NFL injury updates, latest league news from Monday, Dec. 20

As Tuesday's rescheduled game between the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles approaches, Washington continues to lose starters to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Football Team placed All-Pro right guard Brandon Scherff on the list Monday.

Scherff missed four games earlier this season with a knee injury. The veteran offensive lineman also spent about a week on the reserve/COVID-19 list in August.

On the other side of the ball, the WFT activated defensive lineman Matthew Ioannidis from the COVID reserve. Ioannidis follows receiver Cam Sims and defensive end Daniel Wise, who were removed from the list Sunday. Washington activated four defenders, including Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat, on Saturday. Sweat was activated off injured reserve Monday, along with tackle Samuel Cosmi.

Despite the many activations, important offensive players like quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen remain out of commission. With time running out for either the starter or backup to test out of the COVID-19 protocols, it's looking more and more likely that either Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Shurmur or Jordan Ta'amu will start under center against Philly.

Also, Washington will be without seven assistants against the Eagles due to COVID-19 protocols. The Football Team has ruled out running back J.D. McKissic and receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring), while tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (illness) is questionable to play.

Washington-Philadelphia kicks off at 7 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field. The Football Team has until 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday to activate players from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Injuries/COVID-19

• NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that 51 players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday with all players on the list having tested positive for the virus. Pelissero notes that 213 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of last week. According to the NFL, roughly two-thirds of the players are asymptomatic while the other positive players have reported mild symptoms.
• No NFL players opted out for the rest of the 2021 season before Monday's 2 p.m. deadline, Pelissero reported, per a source. This was a provision in the updated NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols that were finalized Saturday. Players in "higher risk" categories could choose to skip the rest of the season, but wouldn't get paid. None did.
• Atlanta Falcons linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list and added to injured reserve.
• Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is hopeful quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) will practice Wednesday. Jackson did not practice at all last week and did not play in Sunday's loss to Green Bay. The team announced that outside linebacker Pernell McPhee has been activated from injured reserve and that outside linebacker Justin Houston has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Buffalo Bills placed defensive end A.J. Epenesa, offensive lineman Bobby Hart and defensive end Mike Love on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Chicago Bears Pro Bowl returner Jakeem Grant was ruled out of Monday night's game with a concussion. Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai was cleared to return from COVID-19 protocols and will coach tonight against Minnesota. The Bears activated offensive lineman Germain Ifedi from injured reserve and placed defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson on injured reserve. The Bears also placed defensive backs Tashaun Gipson and Jaylon Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said running back Joe Mixon would be limited in practice with an ankle injury.
• Cleveland Browns defensive end Takkarist McKinley was carted off the field in the third quarter due to what was labeled an ankle injury. Following the game, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it's feared McKinley sustained a torn Achilles. McKinley will have an MRI on Tuesday morning to determine if that's the case. Browns Pro Bowl pass rusher Myles Garrett briefly went into the medical tent during Monday's loss due to a groin injury, but returned to the game. Acting head coach Mike Priefer after the game said Garrett was dealing with a sore groin and commended him for fighting through it. The Browns activated safety John Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Three players were inactive for Monday's game: CB Greg Newsome II, WR Lawrence Cager, DT Josiah Bronson.
• Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was released from the hospital Monday after staying overnight as a precaution. Bridgewater, who exited Sunday's game on a backboard, is in concussion protocol.
• The Detroit Lions placed quarterback Jared Goff, wideout Quintez Cephus and offensive tackle Matt Nelson on the reserve/COVID-19 list and linebacker Alex Anzalone on injured reserve. Detroit activated running back Jamaal Williams and cornerback Mark Gilbert from COVID reserve.
