NFL Player News

Dotson is inactive for Monday's game against the Cowboys.

With top back Austin Ekeler back in action Monday, Dotson is the odd man out in the Chargers' Week 6 backfield. As a result, Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller are on hand to work behind Ekeler. In that context, Dotson is off the fantasy radar until injuries hit the team's RB corps.

Vaughn (coach's decision) is listed as inactive for Monday's game against the Chargers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Vaughn's playing time has been inconsistent through five games this season, with his snap share topping out at 30 percent in the Cowboys' Week 4 blowout of the Patriots. Overall, he's averaging exactly two yards on his 20 carries and has gathered in all five of his targets for 19 yards. Dallas signaled that it was making a change in its reserve RB ranks by elevating Malik Davis ahead of Monday's contest to provide backfield depth alongside Rico Dowdle behind starter Tony Pollard.

The Eagles signed Nichols to their practice squad Monday.

A 2023 seventh-round pick by the Packers, Nichols spent the summer in Green Bay before starting the season on injured reserve. He was eventually cut with an injury settlement. Nichols takes the practice squad spot of Bryant Koback.

Davis has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Chargers, Nick Harris of the Cowboys' official site reports.

This marks Davis' first elevation of the season, with the running back in line to provide the team with another Week 6 depth behind top back Tony Pollard. During the 2022 season, Davis carried 38 times for 161 yards and a TD while adding six catches (on seven targets) for 63 yards in 12 games with Dallas.

McCaffrey (oblique/ribs) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan noted Monday that a determination hasn't been made whether the injury that forced McCaffrey out of Sunday's loss to the Browns is an oblique issue, a rib issue or a combination of the two. Once the results of the running back's MRI are available, the 49ers should have a better idea of McCaffrey's availability for next Monday's game against the Vikings. If McCaffrey ends up sitting out Week 7, Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell would be in line to lead the San Francisco backfield.

Harris sustained a concussion and a sprained neck during Sunday's 14-9 win versus the Giants, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Harris was stretchered to a Buffalo-area hospital after taking a blow to the head during the second quarter of the Week 6 contest, and while he thankfully avoided any life-threatening injury, it seems like a long shot that he'd be able to suit up again in Week 7 at New England. Buffalo's practice reports over the week will provide more information on that front.

Akers had one carry for eight yards and one reception for seven yards on his lone target in Sunday's 19-13 win at Chicago.

Akers played just nine snaps on offense, which is lower than his previous two games with the Vikings. Alexander Mattison played on 43 snaps and had 18 carries for 44 yards. It was a little surprising Akers didn't get more opportunities with Mattison struggling with a 2.4 YPC. Akers could eventually challenge for more playing time, but the Vikings continue to use Mattison as the primary back even with underwhelming results.

Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Montgomery (ribs) is expected to miss some time, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.

Montgomery is dealing with a rib cartilage issue, and Campbell said it's not an easy thing to endure as a running back. Montgomery played just 18 snaps in Sunday's win over the Bucs before leaving with the injury. On the season, he's rushed 94 times for 385 yards and six touchdowns, while adding six catches for 66 yards on 10 targets. In Montgomery's likely Week 7 absence, the Lions hope to get Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) back and also will lean more on Craig Reynolds.

Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Gibbs (hamstring) is trending toward playing Sunday against the Ravens, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Gibbs has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury that he sustained in practice ahead of Week 5. With David Montgomery (ribs) now appearing as if he'll sit out at least one game, the Lions might need to lean even more on Gibbs, though Craig Reynolds and Devine Ozigbo also remain in the backfield mix for Detroit.

Williams (hamstring) was estimated as a limited participant on Monday's practice report, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The Saints haven't yet opened Williams' 21-day window to return from injured reserve, but the transaction will most likely become official when New Orleans holds its next traditional practice rather than a walk-through. Prior to going down with a hamstring strain and missing the Saints' last four games, Williams turned 27 carries into 74 scoreless yards (2.7 yards per carry) and caught two passes for seven yards. Once he returns, Williams will slide in as the top complement to lead back Alvin Kamara.