NFL Player News

Cook -- who is currently on Baltimore's practice squad -- is likely to get an opportunity in the playoffs, as the Ravens are dissatisfied in the current state of their running back room, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon have posted underwhelming numbers recently, averaging a combined 4.0 yards per carry in recent games. Edwards has also fumbled in each of the last two games, and Gordon added to his extensive history of fumbling in Baltimore's regular-season finale. The situation is ripe for Cook to take on a larger role in the postseason, but whether he can take advantage of that opportunity is a different matter, as Cook averaged a paltry 3.2 yards per carry without a touchdown in 15 appearances for the Jets prior to being waived and eventually winding up on Baltimore's practice squad.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Friday that Dillon (thumb/neck) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's wild-card contest in Dallas, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, Dillon was absent from drills for a third day in a row Friday, so his designation for Sunday doesn't come as a surprise. Assuming Dillon misses a second consecutive game due to a neck stinger, the Packers backfield will be in good hands with Aaron Jones (knee/finger), who has cracked the century mark in rushing yards in three straight outings. Any RB reps that don't go to Jones likely will be handled by Patrick Taylor.

Jones (knee/finger) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's wild-card game in Dallas, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

The Packers have managed Jones' practice reps since he returned to action Week 15 following three games off due to a sprained MCL. The regimen has worked out well for him over the last three contests, in particular, when he went for at least 110 yards on 20-plus carries each time. With AJ Dillon (thumb/neck) doubtful to suit up Sunday after sitting out every practice this week, Jones should have all the backfield work he can handle against the Cowboys.

Kelly was elevated from Cleveland's practice squad Friday ahead of Saturday's wild-card round game against the Texans.

Kelly will serve as backfield depth behind Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt in the event that Pierre Strong (back) is unable to play, though Kelly could still be left inactive on game day if Strong is able to suit up. Kelly didn't appear in a game during the regular season.

Kamara (ankle) finished the 2023 season with 694 yards and five touchdowns on 180 rushing attempts, as well as 75 catches (on 86 targets) for 466 yards and one touchdown.

Despite sitting out the first three games of the season due to a suspension and missing the Saints' finale with an ankle injury, Kamara finished just one catch shy of Breece Hall's league-leading total among running backs. Kamara's 6.2 yards per catch were a career low, though, and he posted the second-lowest YPC mark of his seven-year career at 3.9, suggesting that the 28-year-old running back is starting to slow down. There's a potential out in his contract this offseason, and the Saints will probably try to rework Kamara's deal rather than take on a nearly $19 million cap hit in 2024. Any change in situation would likely negatively impact Kamara's fantasy value, as his volume's more likely to go down than up, even with his ankle injury expected to be healed well before the 2024 campaign.

Blackshear finished the regular season with 14 rushes for 46 yards and six catches on seven targets for 45 yards in 12 games. He also returned 16 kickoffs for 430 yards.

Blackshear remained in a depth tailback and special-teams role under a new coaching staff. He's now slated to become an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, making it uncertain whether he'll return to Carolina or resurface elsewhere.

Dillon (thumb/neck) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.

Dillon was knocked out of the Packers' Week 17 win at Minnesota with a stinger that hasn't afforded him any official on-field work in the meantime. Having said that, he joined his teammates for Thursday's team stretch before moving to the rehab group, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official site. The development may mean Dillon has made some progress in his recovery, but he now has just one more opportunity to practice Friday before Green Bay potentially makes a ruling on his availability for Sunday's wild-card contest in Dallas.

Hunt (groin) doesn't carry an injury designation in advance of Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

After being deemed a non-participant Tuesday, Hunt logged a limited session Wednesday before being listed as full Thursday. With his availability for Saturday's contest solidified, Hunt -- who was used sparingly in a Week 18 loss to the Bengals in a contest that had no playoff implications for the Browns -- now is in line to reclaim his key backfield role alongside starter Jerome Ford in a 1A/1B RB context that gives Hunt a degree of utility in fantasy lineups this weekend.

Mostert (knee/ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card game in Kansas City, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Mostert missed the Dolphins' last two games of the regular season due to his lower-body injuries, but head coach Mike McDaniel expressed optimism Thursday about the running back's chances of playing in the postseason opener, per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com. Even so, Mostert will be carrying a designation ahead of Saturday's 8 p.m. ET kickoff, after the Dolphins listed him as a limited participant on each of their three practice reports this week. When healthy this season, Mostert has served as the lead option out of the Miami backfield, but if available Saturday, he could have to settle for the smaller side of a timeshare with dynamic rookie De'Von Achane, who filled in capably as the No. 1 back over the past two weeks.

Jones (knee/finger) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.

Jones continues to operate with a cap on his practice reps due to the sprained MCL that sidelined him Weeks 12-14. Since then, he's looked like his vintage self, totaling 475 yards from scrimmage and no TDs on 87 touches over the last four contests. The Packers have removed Jones' designation before each of the past three games, so that likely will come to pass once the team posts its final injury report of the week Friday ahead of Sunday's wild-card outing at Dallas.