Wagner (knee) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.

EDGE Analysis

Wagner did not practice Monday, so his upgrade to full participation Tuesday means he is trending toward playing in Thursday's game against the Cowboys. The veteran middle linebacker has yet to miss a game this season, playing 100 percent of defensive snaps in 14 of 15 games. His continued presence on the field is surely an anchor for the Commanders' defense, and his trend of game-day participation will likely not stop Sunday.

Johnson is "trending" toward making his first start of the season Thursday against the Cowboys after Marcus Mariota (hand/quadriceps) was a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the Commanders shutting down Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the season and with Mariota unlikely to be ready to play on a short week after exiting last Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles with a pair of injuries, Johnson is the next man up at quarterback. The journeyman signal-caller's last NFL start came back in 2021, when he filled in for Lamar Jackson in Week 17 during his second of three stints in the Ravens organization. Johnson has flashed some upside as a runner in his limited playing time over his previous stops during his long career, but given that he's now 39 years old, he probably can't be counted on to replicate the rushing production of Daniels and Mariota.

Coach Mike Tomlin has no new updates on Watt (lung), but implied there may be participation in the early parts of Week 17, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Watt has seemed to be solely focused on recovering from his partially collapsed lung, but Tomlin's comments today implied that the coaching staff is aware of the outside linebacker's progress and that he might have a chance to participate in practice this week. If the Steelers can take the win over the Browns on Sunday, they would clinch the AFC North, and Watt would have a stress-free Week 18 to further recover before Wild Card Weekend.

Mitchell-Paden (knee) was not present during the portion of Tuesday's practice that was open to the media, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell-Paden did not play in the Week 16 over the Jets due to a knee injury he sustained in Friday's practice. The Saints play Sunday against the Titans, so the 26-year-old still has three opportunities to elevate his practice participation and dodge an injury designation ahead of the game.

Adkins (knee) did not participate in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Adkins has suited up in consecutive games after missing five due to a knee injury, which he potentially reaggravated last Sunday against the Jaguars. The tight end left in the first half and was unable to return to the game, a report that, combined with Tuesday's practice participation, does not bode well for his chances of playing in Thursday night's game against the Chiefs. Adkins will have one more chance to increase his participation level in the hopes of avoiding an injury designation ahead of Thursday's contest.

The Commanders waived Agnew (undisclosed) on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Agnew failed his physical due to an undisclosed injury, and the wide receiver will be sent back to the waiver wire almost as soon as he was claimed off it. The weight of a failed physical may end up condemning the 30-year-old to being a practice squad addition at best for the remainder of the 2025 season.

The Patriots signed Smith to the practice squad Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Smith was waived from the Jets' practice squad Dec. 2. The former Jet may have a chance for a revenge game this Sunday, as the wide receiver is a prime candidate for practice squad elevation with Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and DeMario Douglas (hamstring) both nursing injuries ahead of the contest.

The Vikings claimed Rypien off waivers Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rypien was cut by the Colts on Monday and lands in a familiar place after he spent the offseason with the Vikings. With J.J. McCarthy (hand) out for Saturday's game against the Lions, Rypien is a veteran backup option to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Rypien last attempted a regular-season pass in 2023 with the Rams.

The Patriots placed Farmer (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Farmer suffered the injury in Sunday night's win over the Ravens and will now miss the final two games of the regular season and at least the first two games of the playoffs. The fourth-round rookie defensive tackle has appeared in 13 games this season, making three starts, and has recorded 15 tackles (seven solo), one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.

The Patriots signed Mitchell to the practice squad Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell was waived by the Chiefs last Saturday and has already found a new home. The running back has a chance to be elevated for Week 17 against the Jets due to the Patriots' starting back TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) potentially not clearing the league's five-step concussion protocol in time for Sunday's game.