NFL Player News

The Lions listed Montgomery (knee) as a full participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.

Though the Lions didn't take the field for a traditional practice, the running back will seemingly be ready to go for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Commanders. Given that Montgomery missed the final three contests of the regular season due to an MCL sprain in his right knee, he could be asked to handle a more limited role out of the backfield in the Lions' postseason opener than he taken on prior to suffering the injury. Second-year tailback Jahmyr Gibbs thrived as the Lions' clear lead option out of the backfield to close out the regular season and still projects to get the larger share of the touches Saturday, though Montgomery's bruising running style and ability to contribute as a receiver will make him a welcome addition to the offense. Montgomery made 14 appearances during the regular season, gaining 775 rushing yards on 185 carries and 12 touchdowns while adding 36 catches for 341 yards on 38 targets.

Rivers carried the ball three times for eight yards during Monday's 27-9 wild-card win against the Vikings.

With Blake Corum (forearm) out for the playoffs, Rivers stepped in as the primary backup to Kyren Williams at running back. As has been the case all season, Williams didn't come off the field often, playing 46 snaps and earning a total of 19 touches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Rivers played just seven snaps, and his three touches all came in the fourth quarter with the Rams holding a comfortable lead. Rivers is likely to continue to see limited volume on offense in the divisional round against a stout Eagles run defense.

The Bucs signed Williams to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

The 24-year-old spent the season on Tampa Bay's practice squad. Williams was elevated for one contest, playing eight special-teams snaps against the Saints in Week 6, finishing with a pair of kickoff returns for 54 yards. Williams will compete for a job this upcoming offseason.

Brooks caught two of three targets for nine yards in Sunday's 22-10 wild-card loss to the Eagles.

Brooks failed to record a single carry for the sixth time this season. The 25-year-old running back played just 16 of the Packers' 66 offensive snaps Sunday, behind Josh Jacobs (41) and ahead of Emanuel Wilson (11). Brooks finished the 2024 regular season with 36 carries for 183 yards and a touchdown, adding 11 receptions for 69 yards on 13 targets. The BYU product is under contract for the 2025 season before becoming a restricted free agent in 2026. Brooks will likely continue to compete with Wilson for backup duties behind Jacobs next season.

Wilson rushed three times for six yards and caught one of three targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 22-10 wild-card loss to the Eagles.

Wilson was mostly an afterthought Sunday, as his six rushing yards counted for his lowest rushing total since Week 15. The 25-year-old running back played just 11 of the Packers' 66 offensive snaps in the contest, behind fellow running backs Josh Jacobs (41) and Chris Brooks (16). Wilson finished the 2024 regular season with 103 carries for 502 yards and four touchdowns, adding 11 receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Wilson proved to be a solid depth option for Green Bay this season, but he'll enter this offseason as an exclusive rights free agent. If the Packers make Wilson a qualifying offer, he'll be back with the team in 2025. If not, the Fort Valley State University product will be able to sign with any other team ahead of next season.

McLaughlin rushed twice for minus-two yards and secured his lone target for zero yards in Sunday's 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills.

McLaughlin was not a big part of the game plan Sunday, playing just eight of the Broncos 42 offensive snaps in the contest behind teammate Javonte Williams (31) and ahead of Tyler Badie (3). The 24-year-old running back finished the 2024 regular season with 113 carries for 496 yards and one touchdown, a 24-76-2 receiving line on 27 targets and one lost fumble across 16 games. McLaughlin's carry total and rushing yards set career highs in both categories, as he saw his involvement in the ground game increase in his sophomore season. The Youngstown State product will enter his third season in 2025 with the opportunity to take a step forward in the offense. Williams will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so his possible departure could open things up for McLaughlin to step into a larger role in Denver's backfield. With that said, he'll likely continue to face competition from Audric Estime, Badie and any other running back who could be added through free agency or the draft.

Estime finished the 2024 regular season with 76 carries for 310 yards and two touchdowns while catching all five of his targets for 27 yards. He also committed two fumbles (one lost) across 13 games.

Estime was inactive for the Broncos' wild-card loss to the Broncos, as Denver opted to go with a three-man running back rotation of Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. The 21-year-old Estime was stuck in a committee in his rookie campaign, unable to separate himself as the go-to option in the Denver backfield. With that said, the Notre Dame product showed flashes in his limited opportunities throughout the season, so his continued development may help him attain a more secure role in his sophomore campaign. Williams could be in a new locale in 2025, as the veteran is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. His potential departure would leave Estime, McLaughlin and Badie competing to be Denver's lead back. It's also possible the Broncos will address the position in free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jones rushed 13 times for 48 yards and secured three of six targets for 12 yards in the Vikings' 27-9 wild-card loss to the Rams on Monday night. He finished the 2024 regular season with 255 carries for 1,138 yards and five touchdowns, a 51-408-2 line on 62 targets and five fumbles (three lost) across 17 games.

Jones didn't look encumbered by the quadriceps injury he'd been dealing with since the Week 17 win against the Packers, but his opportunities were limited by game script. The veteran's modest final numbers somewhat belied the fact he was a very good fit overall in his first Vikings season, as Jones' rushing yardage total was a new personal best, and his receiving yardage tally was the second highest of his career. Jones is due to hit unrestricted free agency when the new league year begins in March after playing 2024 on a one-year, $7 million deal, but there may be mutual interest in a return to Minnesota.

Williams rushed 16 times for 76 yards and secured all three targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 27-9 wild-card win over the Vikings on Monday night.

Williams served as the ideal complement to the efforts of Matthew Stafford through the air and the Rams' stellar defensive performance, helping move the chains on the ground and opening the scoring with a five-yard touchdown catch to cap off the opening possession of the contest. Williams looked refreshed after getting Week 18 off, but he'll have his work cut out for him in Sunday's divisional-round road matchup against an elite Eagles run defense.

Tucker, who was active but did not log any snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 50 carries for 308 yards and two touchdowns, a 9-109-1 line on 12 targets, 410 kickoff-return yards and one fumble, which remained with Tampa Bay, across 17 games.

The second-year running back established new career-high figures across the board, with the highlight of his season coming in a Week 6 win over the Saints where he posted 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions for 56 yards and another score. Tucker continued to see sporadic opportunities throughout the season and flashed plenty of his trademark explosiveness, and he could be set to see another increase in opportunity in his 2025 contract year, perhaps at the occasional expense of Rachaad White behind starter Bucky Irving.