NFL injury updates, latest league news from Friday, Dec. 31

The Washington Football Team announced Friday that running back Antonio Gibson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday’s game against rival Philadelphia.

Washington's top back has been the motor of the club's ground game. In 15 games, Gibson has generated 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 237 carries while battling through injury.

With J.D. McKissic on injured reserve, Gibson's absence means a hefty load for rookie Jaret Patterson. The undrafted rookie has carried 50 times for 188 yards and a TD this season.

At 6-9, Washington isn't mathematically eliminated from postseason contention ahead of Sunday bout against the seventh-seeded Eagles.

Washington also placed guard Ereck Flowers on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The club signed punter Ryan Winslow to the practice squad and designated LB Khaleke Hudson to return to practice.

Also out for Washington on Sunday will be offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi (illness) and cornerback William Jackson III (calf). Defensive end Montez Sweat (personal), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) and defensive end James Smith-Williams (illness) are each questionable.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (heel), safety Budda Baker (ribs) and receiver Rondale Moore (ankle) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. The team also activated offensive lineman Sean Harlow from the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he is questionable for Sunday's game. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (knee) and cornerback Marco Wilson (shoulder) have been ruled out.
• Atlanta Falcons cornerback Fabian Moreau (ribs) is doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Bills.
• Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) missed a second consecutive day of practice on Friday and wide receiver Marquise Brown (illness) also missed practice for a second day in a row. Jackson hasn't played since Week 14 with Tyler Huntley having filled in prior to Huntley missing Week 16 due to COVID-19 and Josh Johnson taking the reins. Should Jackson be unable to play Sunday, Huntley is likely to get the starting nod again. Jackson and Brown are questionable for Sunday. Cornerback Anthony Averett and guard Ben Powers (foot) have been ruled out and linebacker Odafe Oweh (foot) is doubtful.
• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) and defensive lineman Ed Oliver (ankle) are questionable for Sunday.
• Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore (groin) is out for Week 17, left tackle Cameron Erving (calf) and safety Sean Chandler (groin) are doubtful and cornerback C.J. Henderson (shoulder) and linebacker Jermaine Carter (groin) are questionable. The team also placed cornerback Jaycee Hornand Tommy Tremble on the reserve/COVID-19 list while activating wide receiver Brandon Zylstra and safety Kenny Robinson from the list.
• Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced Andy Dalton will start Sunday against the Giants, while Nick Foles will be the backup. Rookie QB Justin Fields (ankle) is questionable. The team activated defensive lineman Akiem Hicks from the reserve/COVID-19 list and he is questionable for Sunday.
• The Cincinnati Bengals placed wide receiver Trenton Irwin and cornerback Trae Waynes on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (illness) and cornerback Greg Newsome II (concussion) returned to practice in full capacity on Friday. Running back Kareem Hunt (ankle) returned in a limited capacity and center JC Tretter (knee) went from limited on Thursday to a DNP on Friday.
• The Dallas Cowboys placed linebacker Keanu Neal and defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, defensive end McTelvin Agim, linebacker Baron Browning and linebacker Jonathan Cooper were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday versus the Chargers, while running backs Melvin Gordon (thumb/hip) and Javonte Williams (knee) are questionable.
• Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday that it's doubtful quarterback Jared Goff (knee) will play Sunday against the Seahawks and that Tim Boyle is likely to start again. Goff officially has a doubtful designation going into Sunday. Running back D'Andre Swift (shoulder) as a full participant all week and has no injury designation.
• Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) and offensive linemen David Bakhtiari (knee) and Billy Turner (knee) have been ruled out for Sunday versus the Vikings. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (toe) and running back Aaron Jones (knee) were each limited in practice Friday and have no injury designation for Week 17. Green Bay activated cornerback Kevin King, linebacker Tipa Galeai, safety Henry Black and cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Houston Texans activated defensive lineman Maliek Collins from the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed tight end Antony Auclair and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Indianapolis Colts have activated running back Marlon Mack and safety Jahleel Addae from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team also placed long snapper Luke Rhodes on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Colts left tackle Eric Fisher (knee/toe/pectoral) is questionable for Sunday.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars activated six players from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday: defensive lineman Josh Allen, running back Travis Etienne (who reverts to injured reserve), tight end Luke Farrell, linebacker Myles Jack, wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., pass rusher Jordan Smith and linebacker Damien Wilson. The team added cornerback Shaquill Griffin to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Jacksonville also signed punter J.K. Scott to the active roster. Tight end James O'Shaughnessy (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday.