• The Houston Texans placed defensive linemen Jacob Martin, Derek Rivers and Maliek Collins and defensive end Jonathan Greenard on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are placing safety Rayshawn Jenkins on injured reserve with a season-ended fractured ankle, interim head coach Darrell Bevell announced. Bevell also told reporters that assistant coach Brian Schottenheimer will take over play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.
• The Kansas City Chiefs placed Harrison Butker, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive back Charvarius Ward on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram was ruled out in the fourth quarter of Monday's game against the Browns with a shoulder injury. The Raiders placed cornerback Nate Hobbs on the reserve/COVID-19 list and cornerback Trayvon Mullen on injured reserve. Las Vegas also activated tight end Nick Bowers from injured reserve. Las Vegas also ruled out linebacker Will Compton (personal) against Cleveland. Compton was inactive, along with five other Raiders: LB Denzel Perryman, G Jordan Simmons, T Jackson Barton, TE Darren Waller, DT Kendal Vickers.
• The Los Angeles Chargers placed defensive end Joey Bosa, center Corey Linsley, wide receiver Andre Roberts, defensive back Tevaughn Campbell, defensive back Trey Marshall, linebacker Chris Rumph II and defensive back Kemon Hall on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Chargers activated rookie offensive tackle Rashawn Slater from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Los Angeles Rams activated offensive lineman Bobby Evans and linebacker Troy Reeder off the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team announced that running backs/assistant head coach Thomas Brown and offensive assistant Zack Kromer are currently not available for Tuesday's game against the Seahawks.
• The Miami Dolphins activated receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Phillip Lindsay from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Meanwhile, receiver Will Fuller is likely done for the season after a setback with his finger injury, per coach Brian Flores. In his first season in Miami, Fuller played just two games and caught four passes for 26 yards. Fuller will be a free agent after the season. Defensive back Justin Coleman was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was ejected from Monday's game in the fourth quarter following a helmet-to-helmet hit on Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who was sliding. Kendricks was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
• The New England Patriots placed wideout Kendrick Bourne, linebackers Harvey Langi and Cameron McGrone and defensive end Ronnie Perkins on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The New York Giants placed quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Sterling Shepard on injured reserve. Defensive back Keion Crossen was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The New York Jets placed defensive end John Franklin-Myers and defensive back Sharrod Neasman on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Philadelphia Eagles placed offensive linemen Andre Dillard and Landon Dickerson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Wideout Quez Watkins was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Seattle Seahawks placed running back Travis Homer, defensive linemen Kerry Hyder and Bryan Mone, defensive back D.J. Reed and offensive tackle Brandon Shell on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin suffered a torn ACL that will knock him out for the rest of the season, coach Bruce Arians said. The Bucs offense also saw Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette suffer hamstring injuries. Rapoport noted that Evans' injury isn't expected to be major, and Fournette might miss a game or two, but also won't be on the shelf long.
• The Tennessee Titans designated receiver A.J. Brown to return from injured reserve. Defensive back Chris Jackson was also designated for return. Defensive back Elijah Molden was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (back) did not practice Monday, while D'Onta Foreman (ankle) was limited.

Roster moves

• The Cleveland Browns elevated seven players from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game: cornerback Brian Allen, guard Hjalte Froholdt, defensive end Joe Jackson, running back John Kelly, cornerback Herb Miller, safety Jovante Moffatt and safety Tedric Thompson.
• The Detroit Lions signed running back Craig Reynolds to the active roster from the practice squad.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed quarterback Danny Etling to the practice squad.
• The Kansas City Chiefs signed kicker Elliott Fry from their practice squad.
• The Las Vegas Raiders activated guard Lester Cotton and receiver Tyron Johnson from the practice squad.
• The Los Angeles Chargers claimed former Broncos cornerback Essang Bassey off waivers.
• The Miami Dolphins announced they signed running backs Duke Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine to the active roster and waived safety Will Parks.
• The Minnesota Vikings activated safety Myles Dorn, wide receiver Myron Mitchell and cornerback Tye Smith from the practice squad.
• The New York Giants signed linebacker Jaylon Smith from the practice squad to the active roster.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Antonio Brown and defensive back Mike Edwards had their suspensions lifted. Arians said he intended to have Brown rejoin the team once he was eligible.