NFL Player News
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Najee Harris RB | LAC
Steelers' Najee Harris: Leading rusher in Christmas Day loss
Harris carried the ball 13 times for 74 yards in Wednesday's 29-10 loss to Kansas City. He caught two of four targets for seven yards.
Jaylen Warren led the Pittsburgh backfield with 112 scrimmage yards and also had a first-quarter touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty, but it was Harris who led the team in rushing. The 74 rushing yards marked Harris' best performance on the ground since Week 13 against the Bengals, and it put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the season -- the fourth straight campaign he's reached that milestone. Harris will look to finish the regular season in style in a Week 18 rematch with Cincinnati.
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Isiah Pacheco RB | KC
Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Severity of rib injury unknown
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after Wednesday's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh that Pacheco "dinged his ribs," and the team will "see how bad they are" in the coming days, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Pacheco couldn't get much going in the Christmas Day matchup, turning six carries into 18 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter. Fellow running backs Kareem Hunt (nine carries for 20 yards and one touchdown) and Samaje Perine (four touches for 29 total yards) also found the sledding tough against the Steelers defense, but both players could experience an uptick in usage if Pacheco has to sit out Week 18 at Denver. Considering the Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with Wednesday's victory, the team likely won't risk the health of one of their key contributors and instead focus on getting Pacheco healthy for the divisional round.
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Trey Benson RB | ARI
Cardinals' Trey Benson: Remains limited Wednesday
Benson (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Benson failed to practice at all last week due to an ankle issue before being ruled out ahead of Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina on the final injury report, so his ability to take part in Tuesday's walk-through session in a limited fashion followed by a capped practice one day later has given him a chance to return to action Saturday at the Rams. Starting back James Conner (knee) has followed the same practice regimen this week, so their respective listings on Thursday's report may shed light on who might lead the backfield Week 17. Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the healthy options at the position on the active roster.
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James Conner RB | ARI
Cardinals' James Conner: Another limited showing
Conner (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
In the wake of hurting his knee this past Sunday in Carolina, Conner has taken part in Tuesday's walk-through session as a limited participant and was limited once again in practice a day later. Conner's practice regimen has been mimicked by his top backup Trey Benson (ankle), making Thursday's practice a vital one in determining whether either or both running backs will carry designations into Saturday's game at the Rams. If Conner is active this weekend, he likely would retain his role as Arizona's lead runner. Aside from Conner and Benson, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the healthy backs on the active roster.
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Rasheen Ali RB | BAL
Ravens' Rasheen Ali: Out due to hip injury
Ali won't return to Wednesday's game at Houston due to a hip injury.
With Justice Hill (concussion) sidelined Wednesday, Ali got the first running-back touch that didn't go to starter Derrick Henry, but that carry went for minus-3 yards. Ali's only other contribution prior to exiting with the hip injury was a 23-yard return on the opening kickoff. Ali will have plenty of time to recover for the Ravens' regular-season finale, which will fall either Jan. 4 or 5 against the Browns.
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Jaleel McLaughlin RB | DEN
Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin: Logs full practice Wednesday
McLaughlin (quadricep) practiced fully Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
McLaughlin was inactive for this past Thursday's loss to the Chargers, but the running back's return to full practice participation Wednesday paves the way for him to return to action Sunday against the Bengals. He'll rejoin a Denver backfield that also includes Javonte Williams and Audric Estime, which sets up a potential timeshare that makes McLaughlin a touchdown-dependent fantasy option for Week 17.
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Travis Homer RB | CHI
Bears' Travis Homer: Ruled out for Thursday
Homer (hamstring) has been ruled out for Chicago's matchup versus the Seahawks on Thursday.
Homer is set to miss his second straight matchup due to a hamstring injury after having sat out the team's Week 16 loss versus the Lions. In his absence, Darrynton Evans will serve as the team's No. 3 running back behind D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson.
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Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet: Headed for another start Thursday
Charbonnet (elbow) doesn't carry a designation and is expected to start Thursday at Chicago with Kenneth Walker (ankle) ruled out for the game, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Walker thus will be inactive for a third time in four games, affording Charbonnet his third starting nod during that stretch. When Walker was sidelined Weeks 14 and 15 due to a calf injury, Charbonnet paced the Seahawks backfield to the tune of 38 touches for 259 yards from scrimmage and three rushing touchdowns. Reserve Kenny McIntosh also got in the act during those two games, tallying 54 total yards on 12 touches.
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Kareem Hunt RB | KC
Chiefs' Kareem Hunt: Punches in short TD
Hunt took nine carries for 20 yards and a touchdown with no targets as a receiver in Wednesday's 29-10 win over the Steelers.
Hunt finished as the Chiefs' leading rusher after starter Isiah Pacheco (ribs) was knocked out of the contest in the first half. The veteran backup struggled to move the ball against Pittsburgh's stout interior defense, but he rewarded fantasy managers with his second touchdown in as many games. The severity of Pacheco's injury is still unclear, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him be held out of the Chiefs' Week 18 game against the Denver after Kansas City clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with Wednesday's win. Hunt could see a slight boost in projections if Pacheco sits out next weekend, though the Chiefs could also look to limit Hunt's usage to some degree with little at stake in the regular-season finale.
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Tony Pollard RB | TEN
Titans' Tony Pollard: Opens week as non-participant
Pollard (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Pollard didn't practice at all last week due to the ankle injury before approaching this past Sunday's loss to the Colts listed as questionable. The running back was able to suit up for the contest, but he played a season-low 39 percent of the offensive snaps and carried eight times for 35 yards to go with two receptions for five yards on four targets. With no reported setbacks coming out of that contest, Pollard's lack of participation Wednesday could be maintenance-related.