NFL Player News

Irving (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, but Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that the running back is likely to play Week 8, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

After he was listed as a non-participant on practice reports issued Wednesday and Thursday, Irving helped assuage some of the concern about his health by practicing Friday as a limited participant. Bowles also allayed some more fears about Irving's injury, noting that the rookie isn't dealing with turf toe and should be good to go for Sunday, "barring anything happening." Official word on his status should arrive when Tampa Bay releases its inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, but even if Irving suits up, he'll likely find himself as part of a three-man committee out of the backfield with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The arrangement could end up suppressing the fantasy value of all three backs.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy suggested Friday that Cook could be elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's game in San Francisco, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. "I think the biggest thing for us is we're taking the full week. Dalvin is ready. I really like the work that he's putting in," McCarthy said. "I think he's definitely in position to [play]."

Since signing with Dallas' practice squad Aug. 28, Cook has yet to be moved up to the game-day roster through the first seven weeks of the season. Dallas enters its Week 8 game with all three of the running backs on the active roster healthy, but McCarthy could turn to Cook with the hope that he can provide an upgrade on the depth behind starter Rico Dowdle. Ezekiel Elliott (3.0 yards per carry on 38 rushes) and Deuce Vaughn (2.9 yards per carry on seven rushes) have both struggled to make plays in their limited opportunities, and with Vaughn being a healthy inactive for the previous two contests, Cook should have a good chance at slotting third on the depth chart if he's promoted ahead of Sunday. Even if Cook does get elevated, however, expectations should be tempered after he carried 67 times for 214 yards (3.2 average) to go with 15 receptions for 78 yards (5.2 average) over his 15 appearances with the Jets a season ago.

Chandler played just two snaps on offense and didn't have a carry or target in Thursday's loss to the Rams.

It was thought that Chandler would get a significant number of touches in the backfield to keep Aaron Jones fresh this season, but that hasn't been the case the last two games. Chandler has played just eight snaps on offense the past two games. He's likely to be more involved in the second half of the season, and the Vikings won't hesitate to give him a large role if Jones is hurt, but he may be a distant second option in the meantime.

Ford (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Ford will sit out a second consecutive game, but he returned to practice Friday, which was a step in the right direction. If he's able to resume practicing regularly prior to a Week 9 matchup against the Chargers, he would have a good chance to return to action Sunday, Nov. 3. Nick Chubb is Cleveland's top backfield option now that he's available, while Pierre Strong and D'Onta Foreman will back up Chubb versus Baltimore.

Brooks (knee) officially is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Brooks, who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, has been limited in five of six sessions since having his 21-day practice window opened, with his lone absence having come last Thursday. Still, the rookie second-round pick likely will have to wait at least one more week to make his NFL debut, leaving Chuba Hubbard to handle backfield duties versus Denver, with Miles Sanders working in the No. 2 role. Brooks' next chance to mix in will come Week 9 versus the Saints, if he's indeed eventually ruled out to play this weekend.

Ford (hamstring) was present for practice Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Ford missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but his presence at Friday's session suggests that he has a chance to be available Sunday against the Ravens. The Browns' upcoming injury report will clarify the running back's Week 8 status, but if Ford is active Sunday, he'd presumably be in line to work in a complementary role, now that Nick Chubb is back in Cleveland's backfield mix.

Irving (toe) is participating in Friday's practice, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Irving sat out practice both Wednesday and Thursday, so it's encouraging to see him retake the field prior to Week 8 action against the Falcons. Alongside Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, Irving contributed as part of a three-man backfield committee during Monday's loss to the Ravens. If Irving were to miss time, White and Tucker would figure to benefit from increased touches, and with both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) unavailable versus Atlanta, the Buccaneers could lean heavily on the running game.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Etienne (hamstring) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Packers, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Etienne missed Jacksonville's win over the Patriots in Week 7, and it looks like his status for Sunday's contest against the Packers now will come down to the wire. Leading up to Week 8 action, Etienne has been a limited participant at practice, a pattern that seems likely to hold true on Friday's injury report, which also will reveal the starting running back's official game designation. Etienne seems destined to officially garner a questionable label, though, and potentially for final word on his availability not to come until roughly 90 minutes ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Jones rushed 19 times for 58 yards and secured both targets for 37 yards in the Vikings' 30-20 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.

Jones found running room at a premium against a Rams defense that had experienced its share of struggles up this point in the season, but he did finish tied for second in receptions and as the runner-up in receiving yards as well. The veteran back had dealt with a hamstring injury early in the week but went into the contest without a designation, and he equaled his second-highest carry total of the campaign. Jones now has over 35 receiving yards in four of seven games as well, and he'll draw a favorable matchup against the Colts in a Week 9 home clash on Sunday night, Nov. 3.

Williams rushed 23 times for 97 yards and secured five of seven targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 30-20 win over the Vikings on Thursday night.

Williams once again shouldered the bulk of the Rams' ground work, with backup Blake Corum logging only four carries. While he fell just short of his second 100-yard effort of the campaign, Williams set a new season high in receptions and recorded his second receiving touchdown of 2024 on a five-yard catch in the first quarter that opened his team's scoring on the night. The fact Williams recorded a season-high 28 touches despite the returns of both Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) was certainly encouraging, and the third-year back should once again be a pivotal figure during the Rams' Week 9 road NFC West clash against the Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 3.