NFL Player News

Dowdle (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Dowdle maintained his activity level from one day prior as he continues to tend to an ankle injury, giving him just one more day to get back to full before the Cowboys potentially make a call on his status ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Eagles. If he's able to suit up, as he's done the previous three games with the health concern, he should be good for his typical snap share (18-26 percent) and touches (4-10) from the aforementioned span behind starting running back Tony Pollard.

Etienne (ribs) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Etienne doesn't appear to be any worse for the wear coming out of Monday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Bengals, despite being listed as questionable with the rib issue leading up to the contest before handling 15 touches (11 carries, four receptions) and accounting for 79 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown over his 43 snaps. The Jaguars have put a cap on Etienne's practice reps for both of their first two Week 14 practices, but there's been no indication that his restrictions are the result of any setback. He may still carry a designation into this weekend's game in Cleveland if he remains a limited participant in Friday's practice, but Etienne is still expected to be ready to lead the Jacksonville backfield come Sunday.

Hunt (groin) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Hunt didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to a capped session Thursday has him moving in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Jaguars approaches. If the running back practices fully Friday, as he did last week while managing his groin injury, he'll have a chance to head into the weekend minus a Week 14 injury designation.

Dillon was limited at Thursday's practice due to a groin injury.

Dillon endured some practice restrictions last week due to the same health concern, but it didn't impact his availability for a Week 13 matchup with the Chiefs. In the eventual 27-19 win, he continued to serve as the Packers' No. 1 running back with Aaron Jones (knee) sidelined, taking 18 carries for 73 yards and hauling in his only target for 14 yards. Jones returned Thursday as a limited participant, though, so Dillon may soon move back to his complementary role out of Green Bay's backfield Monday at the Giants, assuming both are active.

Ekeler may be at risk of losing out on some snaps and touches out of the backfield after Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday that "competition for carries is going to be something that you can see happening," Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports. "We're going to keep exploring, making adjustments, so that we can find that rhythm that I've been talking about," Staley said. "We know that Austin is a good running back. We just haven't found any rhythm in the last couple of weeks in the run game. Just need to keep after it and keep working hard in practice."

Staley's comments come while Ekeler has mustered just 3.0 yards per carry on 110 total rushing attempts since the running back returned from a three-game absence due to a high-ankle sprain following the Chargers' Week 5 bye. Ekeler hasn't seemed to show any notable improvement as he's become further removed from the injury; as Sunday's game against the Broncos approaches, the 28-year-old is in the midst of a streak of 28 carries that have gained six yards or fewer. Joshua Kelley would be next in line to poach touches out of the backfield if the Chargers elect to scale back Ekeler's workload on the ground, though Kelley hasn't made much of a case to deserve more snaps in his own right. Over his last four appearances, Kelley has averaged just 2.6 yards on 53 totes. The Chargers' wholesale struggles in run blocking -- the team's 26 percent run-block win rate is the seventh-lowest in the league this season -- seem to have played at least some part in Ekeler's poor efficiency, and his downturn in productivity comes at a particular poor time given that he's scheduled for free agency this spring.

Miller (ankle) did not participate in Thursday's practice.

The rookie running back out of TCU has been held out since Week 10, and it seems as if he's still recovering from his ankle issue. Miller has appeared in seven games for the Saints thus far, recording 83 rushing yards on 28 attempts. He'll almost certainly carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to record a full practice session Friday.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Jones (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Jones was back on the practice field for the first time since suffering an MCL sprain in a Nov. 19 win over the Chargers and missing the Packers' subsequent two games. The running back looks like he could have a chance to return to the lineup Monday against the Giants, though he may need to upgrade to full participation in practice by Saturday or at least maintain limited activity for three straight days. Whenever Jones is deemed ready to go, he should move back into a lead role out of the backfield while AJ Dillon drops back to second on the depth chart. Dillon has carried 32 times for 116 yards (3.6 average) and no touchdowns while adding four receptions for 52 yards on four targets while Jones has been sidelined for the past two games.

Hall (ankle) said Thursday that he expects to play Sunday against the Texans, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Hall didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but the running back's comments suggest that he could practice in some capacity Friday to put to rest some of the concern about his status heading into the weekend. However, unless Hall practices in a full capacity Friday, he may still carry a questionable designation into the weekend for the Jets' second straight game.

Jones (knee) returned to practice Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Jones has missed back-to-back games since spraining his MCL on Sunday, Nov. 19 against the Chargers, and the Packers also listed him as a DNP on every Week 12 and 13 injury report. Considering he took part in individual drills Thursday, he figures to be at least a limited participant, but the team's initial Week 14 practice report will reveal his activity level in the first set of on-field work ahead of Monday's road matchup with the Giants.

Hall (ankle) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Per Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Hall -- who didn't practice Wednesday -- was spotted on a side field Thursday, so what the running back is able to do during Friday's session could be telling with regard to his status for Sunday's game against the Texans. If Hall is limited or out this weekend, Dalvin Cook would be on track to headline the Jets backfield.