NFL Player News

Coach Dave Canales said Dowdle will start Sunday against the Dolphins with fellow RB Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out for the contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Hubbard wasn't able to practice this week due to a lingering calf injury, and while he'll be inactive this weekend, Canales labeled him "day-to-day," meaning Dowdle's time as the Panthers' No. 1 backfield option may be contained to one game. In reserve role this season, Dowdle has averaged 3.0 yards on his 28 carries, hauled in five of six targets for 20 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in four games. Having said that, he racked up 1,079 rushing yards last year as the Cowboys' primary RB, so he can handle a large workload if needed. Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas will be on hand for any reps that don't go to Dowdle.

Goodson (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.

Goodson, who sustained his groin injury during Week 4 action, didn't practice this week and now will target a potential return Sunday, Oct. 12 against the Cardinals. In Goodson's absence this weekend, DJ Giddens will back up Jonathan Taylor, with Ameer Abdullah and Ulysses Bentley representing possible practice-squad elevations.

Pierce (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.

Though Pierce practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday, coach Shane Steichen noted Friday that the wideout had a setback, per James Boyd of The Athletic. Pierce remains in the concussion protocol and is set to miss his second straight game, so look for Michael Pittman (hamstring) and Josh Downs to lead the Colts' Week 5 WR corps, with Adonai Mitchell, Ashton Dulin and Anthony Gould representing the team's other healthy options at the position.

Coach Dave Canales said Friday that the Panthers will open Coker's (quadriceps) 21-day window to return from injured reserve next week, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. "Coker is doing great," Canales added. "He's hitting some top speeds. Now, it's about capacity."

Coker sustained a quad injury in practice on Aug. 28 that forced the Panthers to place him on IR not long afterward. Initial reports noted he was slated to sit out 4-to-6 games, and as of this Sunday's contest versus the Dolphins, he'll reach have reached five games missed. Carolina will need to designate Coker to return from injured reserve in order for him to practice.

Sanders (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With Sanders set to miss his second straight game, Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans will lead the team's TE corps this weekend, with Mitchell Evans in reserve. In Carolina's Week 4 loss to the Patriots, Tremble caught five of his eight targets for 42 yards and a touchdown, while Evans caught three of his four targets for 23 yards and a touchdown. Sanders' next chance to see game action will arrive Sunday, Oct. 12 against the Cowboys.

Hubbard (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Hubbard played through a calf injury this past Sunday in New England but logged a season-low 51 percent snap share in the process. In the wake of that contest, he didn't practice at all this week, signaling that he was trending toward his first absence of the campaign. Rico Dowdle thus lines up to lead Carolina's backfield this weekend, with Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas also on hand for RB reps. Hubbard's next chance to suit up is Sunday, Oct. 12 versus the Cowboys.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday that the Cowboys don't expect Lamb (ankle) to play in Sunday's game at the Jets, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

After making an early exit from a Week 3 loss at Chicago, Lamb was diagnosed with a high left-ankle sprain, which typically is accompanied by a multi-week absence. He already missed this past Sunday's tie with the Packers, but he was able to resume rehab work on the field as of this Wednesday, marking the first notable progress in his recovery effort. Ultimately, the Cowboys can make a ruling on Lamb's status for Week 5 as soon as they post Friday's injury report.

Coach Todd Bowles officially ruled out Evans (hamstring) for Sunday's game in Seattle, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

The decision from Bowles comes as no surprise considering Evans hasn't been able to participate in practice since suffering a moderate left hamstring strain during a Week 3 win against the Jets. His next chance to suit up is Sunday, Oct.12 against the 49ers, while Chris Godwin, rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard will serve as QB Baker Mayfield's primary wide receivers this weekend.

Coach Todd Bowles officially ruled out Irving (foot/shoulder) for Sunday's game at Seattle, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Irving emerged from a Week 4 loss to the Eagles with a sprained right foot that forced him to don a walking boot and also crutches as a spectator at Wednesday's practice. Earlier Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported that Irving was unlikely to play Week 5, which now has been confirmed. The Buccaneers thus will roll with the combination of Rachaad White and Sean Tucker out of the backfield this weekend and perhaps beyond that point.

Williams (knee) will not play in Sunday night's game against the Patriots, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.

While the Bills are one of just two NFL teams off to a 4-0 start, the run defense has been poor with an AFC-worst mark of 164.3 rushing yards allowed per game. Fellow linebacker Matt Milano's (pectoral) status now takes on added import for Sunday's divisional matchup.