NFL Player News

The report comes from ESPN’s Turron Davenport. Hopkins will return in time for a showdown against the Bears’ 2023 second-team All-Pro CB Jaylon Johnson. The positive news comes on the heels of Callahan’s confirmation that former first-round pick Treylon Burks has assumed the role of Hopkins’ backup on the perimeter, rather than competing for slot reps. Hopkins’ buy-low window in drafts is closing while Burks approaches castoff status in dynasty leagues.

Shepard is trending toward a Week 17 absence though he does still have Friday to participate in some capacity. The Buccaneers’ pass-catching corps is short-staffed with Cade Otton (knee) also sidelined through two practices. Should both players sit, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan would dominate targets against the Panthers.

Fantasy managers still fighting for championships in Week 17 are in shambles. After battling through a shoulder injury for weeks, the Cowboys have opted to shelve Lamb for the remainder of the season in what is the most pivotal matchup of the year for fantasy managers. The team released a statement following the decision, saying, “Additional examinations and scans this week on Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out’ for the remaining two games of the season.” Despite his injury and the loss of Dak Prescott midway through the season, Lamb still performed at a high level for the Cowboys. His season ends with a line of 101-1194-6 on 152 targets and three 100-yard performances. Lamb’s 11.8 YPR on the season set a new career low, but the decrease can be attributed to the switch from Prescott to Cooper Rush, as the offense became much more limited with Rush under center. Lamb is not expected to undergo surgery at this time but will instead look to go through rehab and treatment for his shoulder.

Technically, Walker could return after a four-game stay on injured reserve but the Seahawks would have to first secure a playoff spot before winning two playoff games without him for this to be the case. It is likely his season is over. Walker rushed 153 times for 573 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 46-of-52 targets for 299 yards and one touchdown in 2024. He has one year remaining on his rookie contract.

Otton begins Week 17 the same way he began Week 16; with two missed practices. Otton managed to practice in a limited capacity last Friday before being ruled out for Week 16. His Week 17 status could still go either way but his lack of progress is concerning. Fantasy managers should expect him to miss another game.

Duggar did not practice on Tuesday or Wednesday but was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday. The veteran safety played through an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Bills, but the quad injury appears to be something new. In addition to Duggaer, the Patriots also listed safety Jabrill Peppers, LB Sione Takitaki, and offensive tackle Caedan Wallace as questionable, while ruling out cornerback Marcus Jones (hip).

Beat reporter Nick Wagoner expects Guerendo to be counted as a limited participant on Thursday, which bodes positively for Guerenedo’s Week 17 Monday Night Football availability. Guerendo was unable to play in Week 16, sidelined all week by his two lower-body injuries. Patrick Taylor Jr. would likely become a fantasy non-factor if Guerendo is active.

Thielen popped up on Thursday’s report with a hamstring injury. It’s not known at this time if this is the same hamstring that sidelined him for nearly two months earlier this season, but a late addition to the team’s injury report undoubtedly draws his Week 17 availability into question. Thielen’s status will be one to keep an eye on when Friday’s injury report is released. He and Xavier Legette (wrist/hip) are both dealing with injuries and would leave the Panthers thin at the position if both players cannot suit up.

Legette was listed as a full participant on Wednesday, so Thursday’s limited designation is technically a downgrade. That said, Legette has been playing through his wrist injury for years, per Legette, but the hip injury is likely related to the groin issue that sidelined him in Week 16’s win over the Cardinals. We’ll have a better sense of Legette’s Week 17 availability when the team releases its final injury report on Friday, but if he’s unable to play, both Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker would stand to benefit from his absence.

Hubbard being listed as limited is an upgrade from Wednesday’s DNP. The Panthers’ do-it-all back should be good to go for Week 17’s game against the Buccaneers, but we’ll see how things look when the final injury report is released on Friday. If he can’t play, the Panthers could be looking at Mike Boone as their starter, with Miles Sanders still on injured reserve.

Richardson has not practiced this week, but according to Holder, the team says Richardson “has made consistent progress and is responding to treatment” to the injuries currently sidelining him. If he can’t start, Joe Flacco will make his fifth start of the season and his first since Week 10 when he threw for 272-2-3 in a loss to the Bills. We’ll see how things go for Richardson in the team’s final tune-up of the week, but despite his two DNPs, his chances of playing are greater than we would be left to assume.