NFL Player News

Perine rushed five times for 22 yards and a touchdown while catching three of four targets for four yards in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

Joe Burrow led the Bengals with 30 rushing yards on four attempts, but Perine was more effective than Joe Mixon, who mustered only 19 yards on eight carries. Perine tied the score at 20-20 with a two-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. That touchdown could prove to be his last with the Bengals, as Perine will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

McKinnon rushed four times for one yard and brought in two of four targets for 17 yards during the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. He also recovered a fumble.

The veteran running back didn't see much of an uptick in pass-catching opportunity even as the Chiefs lost receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) as the evening unfolded. McKinnon also filled his frequently modest role on the ground, although his recovery of a Travis Kelce fumble at the Bengals' 22-yard line late in the first quarter preserved a drive that subsequently culminated in a 24-yard Harrison Butker field goal. If backfield mate Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, IR) is activated for the Super Bowl LVII matchup versus the Eagles in two weeks' time, McKinnon could see his touches reduce further in that contest.

Pacheco rushed 10 times for 26 yards and secured five of six targets for 59 yards during the Chiefs' 23-20 win over the Bengals in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. He also returned two kickoffs for 45 yards.

Pacheco, who did an excellent job breaking tackles and getting to the second level throughout his rookie season, somewhat surprisingly found running room at a premium throughout Sunday's game, although he did have a 10-yard first-quarter touchdown run nullified due to offensive holding. However, with the Chiefs' wideout depth chart suffering some serious in-game attrition thanks to injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and Kadarius Toney (ankle), Pacheco recorded his highest reception, receiving yardage and target totals as a pro yet. The Rutgers product showed off some of the same penchant for getting past first contact as a pass catcher, and depending on the health of the aforementioned wideouts and backfield mate Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, IR), Pacheco could be in for another busy day in the Super Bowl LVII matchup against the Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 12.

Mixon rushed eight times for 19 yards and caught all three of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.

With Cincinnati's offensive line needing all the blocking help it could get against Kansas City's pass rush, Mixon ceded significant playing time to superior blocker Samaje Perine, who had 26 yards from scrimmage on eight touches, including a two-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter. It was a disappointing ending to an up-and-down season for Mixon, who had five total touchdowns in Week 9 against the Panthers but only five TDs in 16 other appearances between the regular season and playoffs. Mixon has two years remaining on his deal with the Bengals, while Perine is set to be an unrestricted free agent.

Sanders carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns and caught his only target for three yards in Sunday's 31-7 win over the 49ers.

San Francisco's offense fell apart after Brock Purdy (elbow) got hurt, leading to a fairly easy win for Philly and a ground-heavy attack fueled by Sanders TDs in the first and second quarters. Kenneth Gainwell actually ended up leading the Eagles in rushing yards, but he saw most of his touches once the game was out of reach. The scores were Sanders' first since Week 14, and he figures to be a key part of the team's game plan Sunday, Feb. 12 in the Super Bowl.

McCaffrey (calf) rushed 15 times for 84 yards and a touchdown while catching all four of his targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 31-7 playoff loss to the Eagles.

McCaffrey also attempted a pass after both of San Francisco's active quarterbacks were injured -- but unlike his lone pass attempt that went for a touchdown earlier this season -- this one fell for an incompletion. The multi-talented back provided an early spark when he pinballed off multiple defenders for a long touchdown run in the first quarter, but he faced stacked boxes in the second half playing virtually without a quarterback. McCaffrey had an excellent regular season (1,880 total yards and 14 combined touchdowns) to complement his strong playoff run, and he played in every game for the first time since 2019. He was a great fit in San Francisco and remains under contract next year, which should have the fantasy stud near the top of draft boards ahead of next season

Davis-Price is inactive for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

With Davis-Price a healthy scratch and Elijah Mitchell sidelined by a groin injury, Tevin Coleman and Jordan Mason are on hand to provide running back depth Sunday behind the 49ers' top option at the position Christian McCaffrey.

Mitchell (groin) is inactive for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports..

Mitchell approached the game listed as questionable after not practicing this past week, and he'll be unavailable Sunday, which sets the stage for Jordan Mason and Tevin Coleman to log complementary snaps behind top running back Christian McCaffrey, with the versatile Deebo Samuel also mixing in. If the 49ers defeat the Eagles, Mitchell's next chance to see game action will arrive Sunday, Feb. 12 in the Super Bowl.

Taylor underwent surgery to repair his right ankle this past Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Even though Taylor was shut down for the season after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Colts' Week 15 loss to the Vikings, the Colts didn't immediately send him in for surgery. Now nearly six weeks removed from sustaining the injury, the Colts subsequently determined that Taylor would require an arthroscopic debridement, which Rapoport describes as "a minimally invasive procedure to clean out the ankle." Fortunately for Taylor, he isn't dealing with any structural damage to the ankle, so the Colts' top running back now has plenty of time to recover before training camp. Taylor plans to be a full participant by the time camp rolls opens in late July.

Edwards-Helaire (ankle) wasn't activated from IR ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals.

With Edwards-Helaire, who last saw game action Week 11, still unavailable, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon are in line to continue to pace Kansas City's ground game versus Cincinnati. Edwards-Helaire thus will target a potential return to action if the Chiefs are able to advance to the Super Bowl.