NFL Player News

McKinnon (groin) was a full practice participant Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

McKinnon was sidelined for the Chiefs' past two games, but after following up a limited practice Wednesday with a full session Thursday, he's poised to return to the lineup Sunday against the Bills. When available, McKinnon has typically served mostly as a passing-down back, but he could carve out a larger role on the ground along with Clyde Edwards-Helaire if lead back Isiah Pacheco isn't available this weekend. Pacheco has missed the Chiefs' first two Week 14 practices with a shoulder contusion.

Mostert (knee/rest) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.

Along with Mostert, wide receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle) and offensive tackle Kendall Lamm (back) had "vet rest" attributed to their absences from practice along with their listed injuries, so it's safe to conclude that all three were mainly held out for maintenance purposes more so than because of any concern about their health. Mostert has been a fixture on Miami injury reports this season but has yet to miss a game, and he's logged more than 50 percent of the offensive snaps in all but two of his 12 appearances. He took on a season-low 39 percent share in this past weekend's 45-15 win over the Commanders, though that may have largely been a byproduct of Miami racing out to a 24-point halftime lead.

Henry was limited at practice Thursday for rest purposes, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

It's notable that Henry isn't listed with an injury designation on Thursday's practice report, given that he left this past Sunday's game against the Colts to be evaluated for a concussion. Since then, Wyatt relays that Henry has been feeling good, with no concussion symptoms, and will be ready to play in Monday night's game against the Dolphins. The running back thus is set to continue to pace Tennessee's Week 14 backfield, with Tyjae Spears on hand to work in a complementary role.

Brown (hamstring) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Brown opened Week 14 prep as a limited participant, though his ability to take every rep a day later likely confirms that his reps were capped Wednesday mainly for maintenance purposes after he took a season-high nine carries for 61 yards over his 11 snaps in Monday's 34-31 overtime win over Jacksonville. Meanwhile, lead back Joe Mixon scored two touchdowns but averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry for the second game in a row, which could prompt the Bengals to carve out a consistent role on the ground for Brown moving forward as the team seeks more efficiency for its rushing attack. Mixon should continue to rank as Cincinnati's clear top back on passing downs even if the coaching staff elects to lighten his workload as a ball carrier in future weeks.

Dowdle (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Dowdle maintained his activity level from one day prior as he continues to tend to an ankle injury, giving him just one more day to get back to full before the Cowboys potentially make a call on his status ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Eagles. If he's able to suit up, as he's done the previous three games with the health concern, he should be good for his typical snap share (18-26 percent) and touches (4-10) from the aforementioned span behind starting running back Tony Pollard.

Etienne (ribs) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

Etienne doesn't appear to be any worse for the wear coming out of Monday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Bengals, despite being listed as questionable with the rib issue leading up to the contest before handling 15 touches (11 carries, four receptions) and accounting for 79 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown over his 43 snaps. The Jaguars have put a cap on Etienne's practice reps for both of their first two Week 14 practices, but there's been no indication that his restrictions are the result of any setback. He may still carry a designation into this weekend's game in Cleveland if he remains a limited participant in Friday's practice, but Etienne is still expected to be ready to lead the Jacksonville backfield come Sunday.

Hunt (groin) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Hunt didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to a capped session Thursday has him moving in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Jaguars approaches. If the running back practices fully Friday, as he did last week while managing his groin injury, he'll have a chance to head into the weekend minus a Week 14 injury designation.

Dillon was limited at Thursday's practice due to a groin injury.

Dillon endured some practice restrictions last week due to the same health concern, but it didn't impact his availability for a Week 13 matchup with the Chiefs. In the eventual 27-19 win, he continued to serve as the Packers' No. 1 running back with Aaron Jones (knee) sidelined, taking 18 carries for 73 yards and hauling in his only target for 14 yards. Jones returned Thursday as a limited participant, though, so Dillon may soon move back to his complementary role out of Green Bay's backfield Monday at the Giants, assuming both are active.

Ekeler may be at risk of losing out on some snaps and touches out of the backfield after Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday that "competition for carries is going to be something that you can see happening," Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports. "We're going to keep exploring, making adjustments, so that we can find that rhythm that I've been talking about," Staley said. "We know that Austin is a good running back. We just haven't found any rhythm in the last couple of weeks in the run game. Just need to keep after it and keep working hard in practice."

Staley's comments come while Ekeler has mustered just 3.0 yards per carry on 110 total rushing attempts since the running back returned from a three-game absence due to a high-ankle sprain following the Chargers' Week 5 bye. Ekeler hasn't seemed to show any notable improvement as he's become further removed from the injury; as Sunday's game against the Broncos approaches, the 28-year-old is in the midst of a streak of 28 carries that have gained six yards or fewer. Joshua Kelley would be next in line to poach touches out of the backfield if the Chargers elect to scale back Ekeler's workload on the ground, though Kelley hasn't made much of a case to deserve more snaps in his own right. Over his last four appearances, Kelley has averaged just 2.6 yards on 53 totes. The Chargers' wholesale struggles in run blocking -- the team's 26 percent run-block win rate is the seventh-lowest in the league this season -- seem to have played at least some part in Ekeler's poor efficiency, and his downturn in productivity comes at a particular poor time given that he's scheduled for free agency this spring.

Miller (ankle) did not participate in Thursday's practice.

The rookie running back out of TCU has been held out since Week 10, and it seems as if he's still recovering from his ankle issue. Miller has appeared in seven games for the Saints thus far, recording 83 rushing yards on 28 attempts. He'll almost certainly carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to record a full practice session Friday.