Fantasy football injury report: Divisional Round

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering the Divisional Round.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases its final official injury report each Friday (approximately 5:30 p.m. ET). West Coast teams often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Divisional Round fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: RB Joe Mixon

BALTIMORE RAVENS – Sunday
WR Zay Flowers (calf) has been declared doubtful after failing to practice all week.

BUFFALO BILLS – Sunday
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee), WR Amari Cooper (back), and LB Matt Milano (biceps) fully practiced all week and are not on the injury report. RB Ray Davis (concussion) is questionable after three straight limited sessions

DETROIT LIONS – Saturday
RB David Montgomery (knee) and CB Terrion Arnold (foot) fully practiced all week and don’t carry injury tags. LT Taylor Decker (personal) missed Wednesday but returned Thursday and isn’t on the final report. OG Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) has been ruled out.

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HOUSTON TEXANS – Saturday
OG Shaq Mason (knee) fully practiced Thursday and will make his return. WR Robert Woods (hip) was deemed questionable after being limited all week. LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) mustered consecutive limited sessions to close the week of practice and also is questionable. TE Dalton Schultz (shoulder) and DE Will Anderson Jr. (hand, elbow) were full participants Thursday and avoided injury tags. RB Joe Mixon (ankle) was limited Wednesday and sat out Thursday, earning himself a questionable tag as a true game-time decision.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – Saturday
WR Mecole Hardman (knee) was limited all week and is doubtful. LT D.J. Humphries (hamstring), QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), CB Trent McDuffie (knee), RB Isiah Pacheco (rib), RT Jawaan Taylor (knee), and DT Chris Jones (calf) fully practiced all week and have no injury labels. CB Jaylen Watson (ankle) is questionable after fully practicing all week.

LOS ANGELES RAMS – Sunday
LT Alaric Jackson (chest) and CB Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) are questionable. TE Tyler Higbee (chest) was limited all week but avoided an injury designation.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – Sunday
LB Nakobe Dean (knee) was lost for the season. WR A.J. Brown (knee, rest) and TE Dallas Goedert (illness) avoided injury designations. Brown was a full-go on Friday, and Goedert was limited.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – Saturday
WR Jamison Crowder (hamstring), LT Brandon Coleman (knee), NT Daron Payne (finger), LB Bobby Wagner (ankle), CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), PK Zane Gonzalez (hip), and TE Zach Ertz (rib, rest) all have been cleared to play and carry no injury designations.

Report: Wisconsin star cornerback Xavier Lucas leaves to Miami … without entering the portal

A significant update to the Xavier Lucas saga

Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas has left for Miami, according to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger.

He does so without officially entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin blocked him from doing so during the winter window after Lucas reportedly ‘signed a two-year revenue-share agreement’ in early December, per Dellenger.

Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement

Here is a brief timeline of events: Lucas originally announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 19. He then stated publicly on Dec. 27 that Wisconsin was ‘refusing to release’ him. No movement was made as the winter window closed on Dec. 28. Lucas then hired a Florida-based attorney on Jan. 7, who quickly threatened legal action against Wisconsin.

The latest update is Dellenger’s report — Lucas leaving for Miami. It is unlikely to be the last in a series of events that may carry significance for the sport’s future.

Dellenger writes that Lucas signed a ‘Big Ten-issued template form’ in early-December that ‘binds’ him to Wisconsin, giving it exclusive rights to his name, image and likeness. In other words, it’s the closest thing in college football to a contract. That contract is not with the school, however, but rather with its collective. This understandably creates confusion about how the contract can be enforced, or who can enforce it.

Lucas exiting the reported agreement and playing for Miami could result in litigation, the result of which could define the future of college football’s transfer structure.

This is the first significant case of a player challenging the strength of the sport’s NIL-related agreements, as well as that transfer structure. Lucas winning any potential litigation would make irrelevant most of the existing infrastructure that the sport has in place, transfer windows as a prominent example.

