NFL Player News

Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Stevenson (toe) will be out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.

Stevenson, who was inactive for the Patriots' Week 9 win over the Falcons, thus will target a return to action next Thursday night against the Jets. In Stevenson's continued absence versus Tampa Bay, look for TreVeyon Henderson (who started and logged a 75 percent snap share en route to carrying 14 times and being targeted six times against Atlanta) to head the Patriots' Week 10 backfield, while Terrell Jennings (who was on the field for 25 percent of the team's snaps on offense last weekend, rushing 11 times and recording one target) also should handle his share of complementary touches Sunday.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Friday that he may take a "hot hand" approach with Swift and Kyle Monangai this Sunday against the Giants, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports. "I believe in a guy having the hot hand," Johnson said. "One guy, if he's feeling it and giving us a spark, we might lean on that a little bit longer."

Swift returned to full practice participation Thursday and now figures to start Sunday, coming back from a one-game absence after Monangai took 29 touches for 198 yards in the win over Cincinnati. Monangai's previous high-water marks for snap share had come in Week 7 (45 percent) and Week 8 (46 percent), with his role seemingly growing while Swift played through a groin injury. Those were actually two of Swift's more efficient games this season on a per-touch basis, and he scored a TD in both despite ceding so much work to Monangai. It sounds like the rookie will be heavily involved again this Sunday, with the extent partially depending on how well he and Swift are playing.

Dowdle (quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

After starting the week as a non-participant in practice, Dowdle upgraded to 'limited' on Thursday and 'full' on Friday, setting him up for another large workload at home against the one-win Saints. He took 27 touches for 141 yards and two TDs in an upset win at Green Bay last week, playing 72 percent of Carolina's snaps on offense in the process. Chuba Hubbard, meanwhile, got five touches on a 22 percent snap share.

Irving (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against New England, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

A Week 9 bye didn't seem to do him much good, with Irving still absent from practice and now missing a fifth straight game. Rachaad White figures to get another start and plenty of touches, backed up by Sean Tucker and Josh Williams.

Stevenson (toe) wasn't participating in the initial portion of Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

With Stevenson trending toward a sixth straight 'DNP' in practice, it seems unlikely that he'll be available Sunday against the Buccaneers. If that ends up being the case, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings once again would be in line to lead the Patriots backfield Week 10.

Harvey rushed four times for nine yards and brought in two of three targets for nine yards in the Broncos' 10-7 win over the Raiders on Thursday night. He also returned two kickoffs for 35 yards.

Harvey's veteran backfield mate J.K. Dobbins appeared to be examined by trainers on the sideline at one point, but the rookie still logged very modest action from scrimmage. After breaking out with a 7-46-2 rushing line in Week 8 against the Cowboys, Harvey has logged only six combined carries for 15 yards over the subsequent pair of contests, although he did tally five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Week 9 win over the Texans. Nevertheless, Dobbins remains the unquestioned lead back as long as he's healthy, meaning Harvey is likely to remain in a clear complementary role for a Week 11 home showdown against the Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Dobbins rushed 18 times for 77 yards and brought in his only target for seven yards in the Broncos' 10-7 win over the Raiders on Thursday night.

Dobbins put together a solid showing in the divisional clash, despite the fact he appeared to miss some time while being looked at by trainers on the sideline at one point. The veteran back was in on Denver's final drive and gained 12 yards on his final two carries to seal the victory, so there doesn't appear to be any injury concerns for Dobbins coming out of the contest. Dobbins has exceeded 60 rushing yards in four consecutive games and nine of his 10 contests overall, and he should once again play a significant role when the Broncos host the Chiefs for a Week 11 divisional showdown on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Jeanty rushed 19 times for 60 yards and a touchdown and secured three of five targets for three yards in the Raiders' 10-7 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night.

Jeanty was essentially the lone bright spot for the Raiders' offense, and he put the team's only touchdown of the night on the board with a four-yard run late in the first quarter. Jeanty generally found tough sledding on the ground against a talented Broncos defense, and in Las Vegas' first game without the traded Jakobi Meyers, the rookie first-round pick logged his second straight five-target tally. Jeanty draws a much more palatable matchup next time out, as the Raiders welcome in a beatable Cowboys defense on Monday night, Nov. 17.

White (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's Week 10 battle against the Broncos.

White is inactive for the Raiders' fourth straight game, as he appears to have lost any sort of gameday role. Las Vegas is rolling with Ashton Jeanty, Raheem Mostert and Dylan Laube in its backfield Thursday. White hasn't logged an offensive snap since Week 3 against Washington.

McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Raiders.

McLaughlin has appeared in only one game this season. With each of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie healthy and playing, McLaughlin will remain a spectator for Thursday's matchup.