NFL injury updates, latest league news from Saturday, Jan. 1

Two of the Carolina Panthers' top defenders will be available to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Defensive end Brian Burns and linebacker Shaq Thompson have cleared COVID-19 protocols and will travel Saturday and play Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday morning. The team later announced the move, with defensive end Marquis Haynes also being activated.

Burns and Thompson were each placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Burns has produced nine sacks, 48 tackles, 17 QB hits and 13 tackles for loss through 15 games and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.

Thompson's compiled 91 tackles in just 12 games.

Injuries/COVID-19

• The Atlanta Falcons activated linebacker Brandon Copeland, quarterback Feleipe Franks and safety Richie Grant off the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Markus Golden was not activated Saturday off the reserve/COVID-19 list, so he is out Sunday versus the Cowboys. Linebacker Tanner Vallejo was activated from the injured reserve/designated for return list.
• The Baltimore Ravens placed linebacker Daelin Hayes on injured reserve.
• Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (ankle) is questionable for Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as is defensive tackle Malik Taylor (knee). Safety Ronnie Harrison (ankle), safety John Johnson III (hamstring) and cornerback Troy Hill (knee) are out for Monday.
• The Cincinnati Bengals activated quarterback Brandon Allen and linebacker Germaine Pratt from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Dallas Cowboys activated wideout Noah Brown from injured reserve and wideout Simi Fehoko from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who head coach Vic Fangio expressed concern that he could land on the reserve/COVID-19 list, has been cleared to travel with the team to face the Chargers and is expected to play, Rapoport reported. Linebacker Andre Mintze was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and injured reserve. Defensive lineman Jonathan Harris was also activated from the COVID list and elevated from the practice squad.
• Detroit Lions linebacker Rashod Berry (illness) has been added to the injury report and ruled out for Sunday’s game at Seattle.
• The Green Bay Packers activated punter Corey Bojorquez, guard Ben Braden, linebacker Oren Burks, tight ends Tyler Davis and Marcedes Lewis, linebacker Ty Summers and defensive lineman R.J. McIntosh off the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Indianapolis Colts activated quarterback Carson Wentz, cornerback T.J. Carrie and offensive tackle Braden Smith from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars placed defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot on the reserve/COVID-19 list and activated defensive tackles Malcom Brown and DaVon Hamilton, tight end Chris Manhertz, offensive lineman Andrew Norwell and defensive lineman Jihad Ward from the list.
• The Kansas City Chiefs downgraded running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) to out for Sunday's game against the Bengals and, in a corresponding move, activated running back Jerick McKinnon (hamstring) from injured reserve.
• The Las Vegas Raiders activated cornerback Casey Hayward, linebackers Cory Littleton and Denzel Perryman and defensive tackle Darius Philon from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Los Angeles Chargers activated safety Nasir Adderley, safety Alohi Gilman, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., cornerback Davontae Harris, kicker Dustin Hopkins, offensive tackle Storm Norton, long snapper Matt Overton and offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Miami Dolphins activated defensive lineman Adam Butler and safety Brandon Jones off the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team also activated linebacker Brennan Scarlett off injured reserve and placed cornerback Noah Igbinoghene and safety Sheldrick Redwine on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Michael Pierce (illness) was downgraded to out versus the Packers. Guard Oli Udoh was activated from the reserve/Covid-19 list.
• The New York Giants activated defensive back Julian Love from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The New York Jets activated cornerback Bryce Hall from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Philadelphia Eagles activated defensive end Derek Barnett from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers activated defensive end Isaiah Buggs from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III (personal/illness) is questionable for Monday night's game.
• The San Francisco 49ers activated punter Mitch Wishnowsky from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Seattle Seahawks placed cornerback Sidney Jones IV on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones was activated from IR and linebacker Jon Rhattigan was placed on IR.
• The Tennessee Titans activated defensive lineman Denico Autry, linebacker Bud Dupree and defensive back Buster Skrine from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Defensive lineman Larrell Murchison has been downgraded to out. The team did not activate wide receiver Julio Jones off the reserve/COVID-19 list, so he is out for Sunday versus the Dolphins.
• The Washington Football Team did not activate running back Antonio Gibson off the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning he's out for Sunday's game against the Eagles. Gibson was placed on the list Friday. Washington announced it would be without offensive line coach John Matsko due to COVID-19 protocols.

