NFL Player News

Gillislee (undisclosed) wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.

Per the report, Gillislee's knee was wrapped in ice following Sunday's win over the Bills, so it looks as though he could be managing that issue. Also absent from practice Wednesday was fellow running back Rex Burkhead (knee), who Gilleslee helped replace against Buffalo. Dressing for the first time in seven games, Gillislee finished that contest with six carries for 28 yards and a touchdown and gained 15 yards on his lone reception.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said that Jones (knee) wouldn't practice Wednesday and is likely to sit out Sunday's game against the Lions, Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

It was widely assumed that Jones would have a tough time making it back on the field for the season finale after suffering an MCL sprain in his left knee in the Week 16 loss to the Vikings. Jones dealt with a similar injury to his right knee earlier in his rookie campaign and missed two games, so the Packers appear poised to proceed with Jamaal Williams as their lead runner in Week 17. McCarthy also noted that Devante Mays, who hasn't logged any offensive snaps in the Packers' last five games, would likely reenter the backfield mix and potentially get some carries Sunday.

Patterson caught one pass for seven yards on two targets in Monday's 19-10 loss to the Eagles.

Patterson, who had averaged nearly 34 offensive snaps per game in the Raiders' previous five contests, logged just 13 snaps in Week 16 with the rest of the team's receiving corps back to full strength. His opportunities could be limited once again in Week 17 during the regular-season finale against an impressive Chargers pass defense.

Gordon is dealing with minimal swelling around his sprained left ankle and is optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday against the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Gordon was donning a walking boot after injuring the ankle in the Week 16 victory over the Jets, but it sounds like he received favorable reports from doctors when he was evaluated Tuesday. While it's still likely that Gordon's practice reps will be monitored carefully throughout the week, the running back could be ready to go by Sunday if his swelling continues to subside in the days to come. Even if that's the case, Gordon probably won't be 100 percent healthy for the regular-season finale, calling into question how effectively he'll be able to maneuver. The Chargers don't have many other attractive options on hand if Gordon isn't capable of playing a full-time role against the Raiders, as Branden Oliver is the only healthy alternative at running back with Austin Ekeler's broken ring finger expected to limit him to strictly special-teams duty for the second straight week.

Abdullah rushed six times for 21 yards while catching one of two targets for five yards during Sunday's 26-17 loss to the Bengals.

Abdullah saw just 11 snaps compared to 40 for Theo Riddick and 13 for Tion Green. He didn't make the most of his opportunities, either, and now owns 3.4 yards-per-carry average on the season. We expect him to remain the Lions' No. 3 runner in the season finale Sunday against the Packers.

Green rushed seven times for 43 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 26-17 loss to the Bengals.

The rookie returned to his former college town to log his second touchdown in the last four games. Green also continued to be the Lions' most efficient runner, as his current 4.4 YPC mark dwarfs those of Riddick and Abdullah, who each possess a season average of 3.4 yards per carry. However, Green vastly trailed Theo Riddick in snaps (13 to 40, respectively) Sunday and essentially split the backup job with the embattled Ameer Abdullah, who carried six times for 21 yards across 11 snaps. It seems unlikely the Lions turn away from this committee approach in Week 17 against the Packers.

Mack had four carries for 17 yards and two receptions for 37 yards on two targets in Saturday's loss at Baltimore.

The Colts never decreased starter Frank Gore's workload to give Mack an extended look in an effort to evaluate him for 2018. It's possible Mack could be featured more in the team's final game next week against Houston, but we wouldn't count on it.

Williams is expected to handle the bulk of the snaps at running back Week 17 against the Lions with Aaron Jones (knee) considered unlikely to play, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Jones exited Saturday's 16-0 loss to the Vikings with a sprained MCL in his left knee, an injury similar to the one in his right knee that sidelined him for two weeks earlier this season. His absences in losses to the Steelers and Ravens enabled Williams to take hold of lead-back duties in the contest, with the rookie out of BYU accumulating a combined 42 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns and six receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. With fellow rookie Devante Mays and fullback Aaron Ripkowski the only other ball carriers on the roster and neither likely to see significant snaps in the season finale, Williams looks well positioned to reclaim a 20-plus-carry workload.

Jones (knee) appears unlikely to play in the Packers' Week 17 game against the Lions, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Jones was diagnosed with a left MCL sprain after departing Saturday's 16-0 loss to the Vikings in the second quarter. McCarthy confirmed Sunday that the injury was similar to the one that sidelined Jones for two games earlier this season, so the rookie seems unlikely to recover in time to suit up for a mostly meaningless finale. Jones' expected absence against Detroit should leave Jamaal Williams to handle the bulk of the touches out of the backfield, with fellow tailback Devante Mays and fullback Aaron Ripkowski likely in line for only a couple of carries when Williams requires rest.

Oliver carried the ball eight times for nine yards in Sunday's 14-7 win over the Jets.

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported starter Melvin Gordon didn't leave Sunday's game unscathed, as the first-time 1,000-yard rusher was seen wearing a walking boot Tuesday. While head coach Anthony Lynn remained guarded talking about his star running back's health come Week 17, if Gordon were to miss any time Oliver is expected to see the majority of the carries, and potentially receiving targets as well given that the team's surprisingly sturdy rookie, Austin Ekeler, broke his ring finger in Week 15. While Ekeler was active Sunday, he didn't see a snap on offense meaning Oliver would in all likelihood be "the guy" against the Raiders if Gordon were to be limited in the final week of the regular season.