NFL Player News

Pierce (hamstring) rushed eight times for 76 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for one yard in Sunday's 41-21 win over the Patriots.

Pierce's return from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since Week 1 coincided with Joe Mixon's (ankle) first action since Week 2. Mixon reclaimed the lead role and scored two touchdowns before Pierce broke off a 54-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring in the fourth quarter. Pierce immediately reclaimed the No. 2 role from Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers, but it would likely take another injury to Mixon for Pierce to earn double-digit touches moving forward. With Mixon healthy for a Week 7 road game against the Packers, Pierce will likely be left trying to make the most of limited opportunities again.

Irving rushed 14 times for 81 yards and a touchdown and secured both targets for 24 yards in the Buccaneers' 51-27 win over the Saints on Sunday. He also returned two kickoffs for 44 yards.

Irving opened the game as the No. 1 back due to Rachaad White (foot) being inactive, and although he was ultimately outshined by a stellar performance from backfield mate Sean Tucker, the rookie still turned in a productive performance. Irving's carry and yardage totals were a career high, and he recorded his second touchdown of the season on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. Irving will be in line to share backfield duties with either Tucker or White again in a Week 7 home matchup against the Ravens on Monday night, Oct. 21.

Gibson rushed 13 times for 19 yards and caught three of four targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Texans.

Gibson got 13 of the 17 carries by Patriots running backs prior to the final drive in Rhamondre Stevenson's (foot) absence, but the Texans weren't scared at all of rookie quarterback Drake Maye's arm in Maye's first NFL start and focused on shutting down the Gibson-led running game. That approach limited Gibson to a pitiful 1.5 yards per carry and could serve as a blueprint for Jacksonville's defense in Week 7, though the 1-5 Jaguars are unlikely to execute nearly as well when they face the Patriots in London. If Stevenson sits again, Gibson would have a nice opportunity to bounce back as the lead back against a Jacksonville defense that's surrendering 29.7 points per game.

Mixon (ankle) rushed 13 times for 102 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown on three targets in Sunday's 41-21 win over the Patriots.

Mixon got two carries from inside the five-yard line on the opening drive but showed some rust in his return from a three-game absence, combining for minus-1 yard on those two attempts. He made no mistake with another red-zone opportunity on the next drive, scoring a 10-yard receiving touchdown to give the Texans a 14-0 lead. Mixon later broke off a 59-yard run in the second quarter and put the game away with a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth. In the two games he has played from start to finish this season, Mixon has produced a sensational 310 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. His ankle injury seems to be firmly in the rearview mirror heading into a Week 7 road game against the Packers.

Ekeler carried the ball nine times for 21 yards and caught four of five targets for 47 yards in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Ravens.

Baltimore's run defense didn't allow a run of 10 or more yards all game, and Jayden Daniels wound up leading Washington in rushing yards with a mere 22. Ekeler still salvaged some fantasy value through the air, and he's hauled in multiple passes in all five of his games to begin the season, with Sunday's five targets being a season high. If Brian Robinson (knee) isn't able to return in Week 7, Ekeler could be a lot busier next week against the Panthers.

Conner rushed seven times for 24 yards and brought in four of five targets for 22 yards in the Cardinals' 34-13 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

Conner's numbers were certainly a disappointment given some of his other performances this season, although a game script that saw Arizona already down 24-10 at the half didn't help his cause. Conner's backfield mates Trey Benson and Emari Demercado also combined for nine carries, and the latter added five receptions on seven targets, so the veteran back had to cede more touches than usual. Conner will aim to bounce back in a Week 7 home Monday night battle against the Chargers on Oct. 21.

Jacobs rushed 18 times for 62 yards and caught all three of his targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 34-13 win over the Cardinals.

Jacobs has reached 90 scrimmage yards in four of six games with the Packers but has only one touchdown this season, as all four of Green Bay's touchdowns Sunday were scored by wide receivers. The former Raiders running back is poised for another substantial workload in Week 7 against the Texans, but Jacobs will have to work hard for his yards against a Houston defense that just held Patriots running backs to 44 rushing yards on 21 carries (2.1 YPC).

Mattison is in line to lead the Raiders backfield Sunday against the Steelers with Zamir White (groin) inactive.

With White on the pine Week 5 at Denver, Mattison started and earned a 57 percent snap share en route to 15 carries for 38 yards and two catches (on three targets) for 23 yards. Meanwhile, Ameer Abdullah handled 44 percent of plays, with most of his 51 yards from scrimmage coming on a 40-yard carry, though he did have a three-yard touchdown run. A similar breakdown of reps between Mattison and Abdullah likely will come to pass Sunday.

Spears departed Sunday's game against the Colts due to a hamstring injury, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Prior to his exit in the third quarter, Spears posted six carries for 27 yards and wasn't targeted. Tony Pollard and Julius Chestnut are the Titans' healthy running backs for the time being.

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

Ford was injured in the first quarter and was ruled out just before halftime. Prior to his exit, the running back rushed twice for 14 yards and didn't receiving any passing targets. It's uncertain if the hamstring issue will affect Ford's availability to face the Bengals next Sunday, and even if he does suit up, he could have a lessened workload, with Nick Chubb (knee) expected to be active for the first time since Week 2 of last season.