NFL Player News

Sanders carried three times for 18 yards across six snaps in Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Buccaneers.

Sanders was a major disappointment in his first season in Carolina after inking a four-year, $25.4 million contract in the offseason. After producing a career-best 1,347 yards from scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns for the Eagles in 2022, Sanders' numbers took a big step back while he moved to a dreadful Carolina offense. He finished the campaign with a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 average) and one touchdown to go with 27 catches for 154 scoreless yards on 41 targets over his 16 appearances. Sanders' poor efficiency as a rusher eventually resulted in him falling behind Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, with Sanders failing to log double-digit targets in any of his final four contests. With Sanders and Hubbard under contract next season, the two could be thrust into a competition for the starting role heading into 2024 while the Panthers bring in a new coaching staff.

The Chargers signed Patterson to a reserve/future deal Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Patterson wasn't able to make his way onto the field this season, but he'll now get a chance to compete for a spot on the Chargers' 53-man roster for 2024. He probably lacks the size to ever take on a workhorse role.

Strong (back) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Strong was unable to practice Tuesday, so his presence at Wednesday's session represents a step in the right direction. Even still, he'll probably need to practice in full Thursday to avoid carrying an injury designation into Friday and possibly Saturday.

Wilson rushed nine times for 45 yards in Sunday's 21-14 loss to Buffalo.

Wilson worked as the No. 2 option out of the backfield behind De'Von Achane (toe) while Raheem Mostert (knee) was sidelined Sunday. He was efficient in limited action, though not to the extent that Mostert and Achane have proven this season, and the Dolphins appear optimistic that their top two tailbacks will be available for Saturday's wild-card game in Kansas City. Mostert's availability looks the most up in the air, but if either he or Achane is sidelined for the playoff opener, Wilson will again be in line for an elevated role. Across 10 regular-season appearances, Wilson accrued 188 rushing yards on 41 attempts (4.6 average), plus 14 catches for 85 yards on 17 targets.

Achane (toe/ribs) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

The same goes for Raheem Mostert, whose status for Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs is more of a question mark than Achane's following absences for Weeks 17 and 18 due to ankle and knee injuries. Achane took 29 touches for 198 yards and two touchdowns the past two weeks, and he should be ready to go for the postseason opener, be it as Miami's lead back or coming off the bench behind Mostert. The Dolphins should hold a more strenuous practice Thursday, after not practicing Tuesday and holding a walkthrough Wednesday.

Mostert (knee/ankle) is listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

The Dolphins didn't practice Tuesday and held a walkthrough Wednesday, allowing Mostert to get consecutive "limited" tags without actually doing much. Mostert's participation Thursday should prove more meaningful, and he said Wednesday that he's feeling good but isn't sure whether he'll be available for Saturday's wild-card game at Kansas City, according to Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald. The running back also mentioned that both his ankle and knee injuries are factors in any decision about his status for the weekend, with neither health issue considered more concerning than the other, per Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post.

Jones (knee/finger) was a limited participant at Wednesday's walkthrough, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Since returning from a three-game absence due to a sprained MCL back in Week 15, Jones has endured practice restrictions for five weeks running. It hasn't stopped him from accruing 100 yards on the ground in each of the past three games, a span in which he's racked up 70 touches for 406 yards from scrimmage. Fellow running back AJ Dillon (thumb/neck) once again didn't mix into drills Wednesday, so Jones may remain the Packers' primary running back in Sunday's wild-card game at Dallas if the former is unable to suit up. First, Jones will need to get through this week unscathed in order to do so.

Hunt (groin) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Hunt has been managing a groin injury of late, but he hasn't been forced to miss any games because of the issue. Based on his recent trend of practice participation, expect Hunt to log a full session Thursday approach Saturday's playoff opener against the Texans without an injury designation. Assuming that comes to pass, Hunt will be in line to reclaim his key complementary role out of the backfield behind starter Jerome Ford. Both backs were used sparingly in the Week 18 loss to the Bengals, as the Browns rested several regulars with the team having been locked in as the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Harris (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Harris has been managing a knee issue since Week 14 and has been a regular on Steelers injury reports ever since. However, the running back didn't miss any games during the regular season, and his listed absence Wednesday is presumably a continuation of the Steelers' recent trend of managing his practice workload. In the Steelers' Week 18 win over the Ravens, Harris paced the team's backfield by carrying 26 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, while adding five catches on as many targets for 21 yards. At this stage, there's nothing to suggest that his availability for Sunday's playoff opener against the Bills is in any danger.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said Dillon (neck/thumb) didn't practice Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Dillon has yet to log any on-field work since suffering a stinger Week 17 at Minnesota, but he'll have two more chances this week to put himself on a path to play in Sunday's wild-card game in Dallas. Aaron Jones has been dominating the Packers backfield down the stretch, so if Dillon isn't able to suit up this weekend, Patrick Taylor and, to a lesser extent, Emanuel Wilson, would be the candidates to fill in behind Jones.