NFL Player News

Elliott didn't practice Thursday due to an illness.

Elliott practiced fully Wednesday, but his absence from Thursday's session makes his status worth tracking as Sunday's game against the Bills approaches. If Elliott is able to suit up this weekend, he'll continue to lead the New England backfield after the Patriots placed Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Dowdle (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Lions, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Dowdle has been playing through an ankle injury in the Cowboys' previous six games, but he apparently reached a breaking point this week after missing back-to-back practices Wednesday and Thursday. His absence could mean Deuce Vaughn is active for the first time since Week 10, but the team may lean on fullback Hunter Luepke instead or otherwise sign Malik Davis off the practice squad to serve as a reserve option behind top RB Tony Pollard.

Jacobs (quadricep) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice.

Though Tashan Reed of The Athletic relays that there's sentiment within the organization that Jacobs will be able to put an end to his two-game absence this weekend in Indianapolis, the running back hasn't taken any notable steps toward making that a reality. After managing one limited practice session in Week 16, he's now been listed as a non-participant for consecutive sessions to begin Week 17 prep. Jacobs will still have another chance Friday to log some on-field work prior to Sunday's game against the Colts, but if he's unable to make enough progress in his recovery and misses a third straight game this weekend, Zamir White would once again have a clear path to a lead role out of the Raiders' backfield.

Moss (forearm) was a limited participant at practice Thursday.

Moss didn't practice at all last week before being ruled out ahead of the Colts' 29-10 loss to the Falcons, but he's now been listed as limited on both of the team's first two Week 17 injury report. Though the running back appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders, Moss will presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid taking a designation into the weekend.

Barkley (elbow) was a full practice participant Thursday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Barkley was estimated as a limited participant Wednesday while the Giants opened Week 17 prep with a walkthrough, but he took every rep in a more traditional practice a day later to clear up any concern about his availability for Sunday's game against the Rams. The star running back has been held under four yards per carry in three of his past four outings, but the quarterback change from Tommy DeVito to Tyrod Taylor in Week 17 could help Barkley from an efficiency standpoint.

Johnson (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

The 26-year-old running back missed Buffalo's Week 16 win over the Chargers with this shoulder issue, and he's now opened the team's week of practice with consecutive limited sessions. Unless Johnson is able to practice in full Friday, he'll likely carry an injury designation into the weekend.

Hubbard (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Thursday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

As was the case Wednesday, Hubbard is operating with a cap on his reps due to a hamstring issue one day later, while fellow running back Miles Sanders practiced without limitations due to a toe concern. Hubbard thus has one more chance to get back to all activity this week before the Panthers potentially give him an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game in Jacksonville.

Pacheco (concussion/shoulder) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Pacheco also missed Wednesday's session, so the running back may be facing an uphill battle to gain clearance for Sunday's game against the Bengals unless he's able to practice Friday in some capacity. In addition to Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is missing from Thursday's practice, while Jerick McKinnon (groin) was placed on injured reserve over the weekend. For the moment, La'Mical Perine is the lone healthy back on the 53-man roster, though the Chiefs still have Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram on the practice squad.

Edwards-Helaire won't practice Thursday due to an illness, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Isiah Pacheco (concussion) will join Edwards-Helaire as a spectator for Thursday's practice, leaving La'Mical Perine as the lone healthy back on the active roster at the moment. Given that Pacheco still has multiple phases of the five-step concussion protocol to clear prior to Sunday's game against the Bengals, Edwards-Helaire looks like the better bet of the two to overcome his health concern. If Edwards-Helaire is active this weekend and Pacheco isn't, the former could be in store for a three-down role out of the Kansas City backfield.

Mostert (ankle/knee) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Heraldreports.

Mostert, who also didn't participate in Wednesday's session, now has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens. Per Oyefusi, the running back is expected to be available this weekend, but unless Mostert practices fully Friday, there's a decent chance he ends up with a Week 17 injury designation.