NFL Player News
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Blake Corum RB | LAR
Rams' Blake Corum: Could get large workload Sunday
Corum appears primed to handle an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Seahawks, after head coach Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that the Rams are planning to rest key players such as Kyren Williams in the regular-season finale, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports. "There's a handful of guys that could come to mind immediately, but I'm excited about seeing Blake Corum get a heavy workload," McVay said, when speaking about the Rams' approach for Week 18. "I'm excited to see what Cody Schrader is about. I've loved what I've seen from him in some of these practice settings. I think Blake has flashed in some of the opportunities that he's gotten."
Though they can secure the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win Sunday, the Rams are assured a home game in the wild-card round regardless of how Week 18 action shakes out. McVay suggested that the Rams are content to prioritize rest and injury avoidance to key players rather than going all in on moving up a spot in the standings, so Williams is an obvious candidate to be a healthy inactive for the contest or play only limited snaps. While Williams has handled a three-down workhorse role for each of the Rams' first 16 games, Corum has seen few opportunities, as the third-round rookie will head into Sunday's contest with a 56-197-0 rushing line and 6-46-0 receiving line for the season. The Rams are likely to sprinkle in Schrader and Ronnie Rivers into Sunday's game plan, but Corum appears most likely to lead the Los Angeles backfield in touches and could make for a useful lineup option in fantasy leagues that are still active in Week 18.
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Kyren Williams RB | LAR
Rams' Kyren Williams: Could sit out Week 18
Williams appears likely to sit out or handle a limited role in Sunday's game against the Seahawks, after head coach Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that the Rams are planning to rest key players in the regular-season finale, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports. "There's a handful of guys that could come to mind immediately, but I'm excited about seeing Blake Corum get a heavy workload," McVay said, when speaking about the Rams' approach for Week 18. "I'm excited to see what Cody Schrader is about. I've loved what I've seen from him in some of these practice settings. I think Blake has flashed in some of the opportunities that he's gotten."
The Rams are assured at least the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs and can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win over Seattle, but McVay suggested that the team's main priority in Week 18 will be avoiding injuries to top contributors heading into the postseason. Though McVay didn't explicitly say that Williams will be held out Sunday, the coach's comments about Corum and Schrader imply that Williams will see only light snaps, if he's not a healthy inactive for the contest. With 316 carries and 34 receptions through 16 games, Williams' touch count this season ranks second to only Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley (345 carries, 33 catches) among all running backs, so it makes sense for the Rams to build in some maintenance for the 24-year-old ahead of the playoffs. Expect Williams to reclaim his normal three-down workhorse role during the Rams' wild-card game.
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Pierre Strong Jr. RB | GB
Browns' Pierre Strong: In concussion protocol
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Strong is in the NFL's concussion protocol after he exited in the final two minutes of Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Dolphins to be evaluated for a head injury, Ashley Bastock of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Strong won't practice Tuesday and could face an uphill battle to clear the five-step protocol on a short week, as the Browns will close their season with a Saturday game in Baltimore. After starting running back Jerome Ford left this past Sunday's game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, Strong was tasked with his biggest workload of the season, finishing the day with five carries for 33 yards and three catches for 15 yards on five targets. With both Ford and Strong banged up, D'Onta Foreman and John Kelly are the only healthy running backs on the Browns' 53-man roster at this stage of the week.
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Ameer Abdullah RB | IND
Raiders' Ameer Abdullah: Injures foot late in Week 17
Abdullah emerged from Sunday's 25-10 win over the Saints with a foot injury, Luke Straub of USA Today reports.
Abdullah handled a season-high 23 touches and accounted for 147 yards, but he didn't take a handoff or draw a target after the first play of the fourth quarter. Though the Raiders listed Abdullah as questionable to return due to the foot injury at one point later in the quarter, he ultimately never checked back in while Chris Collier served as the primary back on Las Vegas' last drive. Given how well he fared against the Saints, the 31-year-old Abdullah would likely be in store for the lead RB role if he's able to play through the foot issue.
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John Kelly RB | CLE
Browns' John Kelly: Signed to Browns' active roster
The Browns signed Kelly to the 53-man roster Tuesday.
Kelly was cut from the Chargers' practice squad Dec. 23 without playing on the Bolts' active roster. He spent time on the Ravens' practice squad earlier in the season and played 11 special teams snaps across two games. Kelly could see meaningful snaps out of the backfield behind D'Onta Foreman for Cleveland's regular-season finale against Baltimore on Saturday if either or both of Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong (concussion) are unable to play.
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Jermar Jefferson RB | ARI
Lions' Jermar Jefferson: Three carries in win
Jefferson rushed the ball three times for nine yards in Monday night's 40-34 victory over San Francisco.
Jefferson was elevated to the active roster for the second game in a row Monday, garnering three opportunities out of the backfield, two of which were goal-line carries in the first quarter. For the second straight week, he rushed the ball while rookie Sione Vaki went without a carry, so Jefferson may be considered Detroit's No. 3 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs and Craig Reynolds for the time being with David Montgomery (knee) unavailable.
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Craig Reynolds RB | NE
Lions' Craig Reynolds: Nine touches in victory
Reynolds rushed the ball seven times for 31 yards while catching both of his targets for 35 yards in Monday night's 40-34 win over the 49ers.
Reynolds once again was operating as the team's No. 2 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 17, making the most of his limited opportunities. Most notably, Reynolds reeled in a 26-yard catch in the first quarter, which set up the Lions inside the 10-yard line. The running back has now turned 11 carries into 49 yards while reeling in all three of his targets for 40 yards over the last two games with David Montgomery (knee) unavailable.
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Isaac Guerendo RB | SF
49ers' Isaac Guerendo: Nets 99 yards in return
Guerendo took nine carries for 34 yards while bringing in all four targets for 65 yards in Monday's 40-34 loss to the Lions.
Guerendo made a successful return from a one-game layoff due to foot and hamstring injuries Week 17. The fourth-round rookie looked no worse for wear, generating 99 yards from scrimmage in a pass-heavy game plan. The only negative aspect of Guerendo's fantasy line was a lack of trips to the end zone after quarterbacks Brock Purdy (elbow) and Joshua Dobbs vultured a pair of short touchdown rushes. Guerendo may find himself more involved as a rusher if San Francisco's injured starting QB is unable to suit up against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Jahmyr Gibbs RB | DET
Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs: Exceeds 160 total yards in win
Gibbs rushed 18 times for 117 yards and a touchdown and brought in all four targets for 46 yards in the Lions' 40-34 win over the 49ers on Monday night.
Gibbs once again functioned as the clear lead back and handled the role with plenty of success, exceeding 100 yards on the ground and recording a rushing TD for the second time in as many games with David Montgomery (knee) sidelined. Gibbs' 30-yard scamper up the right sideline with just under three minutes remaining closed out the scoring on the night for Detroit and served as his 16th total touchdown on the campaign. Gibbs should be in line for another critical role as the Lions face off with the Vikings on Sunday night in Week 18 to determine the NFC North winner and NFC's No. 1 seed.
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Julius Chestnut RB | TEN
Titans' Julius Chestnut: Involved due to injuries
Chestnut rushed the ball three times for 17 yards in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Jaguars. He did not record a catch on one target.
Chestnut was primarily involved on special teams but saw his involvement tick up after Tyjae Spears (concussion) was sidelined in the fourth quarter. Tony Pollard's (ankle/illness) status still is in question, which could set up Chestnut for a Week 18 start against Houston.