NFL news, injury updates: T.J. Watt ‘excited to play’ vs. Ravens, Josh Allen ‘good to go’ for Bills in Week 18

The Rams take on the Cardinals and Adams (hamstring) and Williams (ankle) are questionable, according to head coach Sean McVay.

The Rams need to win (and need the Seahawks to win) to have any shot at the No. 5 seed, which they’d get in 25% of the remaining NFC scenarios. Otherwise they’ll be the sixth seed.

The Las Vegas Raiders ruled out quarterback Geno Smith in Week 18’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Smith suffered a significant high ankle sprain in Week 17’s 34-10 loss to the New York Giants. The Raiders will reportingly play a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell.

Smith struggled this season before he went down. The 35-year-old quarterback threw 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and led the NFL with 17 interceptions.

The 2-14 Raiders will secure the No. 1 with a loss to the Giants on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles rule out defensive tackle Jalen Carter, linebacker Nakobe Dean, tight end Dallas Goedert and offensive tackle Lane Johnson against the Washington Commanders, according to their injury report.

Carter is dealing with a hip injury and has previously battled a shoulder injury this season. Dean is nursing a hamstring injury.

Goedert has a knee injury. Johnson has not played since Week 11 with a foot injury. Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and safety Marcus Epps have also been ruled out.

At 11-5, the Eagles have clinched the NFC East.

The Los Angeles Chargers rule out running back Omarion Hampton for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, according to the team’s injury report. Hampton missed practice this week with an ankle injury.

Running backs Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are also questionable after being limited in practice for parts of the week.

Benjamin St-Juste, RJ Mickens and Bradley Bozeman are questionable, while Jamaree Salyer and Elijah Molden are doubtful. Chargers cornerback Nikko Reed has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

At 11-5, the Chargers are locked in to a wild card spot.

The New York Giants ruled out wide receiver Wan’dale Robinson, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott and tight end Theo Johnson, according to the team’s injury report.

Robinson is dealing with a rib injury. Robinson finished the season with 92 catches for a career-high 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.

Flott and safety Jevon Holland are battling knee injuries. Flott had 38 tackles, 11 pass breakups and 1 interception this season. Holland has 63 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception.

The Giants also ruled out Rakeem Nunez-Roche with an ankle and toe.

Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence were not given an injury designation for Sunday’s game.

The Dallas Cowboys will be without their top two running backs against the New York Giants. The Cowboys have ruled out running backs Javonte Williams and Malik Davis, according to the team’s injury reports.

Williams has been dealing with a shoulder and neck injury, while Davis has dealt with a calf and eye injury.

Rookie RB Jaydon Blue and fullback Hunter Luepke are expected to be next up for carries.

At 7-8-1, the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has recorded only one catch since the start of December. His second season with the Arizona Cardinals has been full of setbacks, the latest a heel injury on one leg and a foot issue on the other.

The Cardinals placed Harrison on injured reserve Friday, and he won’t play in their regular-season finale Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft, will clock out with just 608 receiving yards in Year 2.

The Los Angeles Rams have listed running back Kyren Williams as questionable but he is expected to play, according to head coach Sean McVay.

The Rams are also expecting to activate tight end Tyler Higbee off of IR before Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.

Williams has been limited this week with an ankle injury. Higbee has been on IR since Week 11 with an ankle injury. The Rams are locked into a wild-card spot heading into their last regular season game.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is questionable, according to their injury report. Odunze has missed the last four games with a foot injury.

Odunze reportingly felt good at Friday’s practice but did not say when he is coming back. Odunze also said he did not think he would need foot surgery.

The Bears also ruled out defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and listed defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Nick McCloud as questionable.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has no injury designation and will start on Sunday against the Packers, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

McCarthy has missed the last two games with a hairline fracture in his right hand. Max Brosmer started the last two games at quarterback for the Vikings.

After missing time with an ankle injury and a concussion, McCarthy has only played in nine games this season. He missed all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus.

At 8-8, the Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention.

The Cleveland Browns will be without two of their standout rookies in the regular season finale.

Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and linebacker Carson Schwesinger have been ruled out in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.

Fannin finished with 72 receptions, 731 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Schwesinger had 157 total tackles, 11 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Both were named Pro Bowl alternates.

Browns tight end D.avid Njoku has also been ruled out. He finished with 33 catches for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns in 12 games.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and quarterback Dillon Gabriel were also removed from the injury report. Garrett is one sack away from breaking the NFL’s single-season record.

The Indianapolis Colts ruled out cornerback Sauce Gardner and tight end Will Mallory for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Gardner has been dealing with a calf injury and has only been able to play four games for the Colts since being traded by the Jets at the trade deadline.

Gardner was traded for two first-round picks and second-year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mallory is dealing with a lung injury. Mallory played in two games this season and finished with one catch for 16 yards.

The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17. The Colts lost the last six games after starting the season 8-2.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is expected to play and offensive tackle Penei Sewell was ruled out for the regular season finale against the Chicago Bears, according to the team’s injury report.

Sewell’s availability will not impact whether quarterback Jared Goff plays, according to head coach Dan Campbell.

Sewell has missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. This is the first game that he will miss in the NFL.

St. Brown did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday because of knee and ankle injuries. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was limited in practice on Friday and is expected to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg

Allen missed practice earlier this week with a foot injury. With the Bills locked in as a wildcard team, it is not known how long Allen will play.

If Allen does suit up, his streak of starting 121 straight games, 134 in a row, if you include playoffs, will stay alive. This is the longest current active streak and the eighth all-time.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson participated in a full week of practice, which continues to suggest he’ll be ready for Sunday’s AFC North title game.

Despite a severe back contusion, this marks the first time in two months that Jackson has fully participated in a week of practice. He has also been dealing with ankle, toe, and knee injuries, which have caused him to miss games and limited his mobility in those he has played.

Jackson missed the Ravens’ 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. Tyler “Snoop” Huntley filled in for him, completing 16-20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Washington Commanders will once again be without quarterback Marcus Mariota against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the Washington Post’s Tashan Reed.

Josh Johnson will make his second straight start for the team. Johnson was 15-23 for 198 yards in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Mariota has been dealing with a hand and quad injury. Mariota was filling in for Jayden Daniels, who was shut down for the season with an elbow injury.

Commanders offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil has also been ruled out for the game.

The Miami Dolphins placed tight end Darren Waller on IR, according to their roster moves.

Waller was dealing with a groin injury. The 33-year-old finished with 24 catches, 283 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. Waller retired in 2024 before returning this season.

The Dolphins signed running back Donovan Edwards was added to the active roster off Washington’s practice squad.

The undrafted rookie running back out of Michigan previously spent time with the New York Jets in the offseason before signing with the Commanders ‘practice squad.

Watt has yet to be a full participant in practice with the Steelers since returning from surgery to repair a partial collapsed lung.

Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said on Wednesday that the team likely won’t know if Watt will play until Sunday right before their AFC North title clash with the Ravens.

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall are questionable in Saturday Night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Williams is dealing with a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 17’s game against the Chicago Bears. Williams did not return after suffering the injury in the first drive.

Kittle missed the Bears game with an ankle injury. Kittle also missed multiple games earlier this season with a hamstring injury.

Pearsall has missed multiple games this season with a knee and ankle injury. Pearsall was able to play through the injury last week, catching five passes for 85 yards.

The winner of Saturday’s game will secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who missed three games last month while recovering from a procedure on both shoulders, has popped back up on the injury report, this time with a hip issue.

The Eagles have already won the NFC East, and they’re reportedly prioritizing rest this week against the Washington Commanders.