NFL injury updates, latest league news from Thursday, Jan. 6

Micah Parsons will have company on the Dallas Cowboys' reserve/COVID-19 list.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday that left tackle Tyron Smith tested positive for COVID-19, per sources.

Garafolo added that Smith might not be the only Cowboys player to test positive Thursday, with several players under the weather and tests being conducted. In addition to Smith, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy later told reporters cornerback Anthony Brown also tested positive.

Smith has started 11 games this season due to injury while Brown has started in every game. Their status for Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles is uncertain at this stage.

The Cowboys have said they planned to play their starters against the Eagles, but a rash of positive COVID-19 tests might force Dallas to play backups in the season finale.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Atlanta Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts returned to practice on Thursday in a limited capacity. Pitts injured his hamstring on Sunday against the Bills and missed Wednesday's practice.
• The Baltimore Ravens placed tight end Nick Boyle and fullback Patrick Ricard on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Ricard was also placed on injured reserve. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson remained a DNP at for the second day in a row this week due to an ankle injury. Backup Tyler Huntley (illness) was a full participant. Wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle) also did not practice on Thursday.
• Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) was a full practice participant after being limited Wednesday. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) and defensive end Efe Obada remained out.
• The Carolina Panthers placed cornerback Stephon Gilmore and receiver Shi Smith on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Chicago Bears placed quarterback Justin Fields on the reserve/COVID-19 list and put kick returner Jakeem Grant on injured reserve. Linebacker Robert Quinn (shoulder) was a full participant at practice a day after he was limited. Quarterback Andy Dalton (groin) was a full participant.
• The Cincinnati Bengals placed defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and placed tight end Thaddeus Moss (hamstring) on the practice squad/injured list. Tight end C.J. Uzomah (knee/hip) did not practice Thursday, while quarterback Joe Burrow (rest/knee) was listed as limited.
• The Cleveland Browns placed defensive tackle Malik Jackson and kicker Chris Blewitt on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (illness) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Eagles after not practicing on Thursday. Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (foot), safety Donovan Wilson (illness) and safety Jayron Kearse (hamstring) are also questionable.
• Denver Broncos cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II (calf) and Ronald Darby (shoulder) have been ruled out for the team's season finale Saturday against the Chiefs. Defensive end Shelby Harris (illness) and cornerback Nate Hairston (illness) are questionable. Quarterback Drew Lock (right shoulder) received no injury designation for the game.
• Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (knee) practiced in a limited capacity for a second straight day.
• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (toe) practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday, as did running back Aaron Jones (knee). Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), who was limited in practice Wednesday, did not practice Thursday.
• The Houston Texans activated linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis from the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed tight end Jeff Driskel on the reserve/COVID-19 list from the reserve/injured list.
• The Indianapolis Colts placed safety Andrew Sendejo on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Tight end Jack Doyle (knee) practiced in a limited capacity; defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (knee) and cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) remained out.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars activated OL Ben Bartch, CB Shaquill Griffin and LB Dylan Moses (returns to reserve/non-football injury) from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and placed LB Chapelle Russell and offensive lineman Will Richardson on the list.
• The Kansas City Chiefs ruled running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) and offensive lineman Lucas Niang (knee) out for Week 18.
• The Las Vegas Raiders placed linebacker Marquel Lee on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Raiders tight end Darren Waller (knee) was limited at practice, as was running back Josh Jacobs (ribs).
• The Minnesota Vikings placed cornerback Harrison Hand on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was listed as limited in his team's injury report Thursday, but it was not injury related.
• New England Patriots receivers Nelson Agholor (concussion) and Jakobi Meyers (thigh) were listed as limited in practice, as was running back Damien Harris (hamstring) and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn (hip). Defensive end Ronnie Perkins (ankle) for return from IR.
• The New Orleans Saints activated tight end Nick Vannett from the COVID list.
• New York Giants receiver Kadarius Toney (shoulder) did not practice after being limited Wednesday. Linebacker Lorenzo Carter (illness) also did not practice.
• The New York Jets activated defensive end Kyle Phillips from the COVID list.
• Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (hand) is out for Saturday's game against the Cowboys, while offensive tackle Lane Johnson (knee) and guard Landon Dickerson (thumb) are questionable.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed receiver Diontae Johnson and center Kendrick Green on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/right shoulder) was a full participant in practice, but guard Trai Turner (knee) was a DNP.
• The San Francisco 49ers placed defensive back Deommodore Lenoir on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) was limited for a second practice in a row. Running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) was limited at practice a day after he didn't participate. Offensive tackle Trent Williams missed a second straight practice. Williams was listed as "rest," but on Wednesday was listed as having an elbow injury.
• The Seattle Seahawks activated guard Damien Lewis and cornerback Sidney Jones from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and placed safety Ryan Neal and defensive tackle Al Woods on the list. Linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) did not practice for a second day in a row.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was upgraded from limited participation to full participation in the team's practice estimation. The team placed kicker Jose Borregales on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
• Washington Football Team tight end Sammis Reyes (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity. Offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi (hip) was upgraded from limited to full.

Roster moves

• The Atlanta Falcons released receiver Marvin Hall.
• The Cleveland Browns signed running back Benny LeMay and offensive tackle Alex Taylor to the practice squad, and released OT Elijah Nkansah.
• The Detroit Lions waived cornerback Saivion Smith and restored wide receiver Geronimo Allison to the practice squad from the practice squad/COVID-19 list.
• The Tennessee Titans signed tight end Ryan Izzo to the active roster from the Seahawks practice squad. Tennessee also signed Da'Shawn Hand to the practice squad.