NFL Player News

Hunt (thigh) isn't in line to practice Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Hunt's Week 8 status gains added import with lead back Jerome Ford (ankle) expected to miss a week or two due to the injury he suffered in this past Sunday's 39-38 win over the Colts, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.com. Due to the thigh injury of his own, Hunt was viewed as a game-time decision heading into the Week 7 contest, but he suited up and took 10 carries for 31 yards and two touchdowns while failing to secure his lone target. The Browns likely didn't plan to lean on Hunt as heavily had Ford not exited the contest early, as Hunt ended up splitting snaps with third-stringer Pierre Strong following Ford's departure even though the game was competitive throughout. Hunt now has two more chances to return to practice ahead of this Sunday's game against the Seahawks, though head coach Kevin Stefanski told Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram on Wednesday that he expects Hunt to be available this weekend.

Sanders (shoulder) is on the field for Wednesday's practice and was spotted wearing full pads, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Sanders missed the final game before Carolina's Week 7 bye, allowing Chuba Hubbard to get 79 percent of snaps and 20 touches in a 42-21 loss to the Dolphins on Oct. 15. While Sanders may return to his starting role this Sunday against Houston, he'll likely cede a significant portion of the backfield work to Hubbard, as head coach Frank Reich suggested Monday that he plans to take a committee approach between the two players, per Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today. Sanders has dealt with groin, shoulder and pectoral injuries this season and is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and 5.4 per reception.

Ford (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Kareem Hunt (thigh) will also sit out Wednesday's session, and with Nick Chubb (knee) done for the season and Jake Trotter of ESPN.com having already reported that Ford is expected to miss 1-to-2 weeks, it's not surprising that the Browns signed Nate McCrary and Jordan Wilkins to the practice squad this week to add healthy bodies to a depleted running back room. For now, Pierre Strong profiles as the healthiest back on Cleveland's roster, though Hunt would likely serve as the Browns' lead option Sunday in Seattle if he can overcome his own thigh injury.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said that Johnson (concussion) will return to practice Wednesday but remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.

Eberflus said Monday that Johnson has "one more hurdle" remaining before exiting the protocol and being deemed good to go for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Johnson's only remaining steps may be to return to full-contact practice and then gain clearance from an independent neurologist, however, and taking the field Wednesday represents noteworthy progress. D'Onta Foreman has looked impressive as the lead man in Chicago's backfield over the last two weeks, but Johnson should be able to carve out a role Week 8 if cleared to play.

Head coach Arthur Smith said that Robinson (illness) will participate in Wednesday's practice, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.

Robinson took on just one touch during the Falcons' 16-13 win over the Buccaneers in Week 7 after alerting the coaching staff he "wasn't feeling like himself" during pregame warmups, but he's not expected to be hampered in any capacity in Sunday's road matchup against the Titans. The rookie first-round pick hasn't missed a practice all season, and he appears likely to be listed as a full participant on Wednesday's injury report.

Edwards-Helaire notched two rushes for five yards and failed to reel in his lone target during Sunday's 31-17 victory against the Chargers.

Edwards-Helaire remains the third fiddle in Kansas City's backfield equation, sitting behind Isiah Pacheco in the pecking order for carries and behind Jerick McKinnon for looks in the passing game. He finished with just seven total snaps in Sunday's affair and hasn't logged double-digit snaps since Week 3, so there's little to get encouraged about as long as the running back room remains healthy.

McKinnon accrued two rushes for two yards and caught all two targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 31-17 victory over the Chargers.

McKinnon has no more than three carries in a game this season, as he resumes his duties as a pass-catching specialist in 2023 after a brief run of all-purpose duties late last season. His role could increase slightly should Isiah Pacheco miss any action or if the Chiefs are trailing and need to abandon the run, but he's not particularly appealing in most fantasy formats at this point.

The Giants claimed Jackson from waivers Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Jackson was signed to the Browns' active roster Saturday, played seven snaps on special teams Sunday against the Colts and was cut by the team Monday. Rather than going unclaimed, Jackson was picked up by the Giants, who are in need of backfield depth with Eric Gray (calf) placed on injured reserve, while Saquon Barkley (elbow) and Gary Brightwell (hamstring) are both questionable for the Week 8 game against the Jets.

The Giants placed Gray (calf) on injured reserve Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

In a corresponding move, the Giants signed Jashaun Corbin from the Panthers' practice squad. Gray sustained the calf injury Sunday against the Commanders and will be forced to miss at least the next four games. He's eligible to return against the Patriots on Nov. 26.

The Giants signed Corbin to their active roster Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Corbin has spent the season on the Panthers' practice squad after participating in the team's training camp. The move corresponds with Eric Gray (calf) being placed on injured reserve, and Corbin will provide depth to a backfield riddled with injuries to Saquon Barkley (elbow) and Gary Brightwell (hamstring).