NFL Player News

Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) was spotted at practice Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Both Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams (toe) were present for the Chiefs' first practice of the week, which bodes well for the chances of both backs being available for Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers. That said, Edwards-Helaire -- who last suited up Week 16 -- will probably need to practice fully by Friday in order to avoid heading into the weekend with an injury designation.

Head coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday that he considers Jones (ankle) doubtful for Sunday's wild-card game against the Eagles, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Even in the unlikely event he manages to play, Jones might not have much of a role with both Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (knee/hip) designated to return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday. The Bucs also have Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Le'Veon Bell as backfield options in case Fournette and Bernard don't show enough progress in practice to gain clearance for the postseason opener.

Jones (knee) practiced Wednesday, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.

Jones' participation in practice is a solid sign that he would have played in the team's Week 18 loss to the Lions if the Packers hadn't already clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed prior to the contest. As is, Jones sat out for just the second time all season, and he's now on track to return for a divisional-round matchup against either the Rams, Cardinals, 49ers or Eagles, depending on what happens in the wild-card round.

Perine did not play a single offensive snap in Sunday's 21-16 loss to the Browns.

Perine was reported to be the Bengals' starting running back in Week 18 with Joe Mixon on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but this never came to fruition. Instead, Perine failed to log an offensive snap while playing 16 snaps on special teams. Fellow running backs Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams carried the load for Cincinnati in the season finale. Perine finished the season with 55 rushes for 246 yards and one touchdown, adding 27 catches for 196 yards and a score. The 26-year-old is under contract through the 2022 season and will become a free agent in the following year. Though he likely won't find himself as a starter barring injury, he has proven to be a more than capable backup when called upon. With a wild-card playoff matchup against the Raiders upcoming, Perine will likely serve as the team's top backup with Mixon healthy.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that he thinks Pollard (foot) will practice Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Cowboys left Pollard behind in Dallas for a Week 18 visit to Philadelphia, a decision that McCarthy described as the team "just being smart with him." With the Eagles sitting key members on both sides of the ball this past Saturday, the Dallas offense had no problem putting up yards and points on its way to a 51-26 victory. No. 1 running back Ezekiel Elliott did just enough to squeak out 1,000 rushing yards (1,002 to be exact) for the fourth time in six campaigns, but a rested and healthy Pollard would get the team's backfield back to 100 percent. Pollard's activity level at Wednesday's session will offer a large clue whether that will come to pass for Sunday's wild-card matchup with the 49ers.

Coach Andy Reid said Monday that he believes Williams (toe) will be able to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Williams departed Saturday's regular-season finale at Denver due to a toe injury, which Reid described as "still a little tender." At the same time, Clyde Edwards-Helaire continues to contend with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for both Weeks 17 and 18. The situation will be one to monitor because if Edwards-Helaire is unable to make it all the way back, Williams again would feature as the Chiefs' main running back, assuming he's available himself. After Edwards-Helaire and Williams, Derrick Gore is the likely early-down runner, with Jerick McKinnon available in a change-of-pace role.

The Chiefs hosted Boyd for a tryout Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Boyd dealt with an unspecified injury before he was waived by the Lions in early June. He didn't sign with a team during the 2021 regular season, but he's free to join another club now that he's fully healthy.

Sermon (ankle) was activated from injured reserve Tuesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers needed to make this move by Tuesday, or else Sermon's 21-day practice window would have closed, and he would have remained on IR for the rest of the team's playoff run. Assuming all of Elijah Mitchell (knee), JaMycal Hasty and Jeff Wilson are available for Sunday's wild-card game at Dallas, there's a good chance Sermon is a healthy scratch. That's also assuming the rookie heads into the weekend without an injury designation.

The Titans placed Wilkins (undisclosed) on the practice squad COVID-19 list Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Wilkins was elevated to the Titans' active roster Week 18, but he's since entered into COVID-19 protocols, which will determine when he can return to team facilities. Elsewhere in the backfield, Jeremy McNichols was signed to the practice squad Tuesday.

The Titans signed McNichols to their practice squad Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

The 26-year-old was waived by Tennessee on Saturday but will join the team's practice squad ahead of the playoffs after Jordan Wilkins (undisclosed) was placed on the practice squad injured list Tuesday. McNichols appeared in 14 games during the regular season and rushed 41 times for 156 yards while securing 28 of 38 targets for 240 yards and a touchdown.