January 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (rest) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this past week. His reduced workload in practice was not injury-related, as the Chiefs allowed him to rest because they had already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Kareem Hunt is active on Sunday afternoon and should operate as the primary running back in this
Chris Oladokun-led offense. We also wouldn't be surprised to see rookie
Brashard Smith earn more snaps if Kansas City wants to evaluate his role and viability for the 2026 campaign.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt McMullen
January 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy (illness) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. He had been listed as doubtful after missing all three practices this past week. Kansas City has already been eliminated from playoff contention, so Worthy finishes his second pro season with 42 catches, 532 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown through 14 games.
Travis Kelce,
Marquise Brown, and
JuJu Smith-Schuster should operate as
Chris Oladokun's top targets in the passing game on Sunday afternoon.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt McMullen
January 4, 2026
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (right hand) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Given that Minnesota is eliminated from playoff contention and Green Bay is penciled into the No. 7 seed, it seems somewhat unlikely that the Vikings will put McCarthy back into the game if he's not fully healthy. For the time being,
Max Brosmer has taken over at quarterback. At the time of his departure, McCarthy had completed 14 of his 23 pass attempts for 182 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero turnovers. He also had seven rushing yards. Injuries continue to be a common theme for the former first-round pick. McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season, and he played 100% of the snaps in fewer than half of the Vikings' games this year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Minnesota Vikings
January 4, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee, ankle) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Chicago Bears. He's been dealing with nagging injuries for over a month now, but he has demonstrated extreme toughness by playing through his ailments. He has officially been active for all 17 games in back-to-back seasons. The Lions have been eliminated from the playoffs, but they'll look to play spoiler since the Bears haven't officially locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC yet. In his last game against Chicago, St. Brown caught nine passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns. He'll look to feast again in the 2025 finale, ranking as a high-end WR1 for fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: Detroit Lions
January 4, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) is inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Detroit Lions. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. The second-year receiver will now miss his fifth consecutive game, but Sunday's absence could be precautionary as the Bears look for him to get healthy before the playoffs. Chicago has a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed in the NFC on Sunday afternoon.
DJ Moore and
Luther Burden III will operate as the top Bears receivers in his absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Scott Bair
January 4, 2026
Minnesota Vikings tight end
Josh Oliver (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of his team's Week 18 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after suffering an ankle injury. Oliver recorded two catches for 29 yards on two targets before exiting the game. The 28-year-old will finish the 2025 season with 15 catches for 160 yards and four touchdowns on 19 targets across 15 games played. Minnesota entered the game already without tight end
T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), so the team is now working without its top two players at the position. Without Hockenson and Oliver, the Vikings will likely rely on tight ends
Ben Yurosek and
Ben Sims for the remainder of Week 18.
--Will BradySource: Minnesota Vikings
January 4, 2026
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of his team's Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Across 14 games this season entering the week, Ward has recorded 29 solo tackles, nine passes defensed, and one interception. The 28-year-old was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and fifth in eight career NFL seasons for his work in 2025. Without Ward on the field, life should be easier for Bengals wideouts
Tee Higgins and
Ja'Marr Chase for the remainder of Week 18. Cleveland will likely rely more heavily on cornerbacks Sam Webb and D'Angelo Ross with Ward sidelined.
--Will BradySource: Cleveland Browns
January 4, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan (ankle) is questionable to return to his team's Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts after suffering an ankle injury. Jordan recorded five carries for three yards before exiting the game. The 26-year-old did not record his first NFL carry until Week 15 of the 2025 season, but he's emerged as a more consistent contributor with 190 rushing yards over his last three games entering Week 18. If he's unable to return, Texans back
Woody Marks would likely dominate rushing work for the remainder of Week 18, with
Dare Ogunbowale mixing in on passing downs. Houston does not have veteran back
Nick Chubb available, as he was a healthy scratch for Week 18.
--Will BradySource: Houston Texans
January 4, 2026
Green Bay Packers cornerback/wide receiver
Bo Melton (knee) is questionable to return to his team's Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings after suffering a knee injury. Melton was targeted once but did not record a reception before exiting the game. The 26-year-old has spent time playing on both sides of the ball in 2025. However, with Green Bay resting multiple starters in Week 18, Melton was one of the few wide receiver options active for the Packers on Sunday. If he is unable to return, Green Bay could be down to just
Matthew Golden and
Jakobie Keeney-James to soak up wide receiver snaps for the remainder of Week 18.
--Will BradySource: Green Bay Packers
January 4, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. (head) is being evaluated for a concussion during his team's Week 18 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, per ESPN's Michael DiRocco. The 23-year-old recorded one catch for 22 yards on two targets before exiting the game. Jacksonville has a spot in the AFC playoffs locked up, so the team may proceed with caution, even if Thomas Jr. can avoid a concussion diagnosis. If Thomas Jr. is unable to return, Jaguars wideouts
Jakobi Meyers and
Parker Washington could see an increase in target share, while wide receivers
Tim Patrick and
Dyami Brown would likely see more playing time.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Michael DiRocco
January 4, 2026
The Cleveland Browns listed cornerback Denzel Ward (neck) as questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The star corner picked up the injury in the first half and left the game. The Browns have nothing to play for in Week 18, so they may exercise caution with one of the foundational players on what has been an excellent defense again. Ward has 37 tackles and an interception on the season for Cleveland.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Scott Petrak
January 4, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have ruled out rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward (shoulder) from returning to Sunday's season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie took a big collision on a touchdown run in the first quarter, departed the game, and the club took no chances with their franchise quarterback's throwing shoulder thereafter. As a rookie, Ward wasn't much of an option in standard redraft leagues, but he turned the corner during the final month of the season, which gave managers in dynasty formats some hope going into the offseason. After throwing just seven touchdowns in the first 12 games, Ward had eight touchdowns, one pick, and a rushing touchdown in the final five weeks. With Ward out,
Brandon Allen should close out the day for Tennessee.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Tennessee Titans
January 4, 2026
The Tennessee Titans designated starting rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward (shoulder) as questionable to return to Sunday's game at Jacksonville with an injury to his throwing shoulder. The rookie scored a rushing touchdown that gave the Titans an early lead, during which he broke the plane through heavy contact. Ward was forced out of the game, missing his first snaps of the season. If Ward were to be unavailable for the remainder of the game, backup
Brandon Allen will handle quarterback duties. It's been a decent rookie season for Ward, who surpassed 3,000 yards passing with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Tennessee Titans
January 4, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) will not play in Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Washington Commanders. He was ruled out after missing practice on Friday. The Eagles are resting many key starters for non-injury reasons this weekend, but Johnson's case is a little different because he's injured. The 35-year-old lineman is working his way back from an absence that has now lasted seven weeks. Philadelphia is hopeful that he can return to action for the Wild Card Round of the playoffs next weekend. In the meantime, Fred Johnson will start at right tackle against the Commanders on Sunday afternoon.
--Andersen PickardSource: Philadelphia Eagles
January 4, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh returning to the team seems to be a situation that is "up in the air" right now. Both Harbaugh and the Ravens are expected to meet in the offseason to determine what direction they want to go in moving forward. Behind Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, Harbaugh is the second-longest-tenured coach in the NFL. Until the offseason conversations occur, Schefter is leaning toward Harbaugh returning, especially if the Ravens win the AFC North on Sunday night by beating the division-rival Steelers. The Ravens apparently will also be having discussions on what to do with two-time MVP quarterback
Lamar Jackson this offseason. There have been rumors floating around that the Ravens could look to trade him. If they don't, a contract restructure could be coming.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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