NFL injury updates, latest league news from Monday, Dec. 27

Monday saw a new record number of players placed on the COVID-19 list.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported 106 players were placed on various teams' reserve/COVID-19 lists.

The breakdown of players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list is as follows: 74 active-roster players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and 22 went on the practice squad COVID-19 list. Ten additional players landed on the list over the weekend due to positive tests, but were not officially registered until Monday's transaction wire.

Notable players to be placed on COVID lists included: Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, who has also been dealing with a hamstring injury, Patriots pass rusher Matt Judon, Titans wide receiver Julio Jones, Ravens safety Tony Jefferson, Texans running back David Johnson Panthers defenders Shaq Thompson and Brian Burns and Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith .

Per league data, 165 players were placed on the list during the week of Dec. 13-18 and 205 players were put on the list the week of Dec. 20-25. Per NFL Research, the total number of players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list is 521 in December, including 476 since Dec. 13.

Updated COVID-19 protocols state that fully vaccinated, asymptomatic players can go off the COVID-19 list provided they produce two negative tests within 24 hours.

Injuries/COVID-19

• The Arizona Cardinals activated center Rodney Hudson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Markus Golden tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Pelissero reported.
• Baltimore Ravens cornerback Anthony Averett sustained a fractured rib against the Bengals, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Averett faces an uphill battle to play in Week 17. Baltimore activated cornerback Jimmy Smith and linebacker Pernell McPhee from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and added safety Tony Jefferson to the list
• Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns tested positive for COVID-19, Pelissero reported. Head coach Matt Rhule told reporters Monday morning that the team had a “somewhat significant” number of positive tests that caused him to send players home for the day. Burns, linebacker Shaq Thompson, defensive end Marquis Haynes , defensive tackles Phil Hoskins and Daviyon Nixon and center Matt Paradis were later placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Nixon (knee) and Paradis (torn ACL) were already on injured reserve and out for the year. Quarterback Matt Barkley was activated from the COVID list.
• The Chicago Bears activated receiver Allen Robinson, tight end Jesse James, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, running back Ryan Nall and safety Tashaun Gipson from the COVID list.
• The Cincinnati Bengals placed quarterback Brandon Allen and cornerback Darius Phillips on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Phillips (shoulder) is currently on injured reserve.
• The Cleveland Browns activated eight players from the reserve/COVID-19 list: defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, guard Drew Forbes, safety Ronnie Harrison, cornerback Troy Hill, running back Kareem Hunt, defensive tackle Malik McDowell, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills and linebacker Mack Wilson. Cleveland also placed linebacker Elijah Lee on the list.
• The Detroit Lions activated quarterback Jared Goff from and placed receiver Josh Reynolds on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Practice squad quarterback Steven Montez was also added to the COVID list. Practice squad tight end Shane Zylstra was placed on IR.
• The Green Bay Packers placed cornerback Kevin King and wide receiver Amari Rodgers on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Indianapolis Colts placed safety Jahleel Addae, cornerback T.J. Carrie, linebacker Malik Jefferson, running back Marlon Mack and offensive tackle Braden Smith on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Houston Texans placed linebacker Neville Hewitt, running back David Johnson and practice squad fullback Paul Quessenberry on the COVID list.
• Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke is expected to miss time due to a knee injury, per interim coach Darrell Bevell. The following players were placed on the reserve/COVID list: tight end Dan Arnold, defensive tackle Malcom Brown, pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, tight end Luke Farrell, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, offensive lineman Brandon Linder, tight end Chris Manhertz, pass rusher Lerentee McCray, offensive lineman Andrew Norwell, defensive lineman Jihad Ward and practice squad offensive lineman Jared Hocker. Running back James Robinson was officially placed on IR after tearing his Achilles on Sunday.
• The Kansas City Chiefs activated guard Kyle Long from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Las Vegas Raiders placed linebackers Cory Littleton, Patrick Onwuasor, Denzel Perryman and K.J. Wright, cornerback Casey Hayward and defensive lineman Darius Philon on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley announced receiver Mike Williams, safety Nasir Adderley and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are out for Week 17 and will be added to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Edge rusher Emeke Egbule, cornerback Michael Davis, safety Alohi Gilman, offensive lineman Senio Kelemete and defensive lineman Andrew Brown were also placed on the list. The Chargers activated running back Austin Ekeler from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain Sunday, per Rapoport. Jones is considered week-to-week.
• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tommylee Lewis was ruled out Monday night with a hip injury. Wide receiver Albert Wilson tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Minnesota Vikings placed guard Oli Udoh and quarterback Sean Mannion on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• New England Patriots pass rusher Matt Judon and linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley tested positive for COVID-19 and have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, per Pelissero and NFL Network's Mike Giardi, respectively.
• New York Jets center Connor McGovern suffered an MCL injury and will miss the rest of the season, per coach Robert Saleh. The team also placed nose tackle Quinnen Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders sustained a broken bone in his hand during Sunday's win over the Giants, per Rapoport. Sanders won't play Week 17. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said they're hopeful to get him back for Week 18. Also, Philly placed defensive ends Derek Barnett and Tarron Jackson, as well as cornerback Andre Chachere, on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed safety Karl Joseph on the practice squad/COVID-19 list.
• San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did not practice because of a right thumb injury. He will be re-evaluated on Wednesday to determine his availability. The team also placed punter Mitch Wishnowsky on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Seattle Seahawks placed defensive end L.J. Collier on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Practice squad tight end Ryan Izzo was activated from the COVID-19 list.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass rusher Shaquil Barrett suffered a sprained MCL and ACL in Sunday's win over Carolina and will miss Tampa Bay's final two regular-season games, coach Bruce Arians told reporters Monday. Wide receiver Mike Evans was placed on the COVID-19 list, while wideout Breshad Perriman was activated.
• The Tennessee Titans placed receivers Julio Jones and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, defensive back Buster Skrine and linebacker Bud Dupree on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Injured cornerback Caleb Farley was added also. Guard Rodger Saffold and defensive backElijah Molden were activated from the list.
• The Washington Football Team activated linebacker Cole Holcomb, center Tyler Larsen and guard Brandon Scherff from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Larsen (Achilles) was also placed on injured reserve.

Roster/coaching moves

• The Baltimore Ravens released offensive tackle Adrian Ealy.
• The Carolina Panthers released kicker Alex Kessman.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed former Rams running back Mekhi Sargent and linebacker Jamir Jones off waivers.
• The New Orleans Saints activated 14 players as COVID-19 replacements for Monday night's game, including quarterback Blake Bortles, guard Forrest Lamp and defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that offensive line coach Adrian Klemm has been granted permission to leave the team and accept a similar position with the University of Oregon football team. Assistant OL coach Chris Morgan will handle Klemm's duties for the rest of the season.
• The Tennessee Titans signed offensive lineman Cedric Ogbuehi to the practice squad and released defensive back Nate Brooks.