NFL injury updates, latest league news from Wednesday, Dec. 15

Hobbled Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen will have limited participation in a Wednesday walkthrough, according to coach Sean McDermott.

The star quarterback is dealing with a left foot sprain as well as a mild case of turf toe. He played through the ailments in a 33-27 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, delivering an impressive second-half performance to lead a failed comeback effort. He was in a walking boot following the game, and McDermott said Monday that his status for practice would be day to day. Allen has compiled an impressive season thus far with 4,055 total yards (3,524 passing, 531 rushing), but the team has faltered with four losses in its last six games after a 4-1 start.

The Bills face the visiting Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and Allen's availability is crucial as the club tries to maintain playoff position with a 7-6 record.

"I'd love to play," Allen said, adding that he feels notably better. "I guess we'll have to reevaluate things in a couple days. As of right now, I feel pretty good."

Allen, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (foot) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (foot) were officially listed as limited while receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) did not practice.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Arizona Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins is expected to miss Week 15 and possibly more games, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Hopkins is getting a second opinion on his leg following an MRI. Running back James Conner (ankle) is day to day. Hopkins, Conner, cornerback Robert Alford (pectoral), and defensive tackles Zach Kerr (ribs) and Corey Peters (knee) did not practice.
• Atlanta Falcons linebacker Daren Bates was designated to return to practice. Tight end Hayden Hurst (illness) and linebacker Dante Fowler (calf) did not participate in practice.
• Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle), defensive tackle Calais Campbell (thigh), fullback Patrick Ricard (back/knee) and offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva (knee) did not practice. Receiver Sammy Watkins (knee) and OL Patrick Mekari (hand) were limited.
• The Carolina Panthers designated quarterback Sam Darnold to return off injured reserve. Receiver D.J. Moore (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity. Cornerback A.J. Bouye (foot) was a DNP.
• The Chicago Bears placed right tackle Larry Borom on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Joe Burrow won't practice Wednesday to rest his injured pinkie, and this might be the plan for the QB the next few Wednesdays. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (back) also did not practice for the Bengals on Wednesday, while wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle) was limited.
• The Cleveland Browns added six players to the reserve/COVID-19 list: quarterback Baker Mayfield, cornerback Troy Hill, safety John Johnson III, defensive tackle Malik McDowell, defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo and safety Nathan Meadors.
• Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (foot) and left tackle Tyron Smith (ankle) did not participate in practice.
• Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (thumb/hip) was limited in practice on Wednesday. Safety Kareem Jackson (back) did not practice.
• Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said running back D’Andre Swift and tight end T.J. Hockenson were unlikely to practice Wednesday. Offensive tackle Penei Sewell (shoulder) and defensive end Michael Brockers (knee) practiced in a limited capacity. Center Evan Brown was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (toe), guard Billy Turner (knee) and receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) did not practice. Running Aaron Jones (knee), left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) were limited.
• Houston Texans defensive back Justin Reid (illness/concussion) and running back Rex Burkhead (hip/quad) did not practice. The team placed linebacker Christian Kirksey, defensive back A.J. Moore and defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and receiver Davion Davis on injured reserve. Defensive lineman Jordan Jenkins was designated to return to practice.
• Indianapolis Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke (illness) missed a second consecutive practice session. Tight end Jack Doyle (ankle) was limited.
• The Kansas City Chiefs placed linebacker Willie Gay on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Gay and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (personal) will not play versus the Chargers. Offensive lineman Andrew Wylie (knee) is questionable.
• Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (calf) and defensive back Johnathan Abram (illness) were full practice participants; Crosby was limited on Wednesday while Abram did not practice. Tight end Darren Waller (knee/back), linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) and cornerback Trayvon Mullen remained DNPs.
• The Los Angeles Chargers listed running back Austin Ekeler (ankle), safety Derwin James (hamstring) and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) as questionable for Thursday's game versus the Chiefs. Offensive lineman Rashawn Slater (reserve/COVID-19) has been officially ruled out.
