NFL Player News

The Packers took a flyer on Van Lanen in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him as having a “debilitating length and a lack of athleticism in pass protection.” He could be stashed on the Packers’ practice squad as a developmental player. The Packers also waived/released QB Kurt Benkert, RB Dexter Williams, RB Patrick Taylor, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Juwann Winfree, WR Reggie Begelton, WR Damon Hazelton, TE Bronson Kaufusi, OG Ben Braden, OG Jacob Capra, OG Coy Cronk, DL Carlo Kemp, DL Willington Previlon, DL Abdullah Anderson, LB Ray Wilborn, LB Tipa Galeai, LB De’Jon Harris, LB Delontae Scott, CB Stephen Denmark, CB Kabion Ento, CB Rojesterman Farris, S Innis Gaines, S Christian Uphoff, P JK Scott, and K JJ Molson.

Olave is eligible to be activated from injured reserve, but the Saints are nearing the end of a lost season and he has a lengthy concussion history. There’s no reason to rush him back for a few meaningless games. We still expect him to miss the remainder of the season, though Rizzi didn’t rule him out for the year just yet. Marquez Valdes-Scantling will continue to operate as the Saints’ top receiver for at least one more week.

Nubin’s rookie season comes to a close. The 2024 second-round NFL draft pick totaled a team-high 39 coverage tackles and ranks fourth on the team in run-defense tackles with 32. His loss will be felt by the Giants’ defense.

Carr was concussed and suffered a fracture in his non-throwing hand after colliding with Kevin Austin, one of his own receivers, on a scramble in Week 14 against the Giants. He left the game and did not return. Per Rizzi, the hand injury isn’t expected to require surgery but Carr remains in concussion protocol. He will not be placed on injured reserve. Despite the pair of injuries and missing the first practice of the week, Carr was not ruled out for Week 15. Backups Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split the first-team reps on Wednesday. Though we fully expect Carr to miss Sunday’s game, it sounds like he has a legitimate shot at returning before the end of the season.

Butker underwent a meniscus trim on his left knee in November, as he was sent to injured reserve. The talented kicker could play as early as Week 15, however, he understandably makes for a slightly less certain K1 than fantasy managers are used to. It would be unsurprising to see him turn in an up-and-down performance in his first game back.

Herbert could return for a very limited session during the closed portion of practice, but he appears to be headed toward a DNP to start the week. Head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Herbert is dealing with an ankle injury in addition to the leg contusion he suffered in Week 14. Harbaugh noted that this ankle issue is separate from the high-ankle sprain he dealt with earlier in the season. None of that is good news, but Herbert has played through multiple injuries this year and will attempt to do so again this week. Our money is on him suiting up for a phenomenal matchup with the Bucs.

Kamara’s illness is unlikely to sideline him for Week 15, however, the 5-8 Saints currently sit third in the NFC South and barely clinging to the playoff bubble. Unfortunately, the team’s playoff hopes were likely dashed by Derek Carr’s Week 14 hand fracture. Kamara will surely campaign to play, regardless, but fantasy managers should closely monitor the situation while picking up Kendre Miller if possible.

Nabers played through a hip flexor issue last week after missing Friday’s practice. The team listed him as questionable but didn’t limit his reps. He ran nearly every route and saw 10 targets, five of which were caught for 79 yards. It’s safe to assume Nabers will have a light workload in practice for a few more weeks and possibly the rest of the year. Fantasy managers can bank on him as a volume-based WR2 barring any setbacks.

Alexander has played 10 defensive snaps since Week 8, spending all but one game on the inactives list. Green Bay played on Thursday last week, giving him a longer turnaround than usual for Week 15. It appears as though that was enough to get him back on the practice field. Getting Alexander back would be a big win for a Packers defense hitting its stride heading into the home stretch.

Per head coach Matt LaFleur, Doubs is still in the league’s concussion protocol. A full practice suggests he is in the final stages of the protocol and will be cleared for Week 15 before the final practice of the week. Doubs’ pace had slowed before his Week 12 concussion, but he was still leading the way in routes for the Packers. Doubs will return to the WR3 ranks once he is removed from the league’s protocols.

Decker has missed three straight games with the knee issue. The Lions already have one eye on the postseason, so slow-playing his return makes sense. Decker did not practice at all last week, so a return to practice on Wednesday is a step in the right direction for the stud tackle. He is on track to play in Week 15 against Buffalo, adding a bit more fuel to the shootout fire on the horizon.