NFL Player News

McKinnon (groin) doesn't have an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bills.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs' usual lead back, Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) is set to miss his first game of the season, leaving more snaps available for McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com, head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Edwards-Helaire will be the next man up with Pacheco out, but Edwards-Helaire is likely to see the bulk of his touches as a ballcarrier while McKinnon serves as the team's primary back on passing downs. McKinnon, who had missed the Chiefs' previous two games with the groin injury, has recorded 19 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns this season but only 30 rushing yards.

Dillon (groin) was a limited practice participant Friday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Dillon played through the same injury the past two weeks, taking 36 touches for 168 yards while playing 52 and 63 percent of snaps on offense. The real question is whether Aaron Jones (knee) will return from his two-game absence for Monday's matchup with the Giants, and there looks to be at least some chance of that happening after Jones logged limited practices Thursday and Friday.

Jones (knee) was a limited practice participant Friday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Matt LaFleur said Jones is doing well after two straight limited practices to begin Week 14 prep, but the Green Bay head coach declined to make any predictions for the running back's availability Monday against the Giants, merely noting that the oft-criticized playing surface at MetLife Stadium won't be a factor in any decision, according to Wood. The Packers could end up listing Jones as questionable for Week 14 while categorizing him as a game-time decision, a development that would be especially frustrating for anyone looking to start Jones or AJ Dillon (groin) with the Packers not playing until Monday. Jones has missed the past two games, while Dillon managed to play through a groin injury in both contests en route to 36 touches for 168 yards and no touchdowns.

Edwards-Helaire is expected to have an expanded profile out of the Kansas City backfield Sunday against Buffalo with Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) ruled out for the contest, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com, head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Edwards-Helaire is the next man up out of Kansas City's backfield, though Jerick McKinnon -- who has missed the past two games with a groin injury -- will also be available and should serve as Kansas City's top passing-down back. Additionally, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com relays that Deneric Prince is a candidate to be elevated from the team's practice squad ahead of Sunday's game. Edwards-Helaire has logged more than seven touches in a game just once among his 11 appearances this season, which came back in Week 3 when he carried 15 times for 55 yards and a touchdown to go with one catch for two yards in a 41-10 win over Chicago.

Pacheco (shoulder) won't play Sunday against the Bills, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

According to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com, Pacheco is dealing with a bruise to the same shoulder that he underwent surgery on shortly after the Super Bowl this past season. Though the Chiefs are ruling Pacheco out only for Week 14 at this time, Reid was non-committal regarding whether the injury will be anything that will force the running back to injured reserve, per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com. Reid told Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com that Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be the "No. 1 guy" out of the backfield Sunday, though Jerick McKinnon will likely handle most of the passing-down work while occasionally spelling Edwards-Helaire for carries.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Friday that Taylor (thumb) is out for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

As expected, Taylor will miss his second straight game after he failed to practice in any fashion this week while he continues his recovery from right thumb surgery. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Colts are bracing for a 3-to-5-week absence for Taylor, so the standout running back may be unlikely to make it back for Indianapolis' Week 15 matchup with the Steelers on Dec. 16. Zack Moss should handle a three-down role out of the Colts backfield for the duration of Taylor's absence.

Pacheco (shoulder) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Pacheco didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so his apparent absence from Friday's session doesn't bode well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Bills. Kansas City will release its final Week 14 injury report later Friday, and if Pacheco is ruled out for the contest, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com suggests that Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be in line to serve as the Chiefs' lead option on the ground, with Jerick McKinnon (groin) operating as the team's passing-down back.

Coach Robert Saleh said Friday that Hall (ankle) will take part in Friday's practice, adding that he expects Hall to play Sunday against the Texans, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Hall didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but he'll be back on the practice field Friday. While the running back still has a chance to avoid the final injury report, especially if he practices without limitations, it's more likely that Hall will wind up with a questionable tag following Friday's practice. Saleh is optimistic that Hall will avoid his first absence of 2023 come Sunday.

Warren rushed seven times for 11 yards and secured four of five targets for 29 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.

Warren turned in his most inefficient game of the season on the ground, although his receiving yardage total was his highest since Week 5. The second-year pro logged five fewer carries than backfield mate Najee Harris overall, and although he was more involved than the latter in the passing game, Warren figures to remain in a complementary role in a Week 15 road matchup against the Colts a week from Saturday.

Harris rushed 12 times for 29 yards and secured all three targets for 19 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.

Harris was unsurprisingly stymied on the ground by an elite Patriots run defense, and he wasn't able to do much to complement his production with his work through the air. The third-year back did outpace backfield mate Jaylen Warren by five carries, although the latter drew two more targets. It was a forgettable night for both backs, so Harris' role should remain robust in a more palatable Week 15 road matchup against the Colts on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 16.