• The Los Angeles Rams placed linebacker Justin Hollins, tight end Johnny Mundt, tight end Jared Pinkney on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Rams standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald was listed as a DNP due to a knee injury in the team's practice estimation.
• New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (thumb) logged a full practice. Running back Damien Harris (hamstring), kicker Nick Folk (knee), center David Andrews (shoulder), offensive tackle Trent Brown (calf/wrist) and defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee) remained limited. Linebackers Chase Winovich (illness) and Ronnie Perkins (ankle) were DNPs.
• New Orleans Saints offensive tackles Ryan Ramczyk (knee) and Terron Armstead (knee) did not practice. Defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (toe) and defensive end Marcus Davenport (shoulder) were limited.
• New York Giants coach Joe Judge said quarterback Mike Glennon will start Sunday versus the Cowboys as Daniel Jones (neck) has yet to be cleared for contact. Judge said wideout John Ross and linebacker Oshane Ximines have tested positive for COVID-19. Both players, along with cornerback Aaron Robinson and LB Cam Brown, were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Safety Xavier McKinney was added to the list as a high-risk close contact. Defensive end Leonard Williams, Jones and offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (ankle) were limited at Wednesday's practice. Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), kicker Graham Gano (illness) and defensive back Adoree' Jackson (quad) did not participate.
• New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said running back Michael Carter will play Sunday versus the Dolphins. Carter, defensive end Bryce Huff and tight end Tyler Kroft were designated to return to practice.
• Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew would get reps in a walkthrough Wednesday, with Hurts "trending upward." Hurts is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hurts, defensive end Derek Barnett (neck), and running backs Jordan Howard (knee) and Miles Sanders (ankle) were listed as limited.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed defensive lineman Montravius Adams on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said defensive end Dee Ford (back) won't be activated from IR by Wednesday's deadline, which will end his season.
• Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (foot/back) and safety Quandre Diggs (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Running back Alex Collins (abdomen) was limited.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers designated cornerback Rashard Robinson to return to practice. Running back Leonard Fournette (ankle), safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), and CBs Jamel Dean and Richard Sherman (Achilles) were listed as DNP on the estimated injury report.
• The Tennessee Titans designated linebacker Bud Dupree to return from injured reserve.
• Washington Football Team quarterback Kyle Allen, linebacker Milo Eifler, safety Darrick Forrest, defensive tackle Matthew Ioannidis, offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, cornerback Troy Apke, tight end Sammis Reyes and wideout Cam Sims were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi was designated to return to practice. Running back J.D. McKissic (concussion), and receivers Terry McLaurin (concussion) and Curtis Samuel (hamstring) did not practice. Guard Brandon Scherff (ankle) was limited. Taylor Heinicke (knee), who logged a full practice, is still on track to play Sunday versus the Eagles, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo added.

Roster moves

• The Arizona Cardinals signed cornerback Breon Borders from the Titans' practice squad.
• The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Josh Johnson off the Jets' practice squad, per New York head coach Robert Saleh.
• The Chicago Bears signed cornerback Bopete Keyes to the practice squad.
• The Cleveland Browns claimed former Saints defensive tackle Josiah Bronson off waivers.
• The Denver Broncos signed safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and receiver Travis Fulgham to the practice squad.
• The Miami Dolphins signed former Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette to the practice squad, per NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. Miami also claimed former Patriots linebacker Calvin Munson off waivers.
• The Minnesota Vikings signed receivers Darrius Shepherd and Damion Ratley to the practice squad.
• The Seattle Seahawks are signing linebacker Tanner Muse from their practice squad, Pelissero reported.
• The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Lavert Hill and offensive lineman Wyatt Miller to the practice squad.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed running back Kenjon Barner to the practice squad.
• The Tennessee Titans signed defensive back Nate Brooks to the practice squad.
• The Washington Football Team signed quarterback Jordan Ta'amu and defensive tackle Tyler Clark.

League news

• The NFL and NFLPA agreed to remove the limit of two standard elevations on practice squad players for the 2021 postseason, Pelissero reported.