December 18, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) did not practice all week and has officially been ruled out for Saturday's divisional rematch against the visiting Green Bay Packers in Week 16, according to the team. Odunze will miss a third straight game while he deals with a stress fracture in his foot, and it's sounding like the Bears will hold him out through the end of the regular season so that they'll have him closer to 100% for the playoffs. In addition to Odunze, Chicago will be without rookie wideout
Luther Burden III (ankle). Running back
D'Andre Swift (groin) and tight end
Cole Kmet (ankle, knee) are also questionable. Quarterback
Caleb Williams will be missing some key weapons against a strong Packers defense, even if they're missing pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee).
DJ Moore,
Olamide Zaccheaus, and
Devin Duvernay figure to be the Bears' top-three receivers on Saturday evening.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Communications
December 18, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver
Luther Burden III (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The rookie second-rounder was unable to practice this week and will be forced to miss his second game of the season with an ankle injury. The Bears will be short-handed at receiver for a critical Week 16 game, with
Rome Odunze (foot) ruled out for the third straight week as he manages a stress fracture in his foot. Burden was surging in Odunze's absence, posting his two highest yardage totals since his 101-yard performance in Week 3. He led the Bears in receiving in both games, hauling in four of six targets for 67 yards in Week 14 versus the Packers, and six of seven targets for 84 yards last week against the Browns.
DJ Moore,
Olamide Zaccheaus, and
Devin Duvernay will likely see the bulk of the snaps at wide receiver, with rookie tight end
Colston Loveland also in line for more targets on Saturday.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Bears Communications
December 18, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) was not spotted at the beginning of the team's practice on Thursday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins suffered his second concussion in two weeks in Week 14 and was held out of the Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday, so a DNP on Thursday would be a downgrade and suggest a possible setback as he tries to make his way through the league's concussion protocol. The Bengals have been eliminated from postseason play, so Cincy will most likely err on the side of caution if Higgins is up in the air at all. Fantasy managers should have a better idea of Higgins' status for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins by Friday. Higgins is a must-start in fantasy if he's active. If he's ruled out for a second straight game, though,
Andrei Iosivas and
Mitchell Tinsley would both have some deep-league flex appeal in a favorable matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
December 18, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee) won't practice on Thursday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he's feeling "much better" and that he still has a chance to play on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Pearsall aggravated the PCL injury that caused him to miss six games earlier this season and also sprained his ankle during the Week 15 win over the Titans. The 25-year-old will have an extra day to recover this week, but it still seems unlikely that he'll be able to suit up on Monday night. The second-year wideout produced his third game this season with 95 or more yards against the Titans, finishing with six catches for 96 yards on seven targets. If Pearsall ends up being ruled out,
Jauan Jennings would be in line for a larger role, with
Kendrick Bourne also becoming a viable flex option in deeper leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Nick Wagoner
December 18, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) is absent from Thursday's practice for the second straight day as he remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to senior team reporter Matt McCullen. Thornton exited the Week 15 loss to the Chargers after a 21-yard catch in the fourth quarter. The 25-year-old appears unlikely to suit up for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans unless he can clear the league's concussion protocol. The former New England Patriots wideout wouldn't have much fantasy appeal regardless, with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) out for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL. Top wideout
Rashee Rice (concussion) is also in concussion protocol with Thornton.
Xavier Worthy,
Marquise Brown, and
JuJu Smith-Schuster could be in line for more opportunities in Week 16 if Thornton and Rice are ruled out.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Matt McMullen
December 18, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice (concussion) won't practice again on Thursday as he remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to Chiefs senior reporter Matt McCullen. Rice is trending towards missing his first game since returning from suspension in Week 7. The 25-year-old's rest-of-the-season outlook is already hurt with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) out for the year after suffering a torn ACL in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs could be thin at wide receiver for Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans, with
Tyquan Thornton (concussion) also in concussion protocol and missing two practices this week. If Rice and Thornton are ruled out, quarterback
Gardner Minshew will rely on a receiver trio of
Xavier Worthy,
Marquise Brown, and
JuJu Smith-Schuster, along with a heavy dose of tight end
Travis Kelce in the passing game.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Matt McMullen
December 18, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb (rib) is practicing for the second straight day on Thursday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. The 29-year-old returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday and is trending towards returning on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing last week's win over the Cardinals. With rookie
Woody Marks (ankle) not at practice for the second consecutive day after getting banged up in Week 15, Chubb could be in line to handle the bulk of the touches in Week 16. The veteran hasn't recorded double-digit touches in a game since Week 9, so his workload could be limited in his return from injury. The emergence of
Jawhar Jordan is also a factor, as he was a popular waiver pickup this week after posting the first 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the Texans last week against Arizona. Houston's backfield is still murky at the moment, and fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Texans' injury report on Friday.
