NFL Player News

Harrison (knee) was activated from the injured reserve list Saturday, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.

The Ohio State product missed the Steelers' last six games after sustaining a knee injury in the Week 1 win over the Jets. He was originally listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Colts, but it now appears he's ready to return. With Cole Holcomb (illness) set to miss the Week 9 contest, Harrison is likely to play an expanded role in the Steelers' linebacker corps.

Clark (illness) has been downgraded and ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Colts, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.

The veteran safety from Virginia Tech was originally listed as questionable for Sunday's contest after coming down with an illness. However, it now appears he won't be able to suit up in Week 9. While Clark misses his second game of the season Sunday, expect Kyle Dugger and Juan Thornhill to operate as the Steelers' top safeties.

Holcomb (illness) has been downgraded and ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Colts, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.

The 29-year-old from North Carolina was unable to practice both Thursday and Friday due to an illness, so it's no surprise that he won't suit up Sunday. While Holcomb misses his first game of the season in Week 9, expect Malik Harrison to play an expanded role in Pittsburgh's inside linebacker corps.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday that Knight will be the "first one out there" at running back against the Cowboys on Monday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Knight will get the first backfield touches for Monday's game, though Gannon relayed that the Cardinals will go whichever running back in Knight, Emari Demercado and Michael Carter is most effective. Knight was the Cardinals' lead back for the two games prior to the Week 8 bye and posted 25 carries for 91 yards (3.6 YPC) and a touchdown while adding four catches (on six targets) for 27 yards over that span. Week 9 might be Knight's last opportunity for an expanded role on offense if Trey Benson (knee) has recovered enough to be activated off injured reserve for Week 10.

Brissett has been named the Cardinals' starter for Monday's game against the Cowboys, as Kyler Murray continues to rehab from a foot sprain, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Brissett was the Cardinals' starter for the two games prior to the Week 8 bye, and over those two contests he completed 65.0 percent of his passes for 599 yards, four touchdowns and one interception while turning nine carries into 45 yards. The veteran quarterback took most of the first-team reps in practice while Murray was limited, and head coach Jonathan Gannon has opted to go with Brissett as the starter for a third consecutive game, though Murray could have a role as the backup if he's active for Week 9.

Murray (foot) will not start against the Cowboys on Monday, as Jacoby Brissett is set to make his third consecutive start, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Murray is making progress from a foot sprain that he sustained during the Cardinals' Week 5 loss against the Titans. He missed the two games prior to the Week 8 bye but was limited in practice during Week 9 prep despite the extra rest, with Brissett taking most of the first-team reps Thursday and Friday. Given the lack of practice reps, Murray will cede the starting spot to Brissett for a third consecutive game, though the former could have a role as the Cardinals' backup, assuming he is active for Week 9.

Flacco (shoulder) remains listed as questionable but is expected to start Sunday against the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Flacco has been working through a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, which he sustained during the Bengals' Week 8 loss to the Jets. Though Flacco was contained to just one limited practice this week, the Bengals had optimism that the veteran quarterback would be ready to go for the Week 9 matchup, and he appears to have made enough progress since sitting out Friday's session to put himself on a path to play Sunday. Assuming Flacco is formally cleared ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, his presence should boost the fantasy prospects of all of the Bengals' pass catchers, though there's a chance he's less effective than usual due to the injury.

Hutchinson could see a reduction in targets Week 9 against Denver, as both Nico Collins and Christian Kirk shed their injury designations Friday.

Hutchinson experienced an uptick in targets the last two weeks when both Collins and Kirk were impacted by injuries, but their returns should suppress Hutchinson's production. He typically sees a high snap volume whether or not the team is dealing with injuries to other receivers, so Hutchinson will be on the field often and still in a position to make some kind of impact.

Kirk (hamstring) logged a full practice Friday and carries no injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Both Kirk and Nico Collins (concussion) were full participants Friday and enter Week 9 with no designation. Kirk missed the last two games and four overall this season due to a balky hamstring. That's limited him to 10 catches, 109 yards and zero touchdowns over three games.

Collins (concussion) was a

Collins, who cleared the concussion protocol Thursday, logged a pair of full practices heading into the weekend. The injury forced him to miss last week's win over San Francisco, but Collins remains the team's leader in targets (46), catches (26) and yards (339). He also has three touchdowns, tying him with fellow wideout Xavier Hutchinson.