Roster moves

• The Atlanta Falcons elevated tight end Parker Hesse, wideout Austin Trammell, defensive backs Luther Kirk and Lafayette Pitts and defensive end Nick Thurman from the practice squad.
• The Baltimore Ravens activated defensive backs Robert Jackson and Tony Jefferson and offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith.
• The Buffalo Bills elevated defensive tackle Eli Ankou from the practice squad.
• The Carolina Panthers elevated defensive end Austin Larkin, running back Spencer Brown, cornerback Madre Harper, offensive lineman Mike Horton, and tight ends Stephen Sullivan and Colin Thompson from the practice squad.
• The Cincinnati Bengals elevated cornerback John Brannon, quarterback Jake Browning and wide receiver Trent Taylor from the practice squad.
• The Dallas Cowboys elevated safety Darian Thompson from the practice squad.
• The Denver Broncos activated cornerbacks Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Rojesterman Farris, offensive tackle Quinn Bailey, wideout Rico Gafford, offensive tackle Drew Himmelman, defensive end Marquiss Spencer and linebacker Barrington Wade from the practice squad.
• The Detroit Lions elevated linebacker Tavante Beckett, guard Parker Ehinger, defensive end Bruce Hector wideout Javon McKinley and tight end Ross Travis from the practice squad.
• The Green Bay Packers elevated defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson and wideout David Moore from the practice squad, signed kicker Elliott Fry to the practice squad and released linebacker Aaron Adeoye from the practice squad.
• The Houston Texans elevated wide receiver Jalen Camp, defensive back Cre'von LeBlanc, running back Jaylen Samuels, offensive lineman Jordan Steckler and wide receiver Jordan Veasy as COVID-19 replacements and defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour and linebacker Josh Watson as standard elevations.
• The Indianapolis Colts elevated quarterback Brett Hundley and defensive tackle Chris Williams from the practice squad as COVID replacements. Indianapolis also elevated long snapper Kyle Nelson and safety Will Redmond and waived center Joey Hunt and offensive tackle Greg Senat.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars elevated cornerback Lorenzo Burns, defensive tackle Doug Costin, wideout Jeff Cotton Jr., running back Nathan Cottrell, offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, defensive back Michael Jacquet, safety Bradley McDougald and offensive linemen Badara Traore and Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Las Vegas Raiders activated safety Jordan Brown, center Hroniss Grasu, wideout Tyron Johnson and defensive tackle Damion Square from the practice squad.
• The Los Angeles Chargers activated linebacker Cole Christiansen and tight end Hunter Kampmoyer from the practice squad.
• The Los Angeles Rams activated defensive back Grant Haley and wide receiver Brandon Powell from the practice squad. The team also signed wide receiver J.J. Koski.
• The Minnesota Vikings elevated defensive tackle T.Y. McGill, defensive end Eddie Yarbrough safety Myles Dorn, cornerback Tye Smith and defensive end Kenny Willekes to the active roster.
• The New England Patriots and veteran safety Adrian Phillips have agreed to a three-year extension worth $12.75 million with a max value of $14.25 million and $7.25 million guaranteed, Rapoport reported. Phillips, a Pro Bowler with the Chargers, is in his second season with the Pats and has 76 tackles, four interceptions and eight passes defended. The Pats elevated defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale, cornerback D’Angelo Ross and wideout Kristian Wilkerson to the active roster.
• The New York Jets elevated defensive end Ronnie Blair, tight end Dan Brown, wideout D.J. Montgomery and cornerback Lamar Jackson for Sunday versus the Buccaneers.
• The New York Giants elevated wideout Alex Bachman, defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton, wideout Pharoh Cooper, offensive tackle Derrick Kelly, defensive tackle David Moa and wideout David Sills from the practice squad.
• The Philadelphia Eagles elevated defensive end Cameron Malveaux and linebacker JaCoby Stevens from the practice squad.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers signed linebacker Tegray Scales from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
• The San Francisco 49ers elevated tight end Tanner Hudson and linebackers Mark Nzeocha and Curtis Robinson from the practice squad. Running back Brian Hill was waived.
• The Seattle Seahawks elevated cornerback Mike Jackson, safety Josh Jones and linebacker Edmond Robinson from the practice squad.
• The Washington Football Team activated defensive end William Bradley-King, linebacker De'Jon Harris, cornerback D.J. Hayden, safety Jeremy Reaves and running back Wendell Smallwood as COVID-19 replacements. Washington also elevated punter Ryan Winslow and guard Deion Calhoun from the practice squad. Additionally, Washington announced it had released 2020 fourth-round pick Antonio Gandy-Golden, a wide receiver.

Fines

• Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Efe Obada was fined $6,944 for a hit on Patriots quarterback Mac Jones in Week 16, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
• New England Patriots offensive lineman Trent Brown was fined $10,300 for unsportsmanlike conduct for his part in a scrum during Week 16's game against the Bills, Pelissero reported. Patriots OL David Andrews was fined $10,300 for unsportsmanlike conduct for taunting in the third quarter against the Bills, Rapoport reported.
• Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks were fined $12,875 each and Camryn Bynum $4,663 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Rams in Week 16, Pelissero reported.