NFL injury updates, latest league news from Tuesday, Dec. 14

The Indianapolis Colts are welcoming a key member of their offensive line back into the fold in Week 15.

The team announced Tuesday that center Ryan Kelly has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Kelly, who was placed on the list on Dec. 4, told reporters he dealt with mild symptoms for a few days while in protocol but is "feeling good" now.

Kelly was officially listed as a limited practice participant on the injury report.

The 28-year-old former first rounder has been a fixture on the Colts' O-line since joining the club in 2016. He's started 12 of Indy's 13 games this season with his lone DNP coming in Week 13 as result of his COVID-list designation.

With their bye week now behind them, the Colts can continue their preparation for a pivotal Saturday night showdown against the 9-4 Patriots (8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network) with Kelly's stout presence back in the lineup.

In other injury news, linebacker Bobby Okereke did not practice due to an undisclosed illness.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters running back James Conner (ankle) and receiver DeAndre Hopkins (leg) are set to undergo MRIs for undisclosed injuries.
• The Baltimore Ravens placed center Trystan Colon-Castillo on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey tested positive for COVID-19, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapaport reported. McCaffrey was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Week 12. The Panthers placed McCaffrey on the reserve/COVID list, and activated offensive lineman Trent Scott from the list.
• The Chicago Bears placed nose tackle Eddie Goldman, defensive back Artie Burns and practice squad linebacker Sam Kamara on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Cincinnati Bengals placed cornerback Darius Phillips on injured reserve.
• The Cleveland Browns placed the following players on the reserve/COVID-19 list: receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, offensive linemen Drew Forbes, Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills, and defensive end Takkarist McKinley. Practice squad receiver JoJo Natson and tight end Ross Travis were also placed on the list. Safety Ronnie Harrison (ankle), DE Jadeveon Clowney (knee), guard Joel Bitonio (back) and center JC Tretter (knee) were listed as limited on the estimated injury report. Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (knee) and CB Greg Newsome II (concussion) did not practice.
• The Detroit Lions placed cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman on the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said defensive lineman Chris Jones will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. With Kansas City playing the Chargers on Thursday, Jones' availability for Week 15 is now in doubt.
• The Las Vegas Raiders designated tight end Nick Bowers from injured reserve, and activated running back Jalen Richard from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Safety Johnathan Abram (illness), TE Darren Waller (knee/back), linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (toe) were listed as DNPs on the estimated injury report. Defensive ends Maxx Crosby (calf) and Carl Nassib (knee) was limited.
• The Los Angeles Chargers arguably have their biggest matchup of the regular season this Thursday, battling it out with Kansas City for the No.1 spot in the AFC West. The Bolts, however, are once again in the midst of another week of preparing without one of their key offensive weapons -- this time rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater, who was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. Slater has started all 13 games this season, while also being one of two Chargers offensive linemen to play 100 percent of the offensive snaps. Vaccinated players have to produce two negative COVID-19 tests within a 48-hour period to be activated. If Slater can't go who's stepping up against an emerging Chiefs defense, which leads the NFL with 16 takeaways in the past two months? NFL Network's Kayla Burton relayed that the Chargers are looking toward third-year Trey Pipkins to replace Slater in the lineup. Chargers OC Joe Lombardi said Tuesday that Pipkins has lined up at left tackle during practice this week, adding “I think he will be ready to go.” Pipkins has been contributing this season as an extra offensive linemen in certain personnel sub-packages and also has provided support on the field goal protection unit. While Pipkins has only contributed 25 total offensive plays this season -- compared to Slater’s 838 -- Lombardi said they still remain confident. “It’s obviously challenging regardless of who you got blocking, but listen, obviously we’re going to miss Rashawn, but we trust Trey to go in there and do his job. And we’ll give him help when appropriate, but I think he’ll be ready to go.”
• The Chargers also activated receiver Keenan Allen from the reserve/COVID-19 list, per the transaction wire. Allen, who missed Week 14, was placed on the list last Monday. Running back Austin Ekeler (ankle), safety Derwin James (hamstring) and wide receiver Mike Williams (heel) were listed as limited for Tuesday's walkthrough.
• Los Angeles Rams receiver Odell Beckham tested positive for COVID-19, per Rapoport. The team later announced Beckham, defensive backs Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, Tyler Hall and JuJu Hughes; tight end Brycen Hopkins, offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and defensive end Jonah Williams were placed on the reserve/COVID list. The team also activated TE Tyler Higbee from the list; Sean McVay told reporters Tuesday Higbee missed Monday night's game against the Cardinals due to a false positive COVID test result.
• The Minnesota Vikings placed defensive end Danielle Hunter, receiver Dede Westbrook, and practice squad WR Trishton Jackson and running back AJ Rose on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Hunter was ruled out for the rest of the season in November after suffering a torn pec.
• The New England Patriots added quarterback Mac Jones to the injury report with a left thumb injury. Jones was listed as a full participant for Wednesday. The Patriots also listed the following players as limited practice participants: center David Andrews (shoulder), defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebackers Ja'Whaun Bentley (ribs) and Ronnie Perkins (Illness); running back Brandon Bolden (knee) and Damien Harris (hamstring); offensive tackle Trent Brown (calf/Wrist), kicker Nick Folk (left knee) and safety Adrian Phillips (knee). Offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste (illness) did not practice. The team designated LB Josh Uche (ankle) for return from IR, per the wire. New England also announced it has activated safety Joshuah Bledsoe, placed guard Alex Redmond on injured reserve and released linebacker Calvin Munson.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed running back Giovani Bernard on injured reserve. Bernard exited Sunday's win over the Bills early due to a hip injury.
• The Tennessee Titans placed receiver Dez Fitzpatrick on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Washington Football Team placed cornerback Kendall Fuller and defensive tackle Tim Settle on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and activated CB Darryl Roberts off the COVID list.

Roster moves

• The Arizona Cardinals released long snapper Beau Brinkley from the active roster and linebacker Nate Hall from the practice squad.
• The Carolina Panthers waived tight end Colin Thompson.
• The Cincinnati Bengals signed punter Drue Chrisman to the practice squad.
• The Cleveland Browns signed receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley to the practice squad.
• The Detroit Lions claimed former 49ers cornerback Saivion Smith off waivers, and signed CBs Shakur Brown and Chris Williamson to the practice squad.
• The Green Bay Packers signed receiver Juwann Winfree from the practice squad.
• The Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive back Zayne Anderson from the practice squad. The team also signed kicker Elliott Fry to the practice squad, Pelissero reported.
• The Las Vegas Raiders signed defensive end Damion Square to the practice squad.
• The Miami Dolphins waived center Austin Reiter.
• The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive end Eddie Yarbrough.
• The New Orleans Saints released defensive tackle Josiah Bronson and defensive back Dylan Mabin.
• The New York Giants released quarterback Clayton Thorson.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive back Isaiah Johnson to the practice squad.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing veteran running back Kenjon Barner to the practice squad, Rapoport reported. The Bucs also signed punter Sterling Hofrichter to the practice squad and released receiver John Hurst.
• The Tennessee Titans cut defensive back Breon Borders.
• The Washington Football Team signed linebacker Nate Orchard off the Packers' practice squad and signed defensive tackle Hercules Mata'afa to the practice squad. The team also activated safety Jeremy Reaves from the practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement.