NFL injury updates, latest league news from Wednesday, Dec. 22

The Kansas City Chiefs received some positive news Wednesday regarding their ongoing COVID-19 issues.

The organization registered zero new positive cases for the virus following the latest round of testing, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

A few hours later, the team placed offensive tackle Mike Remmers on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and activated linebacker Willie Gay and receiver Josh Gordon from the list. Remmers was on injured reserve.

The Chiefs placed seven players, including star wideout Tyreek Hill, on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. A day prior, K.C. placed star tight end Travis Kelce, kicker Harrison Butker and cornerback Charvarius Ward on the list.

Rapoport reported Butker will miss the team's Week 16 matchup against the Steelers because he is unvaccinated and therefore required to quarantine for 10 days. Elliott Fry is expected to kick in his place.

Per the NFL's updated COVID protocols, fully vaccinated players who test positive can clear protocol within one day if they register two negative tests and are asymptomatic.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (shoulder) practiced in a limited capacity after missing Tuesday's session. Running back James Conner (heel) and receiver Rondale Moore (ankle) remained out. Punter Andy Lee was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Baltimore Ravens placed safety Geno Stone, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, linebacker Chris Board and linebacker Kristian Welch on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell (thigh) was limited at practice. Quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) remained out.
• The Buffalo Bills listed defensive end Jerry Hughes (neck), safety Micah Hyde (back) and receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) as limited on the estimated injury report. Practice squad tight end Quintin Morris was placed on the COVID-19 list.
• The Carolina Panthers are placing kicker Zane Gonzalez on injured reserve, Rapoport reported. Gonzalez is dealing with a quad strain that will keep him off the field for the remainder of the season. Carolina later announced the move. Safety Sam Franklin and recently signed defensive end Azur Kamara were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Sam Darnold (shoulder) has been cleared for contact and participated in practice. Head coach Matt Rhule later told reporters that Cam Newton will get the start this Sunday, but Darnold is expected to play at some point. Receiver D.J. Moore (hamstring) didn't practice; offensive tackle Cameron Erving and cornerback Stephon Gilmore (knee) were limited. Carolina removed running back Christian McCaffrey, who is out for the season, from the COVID list.
• Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields was limited in practice with an ankle injury. Kick returner Jakeem Grant (concussion) did not practice. Chicago removed offensive lineman Larry Borom, defensive back Eddie Jackson and practice squad linebacker Sam Kamara from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Tight end Jesper Horsted was placed on the list.
• Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (finger) and running back Joe Mixon (ankle) were full participants in practice.
• The Cleveland Browns activated tight end Austin Hooper and linebacker Jacob Phillips from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cornerback Greg Newsome II was placed on the list. Head coach Kevin Stefanski re-joined the team after clearing COVID protocols. Tight end David Njoku (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (groin) were limited in practice. Stefanski said running back Kareem Hunt (ankle) and cornerback Troy Hill (knee) are unlikely to play Saturday versus the Packers.
• The Dallas Cowboys listed running back Tony Pollard and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence as limited due to foot injuries.
• The Denver Broncos officially ruled quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) out for Week 16. Linebacker Malik Reed was activated from the COVID list. The team designated offensive tackle Calvin Anderson and linebacker Andre Mintze to return from IR. Running back Melvin Gordon (thumb/hip) did not practice Wednesday and rookie back Javonte Williams (knee) was limited, as was wide receiver Courtland Sutton (wrist).
• The Detroit Lions activated Jalen Elliott from the COVID list. Running back D'Andre Swift (shoulder) practiced in a limited capacity.
• Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (knee) practiced in a limited capacity.
• The Houston Texans have placed wide receiver Brandin Cooks, kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn, and linebackers Eric Wilson and Tae Davis on the reserve/COVID-19 list. As noted by Rapoport, Texans head coach David Culley said the previous week that Wilson is the only unvaccinated player on the Houston roster. Therefore, Wilson is out for Sunday's Week 16 game against the Chargers, while Cooks, Davis and Fairbairn have a chance to play provided they test negative for COVID-19 twice within 24 hours.
• The Indianapolis Colts placed defensive end Kemoko Turay, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and tight end Farrod Green on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Guard Quenton Nelson did not practice to an undisclosed illness.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars listed running back James Robinson (knee) as limited in practice. Receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (shoulder/foot) and linebacker Myles Jack (knee) were DNPs. The Jags designated tight end Dan Arnold for return from injured reserve. Linebacker Dylan Moses (knee) took the practice field for the first time this season; Moses will remain on the reserve/non-football injury list. Running back Travis Etienne, who hasn't played this season due to a foot injury, was placed on the COVID-19 list.
• Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram will have season-ending shoulder surgery on Thursday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. Abram was injured in Monday's game against the Browns and wanted to keep playing this season, but was advised by doctors to shut down for the season and have surgery, Pelissero added. Cornerback Brandon Facyson was placed on the COVID list. Tight end Darren Waller (knee/back) remained a DNP on Wednesday and running back Josh Jacobs (illness) also did not practice.
• The Los Angeles Chargers placed running back Austin Ekeler and receiver Jalen Guyton on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Chargers safety Derwin James (hamstring) and tight end Donald Parham (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. Rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) was a full participant.
• The Los Angeles Rams activated defensive back Terrell Burgess, nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, offensive linemen Rob Havenstein and Jamil Demby, and linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Running back Javian Hawkins and receiver Warren Jackson were placed on the COVID list.
• The Miami Dolphins placed running back Lynn Bowden and guard Robert Jones on the COVID list.
• The Minnesota Vikings activated running back Alexander Mattison from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Quarterback Kirk Cousins (ribs) and wide receiver Adam Thielen (ankle) were listed as limited for the team's Wednesday practice estimation.
• New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) and receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) did not practice. Center David Andrews (shoulder), defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), running backDamien Harris (hamstring), wide receiver N'Keal Harry (hip), safety Adrian Phillips (knee) and special teams ace Matthew Slater (illness) were limited. The Pats activated running back J.J. Taylor from the COVID list.
• The New Orleans Saints placed tight end Adam Trautman on the COVID list.
• The New York Giants listed running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (ankle), defensive lineman Leonard Williams (triceps) and tight end Kyle Rudolph as limited.
• New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh tested positive for COVID-19. Tight ends coach Ron Middleton will take over Saleh's duties until he clears protocol. Defensive back Ashtyn Davis, defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall, and tight end Kenny Yeboah were placed on the COVID list.
• The Philadelphia Eagles placed offensive tackle Le'Raven Clark on the COVID list. Quarterback Jalen Hurts (ankle) was limited on the estimated injury report, as was running back Jordan Howard (knee). Running back Miles Sanders (quad) and offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (ankle) were DNPs.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed linebacker Devin Bush, offensive tackle Zach Banner and linebacker Marcus Allen on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers listed receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) and cornerback Richard Sherman (Achilles) as limited during walkthroughs. Receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) did not participate.
• The San Francisco 49ers ruled running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) out for Thursday night against the Titans, and designated running back Trey Sermon for return from injured reserve.
• Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list, but tight end Will Dissly was added to the COVID list. Quarterback Russell Wilson showed up on the team injury report with an ankle injury, but was listed as a full participant.
• Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan (back) and guard Rodger Saffold (shoulder/illness) are out for Thursday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, as are linebacker David Long (hamstring) and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison (knee). Saffold was also placed on the reserve/COVID list. Wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) was a full participant at practice Wednesday and has no injury designation going into the game.
• The Washington Football Team activated offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and defensive end William Bradley-King off the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed linebacker Cole Holcomb on the COVID list. Running back Antonio Gibson (toe), safety Landon Collins (foot) and cornerback William Jackson (calf) did not practice. Receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring) and linebacker Jamin Davis (shoulder) were limited.

Roster moves

• The Carolina Panthers signed kicker Alex Kessman to the practice squad.
• The Cleveland Browns are waiving punter Jamie Gillan , per Pelissero.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running back Ryquell Armstead to the active roster from Green Bay's practice squad.
• The Los Angeles Rams released practice squad defensive back Damarious Randall.
• The New York Giants signed defensive back Dwayne Johnson to the practice squad.
• The New York Jets signed receiver Isaiah Zuber and cornerback Kendarius Webster to the practice squad.
• The Washington Football Team released defensive end Hercules Mata'afa.