NFL Player News

Edmonds (shoulder) is on the field for Friday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

A return to practice after missing sessions Wednesday and Thursday should give Edmonds a shot to make it back for Sunday's game against the 49ers. If not, James Conner could be headed for a three-down role, with Jonathan Ward and Eno Benjamin (hamstring) providing depth. The Cardinals also have Tavien Feaster on their practice squad, but Conner and Edmonds are the only backs that have taken touches for the team this season.

The Bengals plan to evaluate Mixon (ankle) Saturday before determining the running back's status for Sunday's game against the Packers, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

With that in mind, Mixon is expected to be listed as questionable when Cincinnati releases its final Week 5 injury report later Friday. If Mixon doesn't fare well in his evaluation Saturday, the Bengals could downgrade him to doubtful or out ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. If Mixon ends up limited versus Green Bay or sits out entirely, Samaje Perine would be in line to see added carries for the Bengals, with Chris Evans likely to see an expanded third-down role.

Elliott (knee) came out of Thursday's practice fine and is expected to play Sunday against the Giants, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The 26-year-old received the day off Wednesday due to some tightness in his knee, but he practiced as a limited participant Thursday and had no issues, per head coach Mike McCarthy. It's unclear if Elliott will officially avoid an injury designation for Sunday's contest, but his availability doesn't appear to be in question.

Mixon (ankle) wasn't seen at the early portion of Friday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

MIxon looks like he'll sit out practice for the third consecutive day due to the ankle sprain, making it difficult to envision him being available for Sunday's matchup with the Packers. Assuming Mixon ends up being ruled out for the Week 5 matchup, Samaje Perine should take over the starting role, with Chris Evans handling the third-down role.

Homer rushed once for five yards and caught his lone target for 13 yards in Thursday's 26-17 loss to the Rams.

Homer ran ahead of DeeJay Dallas through the first four weeks of the season, but Dallas jumped Homer in the pecking order with Chris Carson (neck) out Thursday. Neither player was particularly effective for fantasy purposes. Homer likely won't have much fantasy value in 2021, considering his snap share took a step back in a pass-heavy game script with Carson out of the lineup.

Dallas rushed four times for seven yards and caught both targets for 32 yards in Thursday's 26-17 loss to the Rams.

Alex Collins was the clear lead back with a 74 percent snap share, but Dallas out-snapped Travis Homer, 14-8. Dallas was even in the game during the two-minute drill at the end of the second quarter. The second-year running back could remain a part of the game plan if Chris Carson (neck) can't return next week against the Steelers. However, Dallas logged just four offensive snaps over the first four games before Carson sat out Thursday.

Gordon (lower leg) is expected to play against the Steelers on Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Gordon sat out practice Wednesday but was able to participate in a limited fashion Thursday, and it appears he'll be able to play through the injury this weekend at Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old is trending in the right direction, though it's unclear if he's made enough progress to avoid taking a questionable tag into Sunday's contest.

Head coach Vic Fangio said Thursday that Boone (quadriceps) is close to making his return to the field, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

The veteran running back has been practicing for the past two weeks, and it's possible that the team could activate him from IR ahead of Sunday's game in Pittsburgh. Even if Boone returns, he likely would be in third in line for work out of the backfield behind Melvin Gordon or Javonte Williams. Gordon is dealing with a bruised lower leg and was limited in practice Thursday as a result, so Boone's return to the roster ahead of this weekend's contest could hinge on Gordon's availability.

Dallas could handle some offensive work in Thursday's game versus the Rams following news that Chris Carson (neck) is inactive.

Alex Collins is expected to operate as the lead back after rushing 10 times for 44 yards and a touchdown and catching two passes (two targets) for 34 yards in Sunday's win over the 49ers, while Travis Homer still has a firm grasp on the passing down work. However, Carson's absence could open the door slightly for Dallas, who has logged just four offensive snaps this season. Dallas should still be the No. 3 option in this rotation, however.

Homer could see an increased workload in Thursday's game against the Rams with Chris Carson (neck) inactive for the contest.

Alex Collins is expected to be the main beneficiary of Carson's absence, especially with regard to early down work, but Homer and possibly DeeJay Dallas could enjoy modest increases in their respective snaps as well. Homer typically handles the team's passing-down reps because he's a sturdy pass blocker and an evasive pass catcher, and that role could be key with a potential high-scoring tilt on tap. Through four games, Homer has rushed once for five yards and caught five passes (on five targets) for 62 yards.