Antonio Brown doesn’t carry injury designation for Week 16 vs. Panthers

Friday update: Brown doesn’t have an injury designation for Week 16 against the Panthers, meaning the receiver will suit up for the first time since Week 6. Given Tampa’s issues at the receiver position, managers can expect Brown to be a strong fantasy play in this game.

Thursday update: Brown was limited for a second straight day of practice.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the practice field on Wednesday to open Week 16, and they have welcomed back Antonio Brown. The wide receiver finished up a three-game suspension for providing a fake vaccination card earlier this year. There was some question as to whether or not the Bucs would release him, but Bruce Arians made it clear winning football games is the most important thing for him.

Brown was listed as limited on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. He was dealing with the ankle injury prior to his suspension and has not appeared in a game since Week 6. He had 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns in five appearances across the team’s first six games.

Fantasy football implications

If he is cleared to play this weekend, Brown has upside against the Panthers. In his final three games before the ankle injury, he was targeted 32 times and caught 23 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns. With Chris Godwin out for the season with an ACL injury and Mike Evans sidelined with a hamstring injury, Brown is going to be worth a start as one of Tom Brady’s favorites.