NFL Player News

McKinnon (groin) isn't slated to practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

McKinnon didn't play in this past Sunday's win over the Raiders, and his looming absence from Wednesday's practice clouds his status for this weekend's game against the Packers. If McKinnon remains sidelined versus Green Bay, Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire would continue to pace the Chiefs backfield.

Sermon is expected to work as the top backup to Zack Moss for the duration of No. 1 running back Jonathan Taylor's absence while Taylor recovers from thumb surgery, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Taylor sustained the thumb injury in this past Sunday's win over the Buccaneers and appears likely to miss multiple games, potentially even requiring a stint on injured reserve. Sermon previously backed up Moss when Taylor opened the season on PUP list while recovering from ankle surgery, but Sermon hasn't had more than six touches in a game this season. Per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, head coach Shane Steichen said the Colts don't plan to sign a running back to compete with Sermon, though Steichen also suggested that Moss will see the overwhelming majority of backfield touches, as was the case during Taylor's prior absence.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Taylor will undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday to address a right thumb injury sustained in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.

Steichen isn't sure how much time Taylor will miss, though the coach said that a stint on injured reserve isn't being considered for the running back at this stage. In any case, look for the Colts to officially rule Taylor out for Sunday's game against the Titans once the team's final Week 13 injury report is released Friday. In Taylor's looming absence, Zack Moss is poised to lead the Indianapolis backfield, as he did earlier this season when Taylor was on the reserve/PUP list while completing his recovery from offseason ankle surgery. Meanwhile, Trey Sermon is slated to serve as Moss' top backup, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.

Williams failed to record a single rush or target in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Steelers.

Williams played just eight snaps against the Steelers, which was his lowest total of the season. Sunday marked the fourth time the veteran running back did not earn a carry in a contest this season. With that said, Cincinnati did not commit to the run in the game, as starter Joe Mixon recorded just eight rushes, while quarterback Jake Browning handled three carries of his own. With Mixon cemented as the Bengals' top option out of the backfield, Williams has an uphill battle to earn more opportunities. Williams is nothing more than an insurance policy as the Bengals head into a Week 13 matchup with the Jaguars.

Brown failed to record a single carry or target in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Steelers.

Brown returned to the field Sunday after four weeks on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but he failed to play a single snap on offense. Instead, the rookie running back was used on special teams, playing just 11 snaps. Brown sits behind both Joe Mixon and Trayveon Williams on the depth chart, and he'll be far off the fantasy radar when the Bengals visit the Jaguars in Week 13.

Johnson carried six times for 19 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in Sunday's 37-34 overtime loss to the Eagles.

Johnson did catch three balls -- one for a touchdown -- in Week 11, so it's not like the team views him as a one-trick pony. He's still behind James Cook and Latavious Murray in the pecking order, plus Damien Harris (neck) could eventually return before season's end, but it's at least worth noting that Johnson has been given an opportunity in the offense after previously not seeing more than one offensive snap in any game under former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who was fired after Week 10. With interim OC Joe Brady now in charge, Johnson has seen 24 offensive snaps over the past two weeks. While Johnson still is too far down the pecking order to consider using, he's also probably just an injury or two away from having a meaningful role in an offense that can put up a high number of points.

Carter recorded four carries for 19 yards and reeled in all four targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Rams.

In his Cardinals debut, Carter took on a surprising snap share (38 percent) behind starting running back James Conner (42 percent) while ranking ahead of the returning Emari Demercado (20 percent). Carter actually outproduced Conner in total yards, 34-32, on two fewer touches, and Demercado was a distant third in the category with three touches (all carries) for 15 yards. Arizona may have been easing Demercado back in after he missed the previous three contests due to a toe injury, but the breakdown of reps between the three bears watching to see if Carter may be the preferred No. 2 RB option ahead of Demercado, starting Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Demercado tallied three carries for 15 yards during Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Rams.

The Cardinals' No. 1 running back James Conner had among his quietest games of the season in this one, turning a 42 percent (30 of 71) offensive snap share into 10 touches for 32 yards from scrimmage. Meanwhile, Michael Carter ranked second among the team's RBs with eight touches for 34 total yards on 38 percent (27) of plays, with Demercado bringing up the rear with three touches on 20 percent (14) of snaps. Perhaps Arizona was easing Demercado back into the mix after he missed the previous three games due to a toe injury, but he at the very least remains a very distant second or third at the position among the Cards' backfield options. His next chance for action arrives Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Murray carried the ball nine times for 30 yards in Sunday's 37-34 overtime loss to the Eagles.

Murray's role has certainly settled into a tight zone this season -- he's had nine or 10 carries in each of the past three weeks while playing a modest role in the offense behind starter James Cook. Ty Johnson is also starting to see action in the backfield with a touchdown catch in Week 11 and six carries for 19 yards in the loss to the Eagles. Murray has been an asset for the Bills, but he's simply a bit player in an offense that has plenty of other guys that can score touchdowns. He has found the end zone three times this season, but only once since Week 3.

Edwards-Helaire totaled three carries for five yards during Sunday's 31-17 victory over the Raiders.

Edwards-Helaire rotated in for 12 offensive snaps in Sunday's clash, marking an uptick in his playing time compared to other recent contests. That was likely due to Jerick McKinnon (groin) sitting out the affair, opening more reps behind Isiah Pacheco. The same could be true next week if McKinnon remains sidelined, but CEH didn't produce much with the added snaps, so there doesn't appear to be much upside to his game aside from being a handcuff to Pacheco while McKinnon is out.