NFL Player News

Herbert, who remains on injured reserve, was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to ankle and shin injuries.

Herbert has missed the Bears' last five games while recovering from a right high-ankle sprain, but he was listed as a full participant on all three of the Bears' practice reports last week upon being designated for return from IR. Since the Bears played on Thursday night in last week's win over Carolina, Herbert was expected to be ready to play this Sunday in Detroit with a more typical week of prep time, but the fact that he's now dealing with a shin injury may affect those plans. The Bears haven't revealed whether the shin issue was something he sustained during Wednesday's practice, or if he emerged with the injury following Week 10 prep. Either way, Herbert may need to resume practicing in full capacity by Friday in order for the Bears to feel confident about adding him back to the 53-man roster this week.

Pierce (ankle) isn't practicing Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Another absence from practice suggests Pierce is in danger of missing a third straight game when the Texans face the Cardinals this Sunday. Even if Pierce demonstrates enough progress as the week goes along to play against Arizona, he may be returning to a smaller role than what he enjoyed previously. Devin Singletary erupted for 150 rushing yards in a 30-27 win over the Bengals this past Sunday, while Pierce has failed to exceed 81 rushing yards in any of his seven appearances this season and is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry.

Achane (knee) is participating in practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Oyefusi relayed that the running back looked "spry" in his first official practice session since Week 5, with Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com also noting that Achane wasn't wearing a non-contact jersey and wasn't using a brace or sleeve over his knee. The early signs point to Achane returning to action for Sunday's game against the Raiders, though it remains to be seen if the Dolphins list Achane as a full or limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Demercado (toe) returned to practice Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Demercado hasn't practiced since Week 8, missing the last two games due to a toe injury. Prior to the absence, he was the main beneficiary of James Conner's stint on injured reserve, racking up 41 touches for 171 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns from Weeks 6 through 8. With Conner making his return from IR in this past Sunday's win over the Falcons, Demercado likely won't be much more than a change-of-pace option, once he proves his health. Wednesday's practice report ultimately will reveal how much work Demercado was able to handle.

Williams reeled in his lone target for two yards and didn't have any carries in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Texans.

Williams went without a carry for the third time this season, as starter Joe Mixon handled all running-back totes in the contest. The 26-year-old played just 14 of the Bengals' 64 offensive snaps Sunday. Williams seems unlikely to challenge for more opportunities in the offense, barring an injury to Mixon.

Nwangwu rushed two times for nine yards in Sunday's 27-19 win over the Saints.

Nwangwu's two rushing attempts were his first carries of the season, as Sunday's game was only his second appearance as a member of the active roster in the 2023 campaign. Though the veteran hasn't been a factor for the Vikings this season, he could see a slight increase in opportunities in Week 11 if starting running back Alexander Mattison misses time due to a concussion. With that said, Nwangwu would likely play behind Ty Chandler, who proved to be an effective option out of the backfield against the Saints. The 25-year-old Nwangwu will look to make the most of his opportunities if called upon to be the No. 2 back when the Vikings visit the Broncos in Week 11.

Hill rushed two times for seven yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 33-31 loss to the Browns.

Hill played just 14 of the Ravens' 54 offensive snaps Sunday, while Gus Edwards played 28 snaps and rookie Keaton Mitchell played 13 snaps in the contest. The veteran's two rushing attempts and seven yards were his lowest in both categories for the season, while Mitchell continued to show that he should earn more playing time as an explosive playmaker. Going forward, Hill could continue to cede snaps and touches to the rookie, further limiting his potential for consistent production. The 26-year-old will be difficult to trust for fantasy purposes when the Ravens host the Bengals in Week 11.

Abanikanda now sits third on the Jets' depth chart at running back after the team waived Michael Carter on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Carter had served as the Jets' third-down running back for most of the season, handling about a quarter of the team's snap on offense through the first nine games while playing behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook. While Carter's departure may open up a few extra snaps for Cook, it also paves the way for Abanikanda -- who has been inactive for all nine games to date -- to suit up for the first time in his NFL career. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh rushed for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns during his final season of college, but he saw limited involvement in the passing game (12-146-1 receiving line on 20 targets). Given that Hall and Cook are proven pass catchers, and Hall is a uniquely effective rusher, Abanikanda may not have a defined role in the game plan this Sunday at Buffalo.

The Jets waived Carter on Tuesday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.

Carter accounted for 964 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over 14 games as a rookie in 2021, but his role has declined in the subsequent two seasons after the Jets drafted a franchise back in Breece Hall and then brought in a high-profile free agent in Dalvin Cook this offseason. While serving as the Jets' No. 3 option, Carter has eight carries for 38 yards to go with 15 catches for 48 yards over nine games in 2023. His lack of efficiency as the team's third-down back appears to be the impetus for the Jets to move on from him and open up opportunities for rookie fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda, who had yet to make his NFL debut.

Reynolds logged three offensive snaps during Sunday's win over the Chargers.

With David Montgomery back in action, Reynolds returned to logging more than half of the available snaps on specials teams, just as he had when Montgomery was healthy early in the season. This arrangement presumably won't change as long as Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs stay healthy.