The Jaguars announced that defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi and defensive quality control coach Patrick Reilly are currently unavailable for Sunday's game due to COVID-19 protocols.

• The Las Vegas Raiders activated quarterback Marcus Mariota and linebacker K.J. Wright from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Los Angeles Chargers placed tight end Jared Cook on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said Friday it was unlikely running back Cam Akers (Achilles) would play Sunday against the Ravens, but Akers has a questionable designation for the game. Also listed as questionable for the Rams are linebacker Leonard Floyd (ankle), defensive lineman Greg Gaines (hand) and safety Taylor Rapp (shoulder). Floyd practiced all week before showing up on the Friday injury report as limited with an ankle injury.
• Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday versus the Bengals.
• The Miami Dolphins activated wide receiver Albert Wilson and guard Solomon Kindley from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Minnesota Vikings placed quarterback Kirk Cousins on the reserve/COVID-19 list and he is out for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. Head coach Mike Zimmer later announced quarterback Sean Mannion, who was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, will start in Cousins' place. Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler is doubtful for Sunday, while tight end Tyler Conklin (hamstring), defensive tackle Michael Pierce and linebacker Chazz Surratt (illness) are each questionable.
• New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) is out for Sunday against the Jaguars. Cornerback J.C. Jackson (elbow), running back Damien Harris (hamstring) and linebacker Dont'a Hightower (knee) are questionable.
• New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (chest) has been ruled out for Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee), running back Mark Ingram (knee) and wideout Lil'Jordan Humphrey (illness) are questionable.
• The New York Giants ruled out wide receivers Kadarius Toney (shoulder) and John Ross (knee/COVID ramp up), while defensive back Adoree' Jackson (COVID ramp up) and offensive lineman Nate Solder (COVID ramp up) are questionable.
• New York Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder (calf) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (hand) won't play against Washington, while running back Jordan Howard (stinger) is questionable to play.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed linebacker Joe Schobert and defensive lineman Chris Wormley on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/right shoulder) was a full practice participant Friday after missing Thursday. Punter Pressley Harvin III was a DNP again due to personal reasons.
• San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday he's still holding out hope Garoppolo can start, but NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it's expected rookie Trey Lance will start. Running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) is questionable for the game.
• The Seattle Seahawks activated defensive lineman L.J. Collier from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Running back Alex Collins (abdomen) is questionable for Sunday against the Lions, while offensive tackle Brandon Shell (shoulder) is questionable and linebacker Jon Rhattigan (knee) is out.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated receiver Mike Evans from the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed punter Bradley Pinion on the list. Evans is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets due to a hamstring injury, however. Bucs outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (knee) and Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) have been ruled out for Sunday. Cornerback Richard Sherman (Achilles) is doubtful and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) and wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) are questionable.
• The Tennessee Titans activated wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Titans wideout A.J. Brown (calf) was back at practice Friday after missing Thursday and told reporters it was "no problem." Brown has no injury designation going into Sunday. Defensive lineman Larrell Murchison (knee) and outside linebacker Derick Roberson (calf) are each questionable.

Roster moves

• The Houston Texans waived defensive lineman Xavier Williams.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed offensive lineman D.J. Fluker to the practice squad.
• The San Francisco 49ers activated quarterback Nate Sudfeld off the practice squad.