NFL Player News

Dowdle (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Seahawks, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

For a second consecutive week, Dowdle is tending to an ankle injury, only this time he took part in more on-field work, as evidenced by his ability to practice fully Wednesday. He's thus set to resume his complementary role behind the Cowboys' No. 1 running back, Tony Pollard, which has amounted to 35 touches for 158 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in five games since the team's Week 7 bye.

Hunt didn't practice Wednesday due to a groin injury, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Hunt dealt with a groin injury earlier in the season, though it's unclear if his absence Wednesday was related to the prior issue or is a new concern. Either way, Hunt may have been playing hurt in this past Sunday's 29-12 loss to Denver, as Hunt's seven carries in that game marked his lowest total since Week 4. Hunt will have two more opportunities to return to practice this week, but if he fails to do so, additional backfield touches could be in store for Jerome Ford and/or Pierre Strong in Cleveland's run-heavy offense Sunday against the Rams.

The Dolphins designated Brooks (ankle) for return from their injured reserve Wednesday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

The move opens a 21-day window during which Miami can evaluate Brooks in practice before activating him from IR. The Dolphins' injury reports this week will provide insight into whether Brooks has a chance to play Sunday in Washington, but even if he's activated from that contest, he'll be relegated to a depth role behind Raheem Mostert.

Mason missed Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Mason hasn't recorded a carry or drawn a target since Week 6 and has played just five snaps on offense over the last five games, but he remains a key member of San Francisco's special teams units, where he's logged double-digit snaps every contest this season. If Mason is unable to overcome his hamstring injury in time for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, Tyrion Davis-Price would step in as the No. 3 back behind Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell.

Dillon (groin) isn't practicing Wednesday, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.

Dillon was listed as questionable last week before taking 17 touches for 81 yards in a 29-22 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Aaron Jones (knee) sat out the Week 12 game and still isn't practicing, while third-stringer Patrick Taylor is the team's healthiest running back at the moment. Taylor took on 48 percent of the snaps last Thursday -- nearly matching Dillon (52 percent) -- but with only four touches on his 27 plays.

Jones (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.

AJ Dillon (groin) was also sidelined for Wednesday's practice after he filled in for Jones as the Packers' lead back in a 29-22 win over the Lions last week. Given that he's just a week and a half removed from suffering an MCL sprain, Jones could be in store for another absence this Sunday against the Chiefs. Should both Jones and Dillon sit out versus Kansas City, the Packers would be left with Patrick Taylor as their top running back.

Doaks was cut from the Texans' practice squad Wednesday.

Doaks spent camp with Houston and ultimately found his way to their practice squad in mid-September, but he never received a chance with the 53-man roster. The Cincinnati product was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 Draft by the Dolphins, but he has yet to make his NFL debut.

Walker (oblique) appears to be trending in the wrong direction ahead of Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Walker missed Tuesday's practice while continuing his recovery from the oblique tear that kept him out of last week's Thanksgiving Day loss to the 49ers. With Seattle facing a quick turnaround again in Week 13 with another Thursday game, and with Walker still not practicing, he's beginning to look like a long shot to play in Dallas, though head coach Pete Carroll hasn't yet ruled him out. Wednesday's practice will represent Walker's last chance to get some reps in before being tagged with an injury designation. If Walker can't go, rookie Zach Charbonnet will once again lead Seattle's backfield versus Dallas.

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.