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Welcome to Week 18, where players rest for the postseason, and the slightest injury could send a player to the sideline (unless that team is competing for a playoff spot).
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Let's look at the updates for some wide receivers and see whether they may play in Week 18.
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A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith (PHI) Injury Update
Game Status: Doubtful
Philadelphia's top wide receivers, A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith (wrist) are doubtful on the team's injury report. While they both have ailments listed (unlike Saquon Barkley, who is also doubtful), the injury report tells the real story. The Eagles are resting their stars with their playoff position clinched.
Friday's Injury Report#NYGvsPHI pic.twitter.com/4lEnVc8GUy
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 3, 2025
Philadelphia will treat their season finale against the Giants like a preseason game. Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, and Ainias Smith will catch passes from third-string quarterback Tanner McKee.
Tee Higgins (CIN) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was questionable with knee and ankle injuries last week. He caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
Burrow to Higgins AGAIN.
Bengals re-take the lead.
📺: #DENvsCIN on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/UejCeEE24g— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2024
The same issues are causing the soon-to-be free agent to appear on the injury report this week. It's a must-win game for the Bengals to keep their postseason hopes alive. Expect Higgins to be on the field.
Xavier Legette (CAR) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette sat out during Week 16 and was listed as questionable for Week 17, but did play. He's questionable this week. The missed game and questionable tags stem from a hip injury. Legette is reportedly undergoing surgery to repair wrist ligaments in the offseason, which is why that's also listed on the injury report.
Legette practiced fully on Wednesday before limited participation on Thursday and Friday.
Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle (MIA) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
As has been the case for most of November and December, Tyreek Hill is questionable with a wrist injury. He hasn't missed a game yet. There's a slight wrinkle this weekend. Hill missed practice on Friday due to an illness. Still, the expectation is that Hill will be active.
Jaylen Waddle injured his knee against the Texans in Week 15 and missed Weeks 16 and 17. He practiced all week, including a full session on Friday. He should be active as well.
Final injury report of the week
DOUBTFUL - QB Tua Tagovailoa
OUT- LB Anthony Walker Jr.
QUESTIONABLE - WR Tyreek Hill, T Terron Armstead, DT Calais Campbell, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Dee Eskridge and S Jevon Holland pic.twitter.com/uPJysrHLz8
— c. isaiah smalls ii (@stclaudeii) January 3, 2025
However, Hill and Waddle's quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is doubtful with a hip injury. Tyler Huntley is in line for another start. The Dolphins are competing for a playoff spot, needing a win and a Denver loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Darnell Mooney (ATL) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is trending in the wrong direction. The veteran was added to the injury report on Thursday with a shoulder issue. He was limited in that session.
On Friday, Mooney did not practice. Head coach Raheem Morris says his WR2 is questionable for the Sunday tilt against the Carolina Panthers.
Raheem Morris says Falcons WR Darnell Mooney is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Mooney has 992 yards this season - 8 shy of reaching 1,000 yards for the second time in his career.
— Will McFadden (@willmcfadden) January 3, 2025
Ray-Ray McCloud III and Kyle Pitts could see more targets if Mooney is inactive. The Falcons need a win and a Tampa Bay loss to win the NFC South.
Chris Olave (NO) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
Chris Olave logged another week of full practices despite remaining on injured reserve. He has not played for two months (Week 9) due to his second concussion of the season. Saints beat reporters don't expect the team to activate Olave to play in the season finale.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara doubtful but Darren Rizzi said they plan to work him out Saturday before final decision
WR Chris Olave listed as questionable and Rizzi said no decision made yet (though we don’t expect Olave to play)
Derek Carr, Kendre Miller officially done for the year pic.twitter.com/7kzvAqNd2A
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) January 3, 2025
Alvin Kamara is doubtful. Derek Carr and Kendre Miller are out. The New Orleans offense continues to lack talent due to injuries. At least Spencer Rattler gets Marquez Valdes-Scantling back this week.
Joshua Palmer (LAC) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer left Saturday's win over the New England Patriots with a heel injury. He was spotted with a walking boot after the game.
Following three straight missed practices, Palmer was, unsurprisingly, ruled out.
The #Chargers ruled out RB Gus Edwards and WR Joshua Palmer for Sunday vs. Las Vegas.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2025
There aren't any fantasy football ripple effects from Palmer's absence. The passing game still runs through Ladd McConkey, with a little Quentin Johnston mixed in.
Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF) Injury Update
Game Status: OUT
Deebo Samuel Sr.'s disappointing season has come to an end. He won't play in San Francisco's season finale due to rib and wrist injuries.
#49ers Deebo Samuel, Deommodore Lenoir, Brock Purdy, Spencer Burford, and Robert Beal are OUT for Sunday against AZ
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is doubtful pic.twitter.com/tdPGwSFlbD
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) January 3, 2025
Quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) will join Samuel on the sidelines. Tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) is questionable. Jauan Jennings (77 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season) and Ricky Pearsall should see the most targets from Joshua Dobbs, especially if Kittle can't go.
Christian Watson (GB) Injury Update
Game Status: Questionable
For the first time since injuring his knee in Week 16, Christian Watson practiced, albeit in a limited fashion.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Christian Watson did get outside and did some work in practice.
“That was encouraging,” LaFleur said.
Sounds like it will be a game-time decision.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 3, 2025
If it's a game-time decision, the coaching staff should play it safe and rest one of their top receivers. The Packers lacked an explosive element in the loss to Minnesota and need Watson for the postseason. The matchup with Chicago doesn't mean a lot. Green Bay slips just one spot in the postseason, seeding with a loss and Washington win.
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