UPDATE: Chubb practiced in full on Thursday.--Kyle McCarthySource: Jonathan M. Alexander
December 18, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (illness) returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an illness, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Jackson continued an ongoing trend of missing Wednesday practices, but this time it was due to an illness and not a nagging ankle injury. He should be ready to go for Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots, and there is hope for his fantasy managers that he can be more productive as he puts his nagging lower-body injuries in the rearview mirror. Jackson has not looked like a two-time MVP in 2025, throwing for 2,210 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games played while adding only two rushing touchdowns. The 28-year-old has multiple touchdown passes just once in the last six games, although the good news is that the one instance came last week. Treat Jackson as a low-end QB1 in Week 16.
UPDATE: Jackson practiced in full on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
December 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson was still leading off individual drills in Thursday's practice despite the return of
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), according to Arizona Sports' Tyler Drake. All four of Wilson's games this year with double-digit targets have come with Harrison sitting out due to injuries in the last five weeks. The one game sandwiched in between on Nov. 30 saw Wilson catch just three of seven targets for 36 yards. It's reasonable for fantasy managers to wonder if Wilson will be a dud in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons if Harrison makes his return to the lineup. The 25-year-old Wilson will definitely lose out on some targets if Harrison is active this Sunday after returning to practice this week, but he should still be at least a WR2 for fantasy managers in the Cardinals' pass-heavy attack. In the last two weeks, Wilson has caught 16 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns on 27 targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) was seen practicing for the second straight day on Thursday, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Harrison was listed as limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The 23-year-old missed Weeks 11 and 12 following an appendectomy, and when he returned in Week 13, he suffered a heel injury that forced him to sit out Weeks 14 and 15. All signs are pointing to Harrison returning this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons, though.
Michael Wilson has gone bonkers for fantasy managers with Harrison sidelined for four of the last five games, and Harrison could take a back seat to him upon his return. Still, Harrison has plenty of upside in Arizona's pass-happy offense if he makes it back against Atlanta after catching six of seven targets for 69 yards in his last game on Nov. 30.
UPDATE: Harrison was limited in practice again on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 18, 2025
Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan (ankle, foot) is back at practice on Thursday, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. A pair of injuries kept McMillan out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but a return on Thursday puts him on track to be available for a Week 16 clash with the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 22-year-old may have been injured in Sunday's upset loss to the New Orleans Saints, as he had the worst game of his young NFL career with only two catches for 25 yards on four targets. Fantasy managers will be hoping for a bounce-back performance this weekend against Tampa if he's active. Before McMillan's Week 15 dud, he had scored four touchdowns in the previous three games. If active this weekend, McMillan profiles as a high-end WR2 for fantasy managers.
UPDATE: McMillan practiced in full on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
December 18, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee) was not seen on the practice field in the portion open to the media on Thursday, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550. Two straight days of missed practice are a bad omen for Kincaid's chances of playing this Sunday in Cleveland against the Browns, although he still has one more day to return to practice. The 26-year-old missed Weeks 11-13 with a hamstring injury as well. In two games since his return, Kincaid has seven receptions on nine targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. If Kincaid returns to practice on Friday and plays on Sunday, he'll be a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers still playing for a trophy this year. If Kincaid isn't cleared to play,
Dawson Knox would bump up to a low-end TE1 option after scoring two touchdowns in last week's comeback victory over the Patriots.
--Keith HernandezSource: WGR 550 - Sal Capaccio
December 18, 2025
Houston Texans rookie running back
Woody Marks (ankle) was not seen at the media accessible portion of practice on Thursday, according to Shaun Bijani of Sports Radio 610. Marks aggravated a pre-existing ankle injury in the first half of Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals and did not return in the second half. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that the 24-year-old could have re-entered the game if it had been closer. That suggests that Marks' injury isn't very serious, but back-to-back DNPs this week put his availability for Week 16 against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders in peril.
Nick Chubb (ribs) has returned to practice after being inactive last Sunday. With both Chubb and Marks banged up, second-year back
Jawhar Jordan is worth a look on the waiver wire after he had 15 carries for 101 yards in his NFL debut against Arizona.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Radio 610 - Shaun Bijani
December 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (personal) rejoined the team for practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session due to a personal matter, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. Reed will be available to play on Saturday night versus the division-rival Chicago Bears, and he could have a bigger role in the offense if fellow wideout
Christian Watson (chest) is limited or out after he was injured in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. The 25-year-old had five grabs on six targets for a season-high 55 yards in Week 15 in his second game back from a broken foot and broken collarbone. Reed tied for the team lead in targets against Denver, and he should see his role grow down the stretch. He'll be on the WR2/3 borderline for fantasy managers in a crucial game this weekend in the Windy City.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
December 18, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson (calf, hand) is missing from the practice field again on Thursday, per Browns Zone's Scott Petrak. Unless Sampson can get back on the practice field in some capacity on Friday, he appears headed toward a second straight absence this Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills.
Jerome Ford (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve and out for the rest of the season, so if Sampson sits again in Week 16,
Trayveon Williams would once again serve as Cleveland's RB2 behind rookie
Quinshon Judkins. Williams played 33% of the offensive snaps in last week's blowout loss to the Chicago Bears in his first game with the Browns this year and had only one rushing attempt for three yards while catching both of his targets for four yards. If Sampson can't play against Buffalo, his next chance to take the field will come in Week 17 against the division-rival Steelers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
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