NFL Player News

Pierce (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

Pierce missed a third straight game this past Sunday against the Cardinals, but he appeared to take a step forward leading up to that contest, as he was able to return to practice Friday as a limited participant. He's now opened Week 12 prep as a full participant, signaling that he's moved past the ankle issue and is on track to suit up Sunday against the Jaguars. Though Pierce has served as Houston's starting running back in each of his seven appearances this season and could take the first snap against Jacksonville, Pierce may be the starter in name only. According to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Wednesday that he believes in "sharing the load" out of the backfield between Pierce and Devin Singletary, who served as the team's lead back over the past three weeks. Considering that Singletary averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns on 52 totes over the past two games, any timeshare arrangement is seemingly more likely to tilt in his favor, given the extent to which Pierce struggled prior to missing time. Pierce has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry over seven appearances this season, ranking last in the NFL among all players with more than 60 carries.

Mostert (ankle/knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Mostert has appeared on both of the Dolphins' first two Week 12 practice reports as a limited participant due to the pair of injuries, but the team seems to be capping his reps as a matter of load management rather than due to any concern about his availability for Friday's game against the Jets. Instead, the status of fellow running back De'Von Achane (knee) -- who was a limited practice participant Wednesday -- appears to be more up in the air than Mostert's as Friday's game approaches. If Achane isn't able to play Friday, Jeff Wilson would serve as the top understudy to Mostert, who carried a season-high 22 times in this past Sunday's win over the Raiders.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Williams (ankle) will be a full practice participant Wednesday, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

On the same day in which the Rams designated Williams for return from injured reserve, the running back "looked like he was full speed during walkthrough just now," per McVay. The team likely will want Williams to string together multiple uncapped practices before activating him from IR, but he seems poised to miss the minimum four games due to a sprained left ankle. The Rams will need to add Williams back on the active roster by Saturday at 4 p.m. ET for him to have a chance to play Sunday at Arizona.

Achane (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

For the second day in a row, Achane appears on Miami's injury report as a limited practice participant, though the running back was actually able to get on the field Wednesday after Tuesday's practice report was merely an estimate. According to Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald, head coach Mike McDaniel said earlier Wednesday that the team is comfortable with Achane from a medical standpoint after he played just a handful of snaps in this past Sunday's win over the Raiders before exiting with a knee issue, but the rookie running back still needs to regain more confidence in his health. To that end, McDaniel noted that Wednesday's practice was a "big day" for the Dolphins to assess Achane's status for Friday's game against the Jets, but the team won't determine whether Achane carries a Week 12 designation until Thursday.

Dillon (groin) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game in Detroit, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

The Packers emerged from Sunday's win against the Chargers with known health concerns at running back after Aaron Jones (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) got injured on the same possession. Dillon's appearance on Monday's practice report as a limited participant due to a groin issue thus was a surprise, but he was able to turned in capped walkthroughs Tuesday and Wednesday and put himself into a position to be available Week 12. If he's confirmed as active about 90 minutes before Thursday's 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff, Dillon likely will be Green Bay's top option out of the backfield, though Patrick Taylor and James Robinson also will be on hand for any backfield reps that linger.

Stevenson (back) isn't listed Wednesday on the Patriots' Week 12 injury report.

Stevenson briefly exited the Patriots' Week 10 loss to the Colts, but he returned to the contest and ended up parlaying his 46 snaps on offense into 20 carries for 88 yards and three catches on five targets for 14 yards. Following the Patriots' Week 11 bye, Stevenson has moved past his back issue and is in line to lead the backfield this weekend against the Giants.

Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Detroit, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

One day removed from head coach Matt LaFleur telling Ryan Wood of USA Today that Jones was "highly unlikely" to play Week 12, the running back indeed won't be available Thursday due to the sprained MCL that he suffered this past Sunday against the Chargers. After Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, the Packers are left with AJ Dillon as their potential lead runner, but he's listed as questionable due to a groin issue. If Dillon isn't able to go, the team's backfield will be down to Patrick Taylor and James Robinson.

Armah (hamstring) is listed as out for Thursday's game at the Cowboys.

Armah will sit out his second straight game in Week 12 as he nurses a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 10 at Seattle. The Commanders gave 2021 fourth-round tight end John Bates a season-high 44 offensive snaps in Week 11 with Armah out, suggesting Bates might be the prime beneficiary of Armah's absence in terms of playing time.

Walker (oblique) is listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against the 49ers, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.

Walker was expected to miss some time due to the oblique strain that he suffered Sunday versus the Rams, and he's now one step closer to sitting out his first game of the season. His status will be confirmed when Seattle releases its inactive list approximately 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. In Walker's expected absence against San Francisco, the Seahawks will likely turn their backfield over to rookie second-round pick Zach Charbonnet, with DeeJay Dallas and Kenny McIntosh in reserve. Walker's next chance for game action will come in another Thursday game Nov. 30 at Dallas.

The Commanders elevated Williams from their practice squad for Thursday's game at Dallas.

With Antonio Gibson (toe) banged up, Washington saw fit to call up Williams to provide some depth at running back in Week 12. It will be his first game this season, and as long as Brian Robinson is upright, Williams' path to playing time is narrow.