NFL Player News

The Cardinals plan to keep Demercado in his usual role as a passing-down specialist in Sunday's game against the Titans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Though James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) have both been sent to injured reserve within the past two weeks, Demercado won't be asked to take on the same three-down role that the other two backs had handled prior to going down with their respective injuries. Instead, the Cardinals plan to have Michael Carter take on the brunt of the snaps on first and second downs, allowing the more explosive Demercado to remain more of a change-of-pace option. That being said, Carter was only recently signed off the practice squad and may not have as much security on early downs as Conner and Benson did when healthy, so Demercado could still have a path to getting more involvement as a runner after carrying just four times through Arizona's first four games. The third-year back has shown the ability to reel off some big gains in the past; he's averaging 6.0 yards per carry on 86 totes through 31 career NFL games.

Blue is listed as active Sunday at the Jets.

After being a healthy scratch for each of the Cowboys' first four games of the season, Blue will be available to make his pro debut Week 5. The rookie fifth-round pick will be one of the reserves behind starter Javonte Williams along with FB Hunter Luepke, as Miles Sanders (knee/ankle) is inactive. Blue averaged 5.7 yards per carry, recorded 56 catches for 503 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns in 29 games in his final two collegiate campaigns at Texas.

Steward will start at slot cornerback against the Jets on Sunday, Clarence Hill Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.

With Steward promoted to the slot corner position, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will serve as the starters on the outside while Kaiir Elam works in rotation. Steward was limited to special-teams work in Week 1 but has played a significant role on defense over the last three weeks, during which he's logged 16 tackles (12 solo) and one pass defense.

Elam will not start at outside corner for Sunday's game against the Jets, Clarence Hill Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.

With Elam benched, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will serve as the starting outside corners while Reddy Steward gets promoted to the slot corner position. Elam played every single defensive snap through the first three games of the season but saw his playing time dip in Week 4 against the Packers, and it appears that most of his playing time Sunday will come in rotation in the secondary and on special teams. The 2022 first-rounder has logged 20 tackles (13 solo) through four games this season.

The Cardinals are expected to "lean on" Carter on first and second downs during Sunday's game against the Titans after Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Just over a quarter of the way into the season, Arizona is already down its top two running backs. James Conner suffered a foot injury Week 3 that required season-ending surgery, while Benson is appears set to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery earlier this week. Emari Demercado had opened the season as Arizona's No. 3 running back behind those two players, but rather than elevating Demercado to the lead-back role, Schefter relays that the Cardinals instead plan to keep him in his usual pass-catching/change-of-pace role. Carter, who had previously been elevated from the practice squad for Week 4 before being signed to the 53-man roster Monday, thus looks poised to see the brunt of the early-down work and represents the best bet to lead the Arizona backfield in carries Sunday. Even so, Carter could still struggle to see enough overall touches to make for a comfortable option in fantasy lineups. In addition to losing out on some third-down snaps to Demercado, Carter could also cede some red-zone running opportunities to dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray.

Jackson (hamstring) -- who has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans -- has an "outside shot" to play in the Ravens' Week 6 game versus the Rams, Jay Glazer reported on "Fox NFL Sunday."

Glazer's dispatch essentially matches what Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday, when he noted that the two-time league MVP would be facing an estimated 2-to-3-week recovery timeline from the hamstring injury he sustained in last Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. Though the Ravens appear set to wait and see how Jackson progresses in his recovery over the next several days before deciding on his status for the matchup with the Rams, the team is on bye Week 7, which could incentivize Baltimore to hold him out until then to give him added time to heal up. Cooper Rush will step in for Jackson as the Ravens' starting quarterback against the Texans.

Smith (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets but will not start at left guard, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Smith was held out of practice all week due to a knee injury. He will suit up for Sunday's contest but will see the field only in an emergency case, with Hakeem Adeniji drawing the start at left guard.

Kneeland (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Kneeland saw his practice participation decrease over the week due to an ankle injury, culminating in a DNP on Friday. The injury will keep him sidelined Sunday for the first time this season, and his absence means James Houston and veteran Jadeveon Clowney will both see more snaps at defensive end in rotation with starters Sam Williams and Dante Fowler.

Radunz (toe) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Radunz missed the Saints' last two games due to a toe injury. He was able to participate in a limited capacity in Friday's practice, and the fifth-year offensive lineman has progressed enough in his recovery to be cleared to play Sunday. With Cesar Ruiz (ankle) inactive, Radunz and Torricelli Simpkins are the top candidates to start at right guard.

Pierce is active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Pierce is back in the Texans' RB mix in Week 5, but with Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks also on hand, it remains to be seen what sort of snap share/volume Pierce might see Sunday. In one game thus far, Pierce has logged three carries for five yards.