This situation will also obviously affect Wisconsin on the field. Lucas was an emerging star as a true freshman and was set to lead the Badgers’ cornerback room for the next three seasons.

It is unlikely to be the last headline in the Wisconsin-Xavier Lucas transfer saga. Now, at least, his destination is clear.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Unrivaled Announcers: Here’s TNT’s full broadcast crew for the new 3×3 basketball league

Unrivaled has a star-studded roster of broadcasters at your service

Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league launched by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to finally debut on Friday, January 17.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED: Here’s everything we know so far on Unrivaled from the rules to how the clock works and more.

The rosters are filled with a mix of WNBA All-Star level talent and young up-and-coming players who are all looking to make a name for themselves in this new sports venture as women’s sports continue to grow.

It won’t just be the games and the talent on the court that wows us, though.

TNT has the league’s broadcast rights for its inaugural season. With that, the network is bringing an incredible team of analysts and announcers to guide us through the game

Here’s who we’ll be seeing on the broadcast.

In-studio analysis

TNT broadcaster Candace Parker during the Golden State Warriors game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The pregame and postgame analysis will be done from TNT’s studios in Atlanta. The crew includes a few names you should be familiar with:

  • Candace Parker: A former WNBA legend and future Hall of Famer who has been working as an analyst and commentator with the Inside the NBA crew covering NBA games as well as NCAA tournament games.
  • Renee Montgomery: A former WNBA player who is the current vice president and a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. Montgomery also has broadcast experience covering the WNBA on ESPN.
  • Lauren Jbara: Jbara is a host and analyst who has covered a number of different sports across TNT’s network, including the NBA and MLB.
  • Lisa Leslie: Leslie is a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest WNBA players of all-time. She’ll be serving in a role as an occasional analyst for Unrivaled.

Game commentary

The game coverage for Unrivaled will come from the league’s facility located in Miami. It will include:

  • Brendan Glasheen: A play-by-play announcer with experience across sports that includes calling games for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.
  • Lisa Leslie: Along with her role as an occasional in-studio analyst, Leslie will be doing color commentary for Unrivaled as well.
  • Sarah Kustok: Kustok is a former player who played college ball at DePaul. She currently works for YES Network, covering games for the Brooklyn Nets as a full-time analyst.

The league will also tap Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready and Ros Gold-Onwude as sideline reporters for the games.

This is quite the star-studded crew. These games should be a lot of fun.

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Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano: Odds and what to know ahead of new UFC 311 main event

Lightweight champ Islam Makhachev enters UFC 311 against new challenger Renato Moicano as a massive favorite.

Lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] will go for his fourth consecutive title defense against a new opponent on hours’ notice when he meets [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] in the UFC 311 main event.

Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano preview

Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) both entered UFC 311 fight week ready to face different opponents.

Makhachev was set to defend his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, while Moicano was to face Beneil Dariush. However, everything changed at the official morning weigh-ins when Tsarukyan withdrew from his title opportunity due to a back injury.

The lightweight king only has one loss on his professional record, which came against Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in October 2015. Since then, Makhachev has ripped through the competition, claimed the division’s title, and recorded three title defenses amid a 14-fight winning streak. In his lone appearance in 2024, Makhachev submitted Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, earning Performance and Fight of the Night awards.

Moicano jumped from featherweight to lightweight in 2020, and has since steadily navigated his way into the top 10. “Money” enters the biggest opportunity of his career on a four-fight winning streak after a 2024 campaign that included wins over Drew Dober, Jalin Turner and Benoit Saint-Denis.

Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano odds

As a champion with three title defenses, seeing Makhachev enter this impromptu matchup as a massive favorite against the promotionally-ranked No. 10 fighter should come as no shock. According to DraftKings, Makhachev is a large favorite at -1100, with Moicano listed as a +700 underdog.

How to watch Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano at UFC 311

  • When: Saturday, January 18, 2025
  • Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif.
  • Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ pay-per-view

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.

Where Alabama ranks among ESPN’s BPI ahead of game vs. Kentucky

How does ESPN’s BPI rank Alabama ahead of the Kentucky game?

