NFL Player News

Pollard (foot) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Pollard maintained his activity level from Wednesday's session as he continues to work his way through a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. He was able to play through the injury this past Sunday against the Giants on his way to 15 touches for 87 yards from scrimmage. Friday's practice report could provide some clarity on Pollard's availability heading into the weekend.

The Rams designated Akers (Achilles) for return from the reserve/non-football injury list Thursday.

Akers sustained a torn Achilles while training just before the start of training camp in mid-July. The Rams initially placed him on the active/NFI list before moving him to the reserve version after the preseason, seemingly with the hope that the running back would be healthy for a potential return in the postseason. Thursday's move indicates there's a chance Akers will be well enough to play at some point in January. Whether that happens Week 17 and/or 18 or during the playoffs remains to be seen, but the procedural move has happened for L.A. to get him back on the active roster in the near future. In the meantime, coach Sean McVay will continue to lean on Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson out of the backfield.

Barkley (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Barkley continues to manage an ankle issue that sidelined him Weeks 6 through 9. Upon his return to the lineup following the team's Week 10 bye, he's earned a snap share ranging between 56 and 86 percent while averaging 16.8 touches for 70.4 yards from scrimmage per game. Barkley only scored one touchdown during that five-game stretch, so assuming he's available Sunday in Philadelphia he'll look to get back in the end zone against an Eagles defense that has allowed the 16th-most TDs (12) to running backs this season.

Gibson (toe) didn't participate in Thursday's walk-through practice, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Gibson has been playing through a stress fracture in his shin for most of the season, but it's a toe injury that has kept him off the field for Washington's first two practices of Week 16. The 23-year-old appeared to pick up the injury during Tuesday's 27-17 loss to the Eagles, but he was able to check back into the contest and compiled 65 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 21 touches (15 carries, six receptions). Washington may just be exercising some extra caution with Gibson with the Football Team facing a quick turnaround for its Week 16 game in Dallas, but the running back will likely need to practice in some capacity Friday to have a chance to play Sunday. With J.D. McKissic (concussion) on injured reserve, Jaret Patterson is the next man up for touches behind Gibson in the backfield.

Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury said after Thursday's practice that Conner (heel) is considered a game-day decision as Saturday's contest against the Colts approaches, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Expect Arizona to officially list Conner as questionable on its final Week 16 injury report, which will be released later Thursday. After being listed as a non-participant on practice reports Tuesday and Wednesday, Conner will likely get the same tag again Thursday, as Howard Balzer of SI.com noted that the running back wasn't taking part in the portion of the workout that was open to the media. Given the lack of practice reps this week, Conner may be trending toward sitting out or having his workload limited against Indianapolis, which would might set Chase Edmonds up for a lead role out of the backfield in his second game back from injured reserve.

Mattison is on track to serve as Minnesota's lead back Sunday against the Rams after Dalvin Cook was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The Vikings haven't revealed whether Cook was placed on the list due to a positive test for the virus, but because he's unvaccinated, the 26-year-old running back will have to complete a five-day quarantine even if he was deemed a close contact of an infected person. If he tested positive for the virus, Cook would be subject to a 10-day quarantine, which would provide him with enough time to get cleared ahead of a Jan. 2 game against the Packers in Week 17, albeit without the benefit of any practice beforehand. In any case, since he'll be picking up at least one start sans Cook, Mattison looks like a strong lineup option in just about any fantasy format. In his prior three starts while Cook was sidelined Weeks 3, 5 and 13, Mattison played at least two-thirds of the Vikings' offensive snaps and averaged 24.3 carries, 6.0 targets and 149.3 yards from scrimmage per game while reaching the end zone twice.

Stevenson (illness) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Stevenson missed Wednesday's session as well, so his status for Sunday's game against the Bills is worth closely monitoring. Meanwhile, fellow running backs Damien Harris (hamstring) and Brandon Bolden (knee) began the week as limited practice participants.

The Vikings placed Cook on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

Though Minnesota hasn't revealed whether Cook tested positive for the virus, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that the running back has been following the NFL's protocols for unvaccinated players this season. With that in mind, he'll have to complete a five-day quarantine if he was deemed a close contact of an infected person, or a 10-day quarantine if he tested positive for the virus. That means that Cook won't be available to play for at least Sunday's game against the Rams, and he could also be at risk of missing a Week 17 matchup with Green Bay on Jan. 2 if he tested positive. Minnesota returned Alexander Mattison from the reserve/COVID-list Wednesday after he previously sat out the Vikings' Week 15 win over the Bears, so he'll likely be in line for a turn as Minnesota's lead back against the Rams.

The Steelers placed McFarland (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

McFarland hasn't taken the field in any of the last three games. It's not yet clear whether the 22-year-old has tested positive for COVID-19, but his status for Sunday's game against Kansas City shouldn't significantly impact Pittsburgh's offensive plans.

Scott played just six snaps on special teams in Tuesday's 27-17 win over the Football Team.

Scott had seen at least 20 snaps on offense from Weeks 7 to 12 but saw just three in Week 13 and played purely special teams with Jordan Howard healthy again in Week 15. It's unlikely things change with Week 16's matchup against the Giants coming just five days later.