NFL Player News

Mixon (ankle) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice in what may have amounted to a maintenance day, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

After the ankle injury contributed to Mixon handling his lightest workload of the season in Sunday's overtime loss to the Packers, he opened Week 6 prep as a limited participant during Wednesday's practice. The fact that Mixon took a step back in terms of activity a day later would normally be cause for concern, but his listing as a non-participant Thursday looks as though it may have been a pre-planned arrangement rather than the result of a setback. As Hobson notes, "the way [Mixon] was bouncing around" while working off to the side Thursday points to him getting more of a rest day, which may have had the secondary purpose of opening up more reps with the offense for backups Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams. Neither Evans nor Williams has logged a carry this season, and both will move up a spot on the depth chart Week 6 with Mixon's top understudy, Samaje Perine (illness), expected to miss Sunday's game in Detroit after testing positive for COVID-19.

Jones (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Operating under a cap in his practice reps for a third straight week, Jones continues his recovery from an ankle injury that he's been able to gut out the past two games. During that stretch, he combined for 36 touches for 208 yards from scrimmage and no TDs. At the same time, No. 2 RB AJ Dillon has received a bit more work en route to 28 touches for 176 total yards and one score. The Packers may continue to operate with somewhat of a split workload out of the backfield as long as Jones is less than 100 percent, but the team first will have to clear his designation on the final Week 6 injury report, as it's done the previous two weeks.

Williams is on track to make his first career start Sunday against Washington after the Chiefs placed Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

While head coach Andy Reid hasn't officially named a starter in place of Edwards-Helaire, Williams is in position to draw the assignment after he played 77 percent of the Chiefs' offensive snaps in last Sunday's loss to the Bills once Edwards-Helaire checked out of the contest midway through the third quarter. It's worth noting, however, that a negative game script may have played a factor in Williams dominating the running-back snaps over Jerick McKinnon, who was on the field for only 23 percent of the plays after Edwards-Helaire departed. If the favored Chiefs can establish an early lead against Washington and hold it for most of the contest, Williams could end up ceding more work to McKinnon this week, but the fantasy outlooks for both players are brighter in any case with Edwards-Helaire at least temporarily out of the picture.

Mattison (shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.

A shoulder issue is impacting Mattison's practice reps during Week 6 prep, keeping him out of Wednesday's session entirely before returning to the field one day later. While Mattison increased his activity level, Dalvin Cook (ankle) did the same, as he went from limited to full in the same time span. The development would appear to set Cook up to retain the No. 1 role out of the Vikings backfield, meaning Mattison would be his top reserve, at best, if he's able to suit up Sunday at Carolina.

Harris (ribs) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Harris didn't take part in Wednesday's full-pads practice, but his return to the field Thursday suggests that he has a chance to play through his rib issue Sunday against the Cowboys. We'll circle back on the running back's status Friday, but chances are Harris will approach New England's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff listed as questionable. If he's limited or out this weekend, Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden would be in line for added Week 6 touches.

Cook (ankle) practiced fully Thursday.

Cook has operated with limitations on his practice reps since Week 2 prep due to a right ankle sprain suffered in that contest. He made just one appearance over the past three games -- 11 touches for 44 total yards Week 4 against the Browns -- while Alexander Mattison earned spot starts in the other two games. Mattison himself is dealing with a shoulder injury, which didn't allow him to practice Wednesday before he returned as limited Thursday. Cook is poised to retake the reins of the Vikings backfield Sunday in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if Mattison will be his primary backup.

Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday due to a positive test for the virus, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

One day removed from being limited in practice by foot and knee injuries, Williams now may be trending toward an absence Sunday against the Packers. If he's vaccinated, he'll have to test negative twice 24 hours apart to be cleared to return to the active roster. With David Montgomery (knee) on injured reserve, the Bears could be down to rookie sixth-rounder Khalil Herbert and Ryan Nall (ankle) this weekend.

Edmonds (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

The shoulder issue resulted in Edmonds being labeled as a game-time decision ahead of the Cardinals' Week 5 matchup with the 49ers, but he proceeded to suit up in the team's victory, albeit while seeing a season-low six carries in the contest. Edmonds looks to be in better health heading into Sunday's game in Cleveland, as he's already turned in a pair of limited practices after managing only one limited session Week 5. The Cardinals will see if he can upgrade to full activity Friday, which would likely allow Edmonds to enter the weekend without an injury designation.

Elliott (ribs) logged a limited practice Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Cowboys continue to keep Elliott on a pitch count after he landed on a pylon camera as he was pushed out of bounds Week 5 against the Giants, hurting his back rib area in the process. He's undergoing a number of treatments to get right, namely heat therapy in an attempt to loosen up his injury. Dallas' camp hasn't expressed concern about Elliott being unavailable Sunday in New England, but there is a decent chance he enters the weekend with a 'questionable' designation.

Herbert is the leading candidate to serve as Chicago's lead back Sunday against the Packers after the Bears placed Damien Williams (foot/knee) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Bears haven't indicated whether Williams tested positive for the virus, but he'll likely face an uphill battle to clear all of the NFL's health and safety protocols with less than 72 hours to go before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. After David Montgomery (knee) was placed on injured reserve ahead of the Week 5 win over the Raiders, Williams drew the start, but Herbert saw a surprising level of involvement in the No. 2 role. Herbert played 52 percent of the offensive snaps in the win, finishing with 75 yards on 18 carries. He didn't draw any targets last week and wasn't much of a pass catcher in college, so Herbert may cede third-down duties to Ryan Nall, or potentially another running back who has yet to be added to the roster. Regardless, the prospect of Herbert likely handling the lead role on the ground should be reason enough to scoop him up off the waiver wire in deeper leagues where he's available.