Up to this point in the 2024-25 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide have been among the elite teams in college basketball, and when looking at the overall body of work, it’s not hard to see why.

As of Friday, Jan. 17, the Crimson Tide are ranked as a top five team in both the AP and Coaches Poll’s, and are currently sitting at 14-3 overall for the year, as well as 3-1 in SEC play.

Alabama’s three losses have against Purdue, Oregon, and Ole Miss, while the headline wins are over Houston, Illinois, and Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide also have the nation’s No. 1 scoring team offensively at 89.5 PPG, as well as a top five team nationally in rebounding.

However, just where does Alabama rank according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) going into Saturday’s game vs. Kentucky in Lexington?

As of Friday, Jan. 17, Alabama ranks as the nation’s No. 8 team according to ESPN’s BPI metric, which is the third-highest of any SEC team. The only two programs above Alabama are No. 3 Auburn and No. 4 Tennessee, while Kentucky currently ranks as the No. 17 team according to the metric.

In addition to that, ESPN’s BPI also currently gives Alabama a 9.9% chance to win the SEC, 18.6% to make the Final Four, and 3.1% to win the national championship.

With a big showdown looming against Kentucky on Saturday, will Alabama improve to 15-3 against the Wildcats?

How To Watch Oregon vs Purdue men’s basketball Saturday afternoon

How To Watch Oregon vs Purdue men’s basketball Saturday afternoon.

Games like these are one reason why the Oregon Ducks joined the Big Ten Conference. The 15th-ranked Ducks will host No. 16 Purdue in the biggest conference game for Oregon so far this season.

The Ducks are 15-2 and 4-2 in conference action while the Boilermakers are 14-4 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play. The only team to have defeated Purdue in conference was at Penn State way back on Dec. 5 to the tune of an 81-70 loss on the road.

Purdue is led by forward Trey Kaufman-Renn as he averages nearly 18 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. Braden Smith (15.6 ppg) and Fletcher Loyer (14.1 ppg) also average in double figures in points.

What channel is the Oregon-Purdue game on Saturday? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: NBC

Start time: 12 pm PT

Oregon-Purdue will be on national television on NBC. Play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon will be on the call with analyst Stephen Bardo and sideline reporter Kira Dixon.

Where to watch Oregon-Purdue on Livestream

The Duck-Boilermaker game from Matthew Knight Arena can be seen via live stream on the Peacock streaming service.

Oregon-Purdue predictions, picks, odds

Oregon 80, Purdue 75: The most recent two-game road trip where the Ducks defeated both Ohio State and Penn State solidified Oregon as one of the top teams in the nation. But the trend of falling behind and then coming back in he second half won’t fly against a team like Purdue. Sure the Boilermakers aren’t as good as they once were with Zach Eady, but Purdue is still very formidable and has the ability to come into and leave Eugene with a victory.

ODDS: Oregon: -2 1/2 points

O/U: 147.5 points

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Will Steelers make the ‘Diontae Johnson mistake’ with George Pickens?

The Steelers traded away Diontae Johnson without a real backup plan. Could they make the same mistake with George Pickens in 2025?

Six awful words describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver woes that reared their ugly head in 2024: “Be careful what you wish for.”

No one will argue that the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Diontae Johnson trade that brought CB Donte Jackson from the Carolina Panthers this past offseason—especially after Johnson’s meltdown with three NFL teams since. However, the Steelers traded away their WR 1-B with little backup plan in place, and they may be poised to do the same with WR George Pickens in the 2025 offseason.

Pickens has proven himself to be truly electrifying on the field, but his immature antics have created huge distractions for the Pittsburgh Steelers—just as Johnson did.

If the Steelers trade away Pickens in 2025, Pittsburgh would need to hit a home run in free agency and the draft—but history isn’t on their side.

When Antonio Brown left the Steelers in 2019, Pittsburgh miserably attempted to fill the void with Donte Moncrief. Little changed when Johnson left in 2024, as the Steelers turned to Van Jefferson—and many fans know how that turned out.

