NFL News & Rumors: Wednesday 12/18

We will have more updates added throughout the day, so be sure to check back.

NFLTR

• 2014 NFL Free Agents: Top 50 List
• 2014 NFL Free Agents: Top 100 List

49ers

• 49ers placed FB Bruce Miller on season-ending injured reserve.
• 49ers signed FB Will Tukuafu.

Bears

• HC Marc Trestman mentioned that he’s optimistic that LB Lance Briggs will be able to play in Week 16. (Zach Zaidman)
• WR Brandon Marshall did not practice on Wednesday. (ESPN Chicago)

Bengals

• TE Jermaine Gresham practiced on Wednesday. (Geoff Hobson)

Bills

• QB E.J. Manuel practiced on Wednesday. (Mike Rodak)
• RB Fred Jackson did not practice on Wednesday. (Chris Brown)
• WR Stevie Johnson did not practice on Wednesday. (Chris Brown)

Broncos

• WR Wes Welker did not practice on Wednesday. (Lindsay Jones)

Browns

• TE Jordan Cameron did not practice on Wednesday. (Tony Grossi)
• CB Joe Haden did not practice on Wednesday. (Scott Petrak)
• RB Willis McGahee put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Scott Petrak)
• Dolphins claimed CB Chris Owens off waivers from the Browns.

Buccaneers

• Buccaneers placed WR Russell Shepard on season-ending injured reserve. (Scott Smith)
• WR Vincent Jackson put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Jim Thomas)

Cardinals

• HC Bruce Arians mentioned that he expects WR Larry Fitzgerald to play in Week 16, despite a recent concussion. (Kent Somers)
• QB Carson Palmer put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Darren Urban)
• WR Larry Fitzgerald did not practice on Wednesday. (Mike Jurecki)
• TE Rob Housler did not practice on Wednesday. (Mike Jurecki)

Chargers

• HC Mike McCoy isn’t concerned about RB Ryan Mathews‘ heavy workload in recent weeks. (Union-Tribune San Diego)
• RB Ryan Mathews put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Michael Gehlken)
• WR Eddie Royal did not practice on Wednesday. (Michael Gehlken)

Chiefs

• Chiefs signed TE Richard Gordon.

Colts

• RB Donald Brown practiced on Wednesday. (Phillip Wilson)
• WR LaVon Brazill practiced on Wednesday. (Kevin Bowen)

Cowboys

• CB Morris Claiborne will not play in Week 16. (ESPN Dallas)
• WR Terrance Williams did not practice on Wednesday and is expected to miss Week 16’s game. (Brandon George)
• Cowboys signed KR Micheal Spurlock. (NFLTR)
• Cowboys signed DT Frank Kearse off the Titans’ practice squad. (NFLTR)

Dolphins

• RB Daniel Thomas re-aggravated his left ankle sprain during Week 15’s game. (Palm Beach Post)
• Dolphins claimed CB Chris Owens off waivers from the Browns.

Falcons

• DE Osi Umenyiora could have a reserve role in the team’s final two games of the season. (ESPN.com)
• WR Darius Johnson did not practice on Wednesday. (D. Orlando Ledbetter)

Giants

• WR Rueben Randle is expected to see plenty of playing time in Week 16. (New York Daily News)
• WR Victor Cruz did not practice on Wednesday. (Dan Graziano)
• WR Jerrel Jernigan did not practice on Wednesday. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• RB Peyton Hillis did not practice on Wednesday. (Ralph Vacchiano)

Jaguars

• RB Maurice Jones-Drew did not practice Wednesday. (John Oehser)
• C Brad Meester announced he will retire after this season. (Ryan O’Halloran)
• Jaguars placed LB Russell Allen on season-ending injured reserve. 

Jets

• Jets signed WR Dwight Jones to their practice squad. (Ian Rapoport)
• Jets worked out CB Brandon Burton, C Ryan Miller and CB DeMarcus Van Dyke. (Rich Cimini)

Lions

• HC Jim Schwartz gave QB Matthew Stafford a vote of confidence on Tuesday. (Detroit News)
• WR Calvin Johnson did not practice on Wednesday. (Tim Twentyman)
• CB Chris Houston returned to practice on Wednesday. (Dave Birkett)
• TE Brandon Pettigrew did not practice on Wednesday. (Dave Birkett)

Packers

• HC Mike McCarthy announced that QB Aaron Rodgers‘ still hasn’t received medical clearance as of Wednesday. (NFLTR)
• QB Matt Flynn practiced with the first-string offense on Wednesday. (Rob Demovsky)
• WR Randall Cobb returned to practice on Wednesday. (Tom Silverstein)
• RB Eddie Lacy did not practice on Wednesday. (Rob Demovsky)
• TE Brandon Bostick did not practice Wednesday. (Rob Demovsky)

Panthers

• RB Jonathan Stewart is expected to be out until at least Week 17. (Joe Person)
• WR Steve Smith put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Joe Person)

Patriots

• NT Vince Wilfork mentioned that there’s “no question” he’ll be back in 2014. (Boston Herald)
• TE Rob Gronkowski‘s knee surgery will be the eighth known surgical procedure he’s undergone in his career. (Boston Herald)
• WR Kenbrell Thompkins practiced on Wednesday.
• WR Aaron Dobson practiced on Wednesday.
• WR Josh Boyce did not practice on Wednesday. (Boston Herald)

Raiders

• Raiders signed former Texans third-round pick DE Sam Montgomery. (NFLTR)
• RB Darren McFadden did not practice on Wednesday. (Paul Gutierrez)

Rams

• WR Tavon Austin did not practice on Wednesday. (Nick Wagoner)
• RB Daryl Richardson did not practice on Wednesday. (Nick Wagoner)

Ravens

• QB Joe Flacco practiced on Wednesday. (Clifton Brown)

Redskins

• MLB London Fletcher announced that he’s “99 percent certain” that he will retire following this season. (NFLTR)
• Redskins have claimed C J.D. Walton off of waivers from the Broncos. (NFLTR)
• TE Jordan Reed did not practice on Wednesday. (Grant Paulsen)

Saints

• Rookie LT Terron Armstead will start against the Panthers in Week 16. (Larry Holder)
• Saints signed S Eric Frampton.

Seahawks

• WR Percy Harvin is not play in the final two games of the regular season. (Pro Football Talk)
• WR Percy Harvin did not practice on Wednesday. (Liz Mathews)

Steelers

• OLB LaMarr Woodley could be on the chopping block this offseason. (NFLTR)

Texans

• HC Wade Phillips announced that Matt Schaub will be their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. (NFLTR)
• Texans placed RB Ben Tate season-ending injured reserve Wednesday. (NFLTR)
• RB Dennis Johnson will get the start in Week 16.
• Texans signed RB Jonathan Grimes. (Ian Rapoport)

Titans

• RB Chris Johnson did not practice on Wednesday. (Jim Wyatt)
• Cowboys signed DT Frank Kearse off the Titans’ practice squad. (NFLTR)
• Titans are placing CB Coty Sensabaugh on season-ending injured reserve with a left foot injury. (Nashville Tennessean)
• Titans signed CB Khalid Wooten to their active roster. (Nashville Tennessean)
• Titans signed CB George Baker and DT Kurt Taufa’Asau to their practice squad. (Jim Wyatt)

Vikings

• RB Adrian Peterson put in a limited practice on Wednesday. (Ben Goessling)
• TE John Carlson has been cleared to play in Week 16. (Sean Jensen)