NFL Player News

Hill (concussion/illness) practiced fully Wednesday.

After being deemed a limited practice participant Tuesday, Hill -- who has missed two straight games -- increased his activity a day later, which has the running back trending in the right direction ahead of Saturday's game against the Steelers. Thursday's injury report will reveal whether Hill carries a designation for the contest or is fully cleared to face Pittsburgh this weekend.

Lloyd (appendix) was moved from the reserve/non-football illness list to injured reserve Friday, a move that was precipitated by the running back aggravating a hamstring injury, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

A third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Lloyd had a trying rookie campaign, to say the least. He opened training camp by suffering a hip injury, missing five days of practice. He was able to play in the preseason opener against the Browns, but he injured his left hamstring in that contest and was sidelined for the rest of camp and exhibition season. Lloyd made his debut Week 2 versus the Colts, but he sustained a severe ankle sprain that forced a seven-week stint on IR. Green Bay designated him for return on Nov. 11, but four days later, he was diagnosed with appendicitis and landed on the reserve/NFI list. While he's made a full recovery from his appendectomy, Lloyd posted on social media Sunday that he was turning his focus toward getting healthy for next season. The recent move to IR implied that Lloyd's season was over, and with the running back confirming as much, he'll finish with six carries for 15 yards and one catch (on one target) for three yards in his sole appearance. Lloyd and workhorse Josh Jacobs are the only Packers running backs officially under contract in 2025, but Emanuel Wilson is an exclusive rights free agent and Chris Brooks is a restricted free agent, so both players likely will be retained this offseason.

Wilson rushed twice for minus-4 yards during Sunday's 32-20 loss to the Jets.

Wilson handled a depth role early in the year and down the stretch for Miami, though he was a healthy scratch for much of the middle of the season. Across nine regular-season appearances, the veteran running back tallied 16 carries for 57 yards and secured all three of his targets for 19 yards. The 29-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Wright rushed six times for minus-four yards during Sunday's 32-20 loss to the Jets.

Wright saw his highest touch total since Week 12 during Miami's season finale, but the rookie fourth-round pick did little with his opportunities. Across 15 appearances in 2024, Wright rushed 68 times for 249 yards without a single touchdown and secured three of six targets for eight yards. The Tennessee product was touted as a big-play threat after he submitted a 4.38-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he logged only one run of 20-plus yards as a rookie. Even if the Dolphins opt to move on from veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson this offseason, Wright will need to improve heading into Year 2 to secure a notable role behind De'Von Achane.

Akers rushed six times for 65 yards during Sunday's 31-9 loss to the Lions. He also secured both of his targets for four yards.

Akers played his usual No. 2 backfield role behind Aaron Jones on the road at Detroit, a game in which he logged his first breakaway run of 40-plus yards on the season. Across 12 regular-season games with Minnesota, he has logged 64 carries for 297 yards (4.6 YPC) and one touchdown, while securing 10 of 11 targets for 52 yards and two scores. He also appeared in five games with the Texans. Akers will continue working as Jones' backup during Monday's wild-card matchup against the Rams.

Knight signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday.

The running back also spent time with the Jets' practice squad in 2024 before joining the Cardinals, though he did not appear in any regular-season games. Knight played on eight offensive snaps for the Lions in 2023 and carried the ball three times for 13 yards. Now, he'll get a chance to compete for a role with Arizona during the team's offseason program.

Edwards (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.

Los Angeles' top two running backs both operated with some limitations to begin the week, as J.K. Dobbins (ankle) also had his reps capped. Given that Edwards missed the final two games of the regular season, he may need to upgrade to full participation in practice by Thursday to be viewed as a safe bet to play in Saturday's wild-card game against Houston. Assuming Dobbins is healthy enough to handle his usual lead role, the Chargers would have Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal and new practice-squad addition Ezekiel Elliott as potential depth options in the event Edwards can't play.

Dobbins was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice due to an ankle injury.

Though the Chargers never announced that Dobbins emerged from this past Sunday's 34-20 win over the Raiders with an injury, Daniel Popper of The Athletic relays that the running back appeared to hurt his leg at the end of a run late in the first quarter, and he was sporting a protective sleeve following the game. Dobbins' appearance on this week's injury report suggests that it was his ankle that he tweaked on the play in question, but his ability to practice in at least a limited fashion Tuesday bodes well for his chances of playing in Saturday's wild-card game in Houston.

The Bengals signed Brightwell to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Brightwell began the 2024 regular season on the Browns' active roster, playing in Week 3 and 4 and posting 36 kick-return yards while contributing exclusively on special teams. He was cut from Cleveland's active roster Oct. 1, and after two separate stints on the Browns' practice squad, he opted to sign with the Bengals' practice squad Nov. 11. He didn't end up playing for Cincinnati during the regular season, but he will be part of the Bengals' 90-man roster once the league year starts March 12.

Hill (illness/concussion) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.

Head coach John Harbaugh indicated last Thursday that the illness rather than the concussion was the primary cause of the running back's continued absence, and Hill being back on the practice field Tuesday for the first time since Week 16 would seem to reinforce that, although Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic noted that he was sporting a non-contact jersey. As such, Hill may not have fully cleared the concussion protocol yet, but he'll have two more practices this week to show he's ready for Saturday's wild-card game versus Pittsburgh. If he's available this weekend, Hill would likely step in as the top change-of-pace option behind lead back Derrick Henry.