Here’s to hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t make any rash decisions regarding Pickens and avoid treating him like Johnson.

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Falcons complete two more interviews for defensive opening

Falcons complete two more interviews for defensive coordinator vacancy

The Atlanta Falcons have met with six candidates for their defensive coordinator vacancy, interviewing former NFL head coach Steve Wilks and Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown on Friday.

Wilks is an experienced play-caller who most recently served as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers during their Super Bowl run in 2023. The 55-year-old has been a head coach for two different teams. He coached the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and was named interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022.

Despite going 6-6 over the final 12 games, the Panthers went with Frank Reich for their coaching vacancy in 2023. Wilkes previously coached the Panthers in various defensive roles from 2012 to 2017 before being named head coach of the Cardinals in 2018.

Who have Atlanta Falcons interviewed for defensive coordinator opening?

  1. Wink Martindale (Completed 1/14)
  2. Jeff Ulbrich (Completed 1/15)
  3. Lou Anarumo (Completed 1/16)
  4. Derrick Ansley (Completed 1/16)
  5. Grady Brown (Completed 1/17)
  6. Steve Wilks (Completed 1/17)

Brown joined Pittsburgh’s coaching staff in 2021 after spending one season at Old Dominion as the co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. The Steelers allowed just 20.4 points per game and 228 passing yards per game last season. The team recorded 17 interceptions and 40 sacks.

The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake following a disappointing finish to the 2024 NFL season. With a chance to secure the team’s first division title since 2016, Atlanta went 0-2 and allowed 74 points combined to the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers.

The team also fired defensive line coach Jay Rodgers. Keep up with the latest interview news using our Falcons defensive coordinator tracker.

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Cody Ford made a name for himself with Bengals this year

The Bengals found a quality player in Cody Ford this season.

Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Cody Ford turned some heads this season for his sheer versatility that wound up making him a key part of the offense.

In fact, Ford played key reps at multiple different spots and is the first in a long, long time to start at four different positions in the same season.

The performance even earned Ford a nod from franchise great Dave Lapham.

“There is much more different technique at tackle, particularly in pass protection, than there is at the guard position,” Lapham told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “There’s the physical aspect of being able to rise to the occasion, but then being able to handle the technique and the mental aspect of knowing your assignment when the calls are made … First and foremost, you have to have your nose in the playbook … You know exactly what you’re supposed to do no matter where you are. You have to be able to sift through and make sure that you’re doing what you’re doing right guard, not left guard or right tackle.”

Ford played at left tackle when Orlando Brown Jr. was hurt, filled in at guard after a benching, functioned as an extra tight end and started at right tackle with rookie Amarius Mims hurt.

It wasn’t always perfect, but with the strong season, Ford went from a so-so outlook this offseason as a free agent to a guy the Bengals almost have to bring back as core depth.

Call it one of those little silver linings during a lost season — for player and team alike.

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Ohio State will break UGA record with national championship victory

All the Ohio State Buckeyes have to do is win the national championship to snap a Georgia football record

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a chance to break a Georgia Bulldogs record in the national championship game.

What does Ohio State have to do? All the Buckeyes need to do is defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

If Ohio State wins, then the 2024 version of the Buckeyes will surpass the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs for the largest total point differential in a single College Football Playoff.

In 2022, Georgia finished the playoff with a plus-59 point differential, which includes Georgia’s 58-point margin of victory over TCU in the national championship and Georgia’s one-point margin of victory against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.

Entering the national championship, Ohio State has a plus-59 point differential in the playoff. Of course, the Buckeyes will have played in four games after the national championship compared to Georgia’s two back in 2022. If Ohio State wins, then their point differential will be at least 60, but more importantly the Buckeyes would secure their first national title of the Ryan Day era.

It is unlikely Ohio State (or anyone) will match Georgia’s average playoff margin of victory from the 2022 season (29.5 point differential per playoff game). To tie Georgia’s 2022 average playoff margin of victory, Ohio State would have to beat Notre Dame by 59 points or more.