NFL Player News

Mixon (illness) is expected to play Sunday against the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

An illness led to Mixon not practicing this past week, but Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site previously relayed that coach Zac Taylor anticipated that the team's top running back would be ready to suit up versus San Francisco. Official confirmation of Mixon's Week 14 status will arrive upon the release of his team's inactives prior to Sunday's 4:25 ET kickoff.

Ward was cleared of all injury designations Saturday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Ward originally suffered a concussion Nov. 19 against the Seahawks, then was placed on the COVID list on Nov. 30 while still recovering from the concussion. He cleared COVID protocols Thursday and returned to both the active roster and practice field. After getting in a full practice Saturday, Ward will suit up Monday against the Rams. He should file in behind James Conner and Eno Benjamin on the running back positional depth chart.

Reynolds was promoted to the Lions' active roster Saturday for Week 14, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports

Reynolds and recent practice squad signee Rodney Smith will provide depth with starting running backs D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (COVID-19 protocols) both out for Sunday's game against the Broncos. Detroit is very thin at running back and will likely lean on Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson, who combined for seven carries last week against Minnesota.

Ollison was signed to the Falcons' 53-man roster Saturday.

The running back was elevated from the practice squad three times in the last five weeks and will fill a more prominent role going forward as Atlanta also waived veteran running back Wayne Gallman on Saturday. Ollison saw 14 total touches between the last two games he suited up and head coach Arthur Smith said Ollison had "earned the right for more carries" after he led the team in rushing yards (34) in Week 11. The three-year veteran should see more carries now as the team's third option behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis.

Ahmed tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Ahmed is vaccinated, meaning he'll be eligible to return from the list once he's asymptomatic for 48 hours and submits two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. With the Dolphins on bye Week 14, Ahmed and Myles Gaskin (illness) -- who was also placed on the list Friday due to a positive test -- should both have a shot at making it back for a Dec. 19 matchup with the Jets in Week 15.

Edmonds (ankle) is expected to be a game-time decision ahead of Monday's contest against the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

It's a tricky situation as the Cardinals have until Monday at 4 p.m. ET to activate the running back. Because Edmonds currently is on injured reserve, the team doesn't have to release practice participation information, which makes it difficult to assess the likelihood of Edmonds returning for Monday's pivotal divisional matchup. The fact Kliff Kingsbury even left open the possibility of a return has to be considered a positive, though it's entirely possible the Cardinals' coach could be playing a bit of gamesmanship with the Rams.

Reynolds could find his way to the active roster Sunday against the Broncos, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Reynolds last saw the field in 2020 with the Jaguars, but with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) out and Jamaal Williams placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, the Lions are getting thin at running back. Even if Reynolds does suit up, his workload is likely to be limited as he'll still be behind Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson on the running back depth chart.

Hasty and Jeff Wilson will serve as the 49ers' main running backs Sunday in Cincinnati with Elijah Mitchell (concussion) ruled out, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Like Wilson, Hasty has dealt with his own injury concerns this season, playing in just six of 12 possible contests. Overall, he's averaged 3.7 yards on his 13 carries, hauled in 13 of 18 targets for 91 yards and scored a rushing TD. As for Wilson, he has 31 rushes and two receptions in four appearances. Considering the respective touch counts, Hasty may be used more on passing downs while Wilson handles early down and short-yardage work this weekend.

Wilson and JaMycal Hasty will be the 49ers' primary running backs Sunday at Cincinnati with both Elijah Mitchell (concussion/knee) and Trenton Cannon (concussion) ruled out for the contest, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The opportunity is there for Wilson to make an impact out of San Francisco's backfield, but he's coming off a game in which he lasted just one play on offense and 11 on special teams last Sunday at Seattle when he dinged up his surgically repaired knee. Since making his season debut Week 10, he's averaged 2.7 yards on his 31 carries and recorded two catches (on three targets) for 10 yards in four games. Considering Hasty has been more of a pass-catching threat this season -- he has 13 rushes and caught 13 of 18 targets -- Wilson may earn more of the early down and short-yardage work of the two players.

Igwebuike, Jermar Jefferson and practice-squad player Craig Reynolds appear to be the Lions' three backfield options for Sunday's game in Denver, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

D'Andre Swift (shoulder) has been ruled out and Jamaal Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday. Last week, Igwebuike got most of the passing-down work in a 29-27 win over the Vikings, though his 39 percent snap share led to only two carries and two targets, while Williams took 17 carries for 71 yards (on 47 percent snap share) and Jefferson got five carries and one target on 11 percent of snaps. That arguably hints at Jefferson being the lead runner Sunday while Igwebuike gets most of the passing snaps, but it's hard to know for sure, with potential complicating factors including Reynolds coming up from the practice squad and Jefferson's bout with an illness this week (he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday but returned to full participation Friday and was cleared from the final report).