Packers RB A.J. Dillon missed his second straight practice on Thursday and told the media that he has a broken thumb. OC Adam Stenavich said that the team is still figuring out whether Dillon can play vs. the Bucs this weekend. "It makes it harder to catch the ball and things like that, but if you limit the things he does, it can be done," Stenavich said. We'll keep an eye on Dillon's status, as well as Aaron Jones (knee), who remained limited in Thursday's practice. The Packers also have RB Patrick Taylor on the active roster and RB Kenyan Drake on the practice squad.
Lions HC Dan Campbell said Thursday that S C.J. Gardner-Johnson is ready to return from his Week 2 pectoral tear and could start practicing as soon as next week. "He's one of the X-Men, he's got these mutant genes because he has healed extremely quickly, and he's gotten his strength back. It is secure," Campbell said, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "So, yeah, he's going to be ready to go here pretty soon." Campbell added that they still need to work out the "plan" for getting Gardner-Johnson back into football shape. It's tough to expect him to make an impact in IDP lineups before the end of this season, but we'll watch the safety's status.
Steelers Edge Alex Highsmith has cleared the concussion protocol. The team says he's expected to play Saturday against the Colts. With T.J. Watt clearing the protocol earlier this week, Pittsburgh's defense will have both edge starters back the game after they sustained their injuries against New England.
Texans Edge Will Anderson Jr. suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Jets, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reports. Anderson was in a walking boot Wednesday, which certainly doesn't bode well for his chance of playing this weekend. Anderson is likely droppable (where rostered) for most redraft IDP leagues.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase (ankle) is not listed on the final Week 15 injury report. He was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and should be ready for his usual role vs. the Vikings on Saturday afternoon.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (chest) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game vs. the Bengals. He practiced all week, including a full workout on Thursday, and is fully expected to play this weekend. Jefferson can be penciled into Week 15 fantasy lineups. Just check back to make sure he’s active around 11:30 am ET on Saturday.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. HC Shane Steichen said earlier this week that Taylor is still expected to play again this season. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 16. Zack Moss gets another game as Indianapolis' feature back this weekend. He's racked up 32 carries and 11 targets over the last two weeks.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Bengals. That leaves Ty Chandler as Minnesota's lead back. This running game has been ineffective for most of the season. But Chandler leads Vikings RBs with 4.1 yards per carry and gets a Cincinnati team sitting 27th in run defense DVOA. See where Chandler sits in the Week 15 RB Rankings.
Giants TE Darren Waller (hamstring) has been designated to return from IR. He said last week that he was hoping to return for this Sunday's game vs. the Saints. We'll keep an eye on Waller's progress over the next few days, but he'd be tough to trust in Week 15 fantasy lineups coming off a multi-week hamstring injury.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs' status for Thursday night's game vs. the Chargers is "firmly in doubt," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jacobs did not practice at all this week with his quad injury. We have him projected to miss this game, leaving the backfield to Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah. We'll get Las Vegas' inactives a little before 7 pm ET tonight.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms that Raiders WR Davante Adams (illness) is expected to play vs. the Chargers tonight. We'll look for any reports of Adams being limited in this one, but we're tentatively expecting him to play his usual role. See where he sits in the Week 15 WR Rankings.
The Steelers announced Wednesday that an independent neurologist has cleared Edge T.J. Watt to play this weekend against the Colts. Watt entered the concussion protocol after the loss to the Patriots but should be set for Week 15 IDP lineups. Edge Alex Highsmith remains in the concussion protocol, however
Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby is questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Chargers. Well bet on him playing through the knee injury once again after playing through a doubtful tag two weeks ago and a questionable designation last week. We’ll confirm Crosby ahead of the game
Rams TE Tyler Higbee (neck) returned to a limited practice on Wednesday. We'll see if he can make it back for this weekend's game vs. the Commanders, but Higbee would not be a recommended TE1 play. He has just three top-12 fantasy finishes all season.
Rams WR Tutu Atwell (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He's unlikely to be cleared in time for this weekend's game vs. the Commanders, which would leave Demarcus Robinson as Los Angeles' No. 3 WR. That matchup against the league's worst WR defense would make Robinson worth a look in DFS and deep season-long fantasy leagues.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown (heel) did not practice on Wednesday. HC Jonathan Gannon said earlier in the week that Brown was feeling better coming off the bye, but it's concerning that he's still missing practice. We'll keep tabs on Brown's status over the next few days. He'll be no better than a low-end WR3 vs. the 49ers on Sunday, assuming he suits up.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz (hamstring) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, putting him on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Titans. It's good timing for the Texans, who lost WR Tank Dell for the season and will likely be without WR Nico Collins this weekend. But Schultz would be tough to trust as a TE1 if QB Davis Mills is under center.
Texans WR Nico Collins (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. His injury reportedly isn't serious, but Collins is considered unlikely to play vs. the Titans this weekend. His absence would leave Houston with WRs Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson -- likely catching passes from QB Davis Mills.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He still has multiple stages of the concussion protocol to pass through and is unlikely to be cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the Titans. Stroud's absence would leave QB Davis Mills at the controls for Houston. Mills is a capable backup but would be in a tough spot without WR Tank Dell and likely WR Nico Collins.
Patriots WR Demario Douglas (concussion) got in a limited practice on Wednesday -- his first since being concussed in Week 12. We'll see if the rookie can get cleared for Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. If he does, he'll be in the WR4 mix as the favorite to lead New England in targets.
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