participant, prompting the Texans to list him as questionable heading into the weekend. Ultimately, Chubb wasn't able to make enough progress to give it a go Sunday, so his absence should clear the way for rookie Woody Marks to serve as Houston's lead option out the backfield. Dare Ogunbowale, Jawhar Jordan and British Brooks will provide depth behind Marks.

Washington (Achilles) is active for Sunday's matchup against Cincinnati.

Washington's ability to suit up Sunday was forecasted by his activation from the reserve/PUP list Saturday. If the veteran safety sees action against the Bengals, as expected, it will be his season debut after he tore his Achilles during conditioning in May. Washington may work in a rotational role and be on a snap count initially, but he could give Baltimore's secondary a big boost down the stretch given his key role with the team last season.

Davis is inactive for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

With Joshua Palmer back in action, Davis is the odd man out in the Bills' Week 15 WR corps. Also in the mix Sunday are Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers and Brandin Cooks.

Higgins (illness) is active for Sunday's game at Houston.

Higgins was held out of Friday's practice due to an illness that left him questionable for Week 15 action. Now that he's confirmed to be active, he'll be working in a passing game without the services of WRs Marvin Harrison (heel, inactive), Greg Dortch (chest, IR) and Xavier Weaver (hamstring, inactive), among others, for a second consecutive contest. In the first such outing last Sunday against the Rams, Higgins received a season-high 66 percent snap share but couldn't haul in his only target, while top TE Trey McBride (5-58-0 on nine targets) and WR Michael Wilson (11-142-2 on 16 targets) dominated the attention of QB Jacoby Brissett.

Rush (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the Ravens' emergency third quarterback against the Bengals on Sunday.

As the emergency third quarterback, Rush is prohibited from playing Sunday unless both Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection. Rush last played in Week 6 against the Rams, which coincided with Jackson's three-game absence due to a hamstring injury.

Palmer (ankle) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Palmer, who has missed the Bills' last two games, was limited in practice this week before approaching the contest listed as questionable. In his return to action Sunday, he'll rejoin a wideout corps that also includes Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers and Brandin Cooks. In Buffalo's Week 14 win over the Bengals, the team's TEs were targeted a combined 13 times, while none of the WRs saw more than three targets. Prior to his injury, Palmer caught two passes in each of his previous five contests, a rate of production that limits his fantasy lineup viability to deeper formats.

Samuel (illness) is active for Sunday's game at the Giants.

Samuel didn't practice Friday due to an illness and ultimately was deemed questionable for Week 15 action. His lack of inclusion on the Commanders' list of inactives Sunday has cleared him to resume his typical role, which has meant 70-plus percent of the offensive snaps in nine of his 12 appearances this season. Having said that, with top TE Zach Ertz out for the rest of the campaign due to an ACL tear that he suffered last Sunday in Minnesota, Samuel may experience a slight uptick in his usual 6.3 touches per game moving forward.

Johnston (groin) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Johnston was a late addition to the Chargers' Week 15 injury report, with Los Angeles listing him as questionable for Sunday's contest after he was unexpectedly a limited participant during Friday's practice. The third-year wideout ultimately won't be able to give it a go Sunday, resulting in him missing his second game of the season. With Johnston sidelined, the Chargers could have more reps and targets available for Keenan Allen and Tre' Harris behind No. 1 wideout Ladd McConkey.