NFL Player News

Akers had five carries for 40 yards and two receptions for 11 yards on two targets in Sunday's 21-13 win at Carolina.

Akers served as the backup to starter Alexander Mattison, as Ty Chandler didn't play any snaps on offense. Akers took over as the lead back on one series and played on 14 of the offense's 48 snaps, while Mattison played 33 snaps. Mattison had more touches (17 carries and one target) and was efficient with 95 yards at 5.6 YPC. It looks like Akers will have a backup role in the near term if Mattison remains effective as the primary back. However, Akers showed enough of a spark to press for a larger role.

Mitchell (shoulder) could be activated from IR this week according to head coach John Harbaugh, Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Mitchell suffered the injury in the team's second preseason game and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 31. After missing the mandatory four games, the running back is eligible to return to the active roster and play as soon as Sunday against the Steelers. However, even if activated this week, the Ravens will have a 21-day window to add him to the 53-man roster, so there's no guarantee he'll be suiting up in Week 5.

Rivers rushed nine times for 47 yards and caught both of his targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 29-23 overtime win versus the Colts.

One week removed from fellow backfield mate Kyren Williams playing 100 percent of the snaps against the Bengals, a more traditional split of the rushing work -- 73 percent for Williams, 27 percent for Rivers -- was seemingly a boon for both players. Williams enjoyed his first 100-yard rushing game as a pro, while Rivers set career highs in rushing yardage and rushing attempts and tied his career-best snap total. Rivers has shown flashes of brilliance when given opportunities, and he should remain the primary backup to Williams over Royce Freeman and Zach Evans while serving as a valuable insurance policy for Williams' fantasy managers.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Taylor (ankle) will resume practicing with the team Wednesday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

After spending the first four weeks of the regular season on the reserve/PUP list while continuing his recovery from right ankle surgery in January, Taylor will make his return to practice Week 5 when first eligible. Before landing on the PUP list Aug. 29, Taylor had put in a request to be traded, and while Indianapolis ultimately entertained the request, the team wasn't able to find an offer to its liking. The Colts still could revisit moving Taylor ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline, but the running back looks as though he'll put any discord with the organization aside and gear up for a return to game action now that he's fully healthy following surgery. Per Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star, Steichen didn't rule out the possibility of Taylor being activated from the PUP list prior to this Sunday's game against the Titans, but for the time being, his return to practice Wednesday will merely open up a 21-day window in which the Colts can evaluate him for a return to the 53-man roster.

Patterson (thigh) didn't record any counting stats across seven snaps (one offensive) during Sunday's 23-7 loss to Jacksonville.

After missing the first three games of the season due to a thigh injury, Patterson was cleared to suit up Sunday but played primarily on special teams. Head coach Arthur Smith said the running back was limited mainly due to how the game unfolded. Patterson is expected to fill the "Joker" role on offense, and Smith noted that there were a few things planned for him versus the Jaguars. However, the coach opted to be cautious with the veteran, who's still working his way back into game shape. "You get a healthy [Patterson] out there, that can certainly help our offense," Smith said, per Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site.

Dowdle has been diagnosed with a hip contusion following an MRI on Monday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dowdle left Sunday's blowout win over the Patriots due to a hip injury after carrying the ball three times for nine yards and hauling in his lone target for an additional eight yards. The running back missed the entire 2021 season due to a fracture in the same hip, which sparked concern, but it appears he's avoided a major injury for now. Dowdle's status for Sunday night's matchup against San Francisco remains unclear, but further clarity should surface when Dallas has to release its first injury report of Week 5 prep, which will drop Wednesday.

Abdullah caught both of his targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Chargers.

Abdullah's two receptions didn't come until the fourth quarter when the Raiders were trailing by multiple scores, and starter Josh Jacobs remained busy as a receiver in his own right with eight catches for 81 yards on 11 targets. It's safe to expect a similarly limited role for Abdullah against the Packers in Week 5.

Elliott logged 22 of a possible 55 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-3 loss to the Cowboys, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

In the process, Elliott carried six times for 16 yards and caught two of his three targets for six yards. There had been some pregame speculation from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Elliott (who carried 16 times for 80 yards in Week 3) could be in line to see an expanded workload Sunday against his former team, but fellow RB Rhamondre Stevenson started the contest and was on the field for 35 snaps en route to rushing 14 times for 30 yards while adding two receptions (on three targets) for 10 yards. Looking ahead, the Patriots offense will look to regroup Week 5 against the Saints, but as long as Elliott continues to work behind Stevenson, he'll remain a hit-or-miss fantasy option.

Breida is expected to serve as the Giants' lead back Monday against the Seahawks with Saquon Barkley (ankle) listed as doubtful and likely to miss a second straight game, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

The "lead" role didn't equate to much in terms of opportunity while Barkley was sidelined for the Giants' 30-12 loss to the 49ers in Week 3, as Breida played 41 of the team's 50 snaps on offense (82 percent) yet finished with just four carries for 17 yards and a touchdown and three receptions for one yard on three targets. A negative game script as well as the matchup with one of the league's better defenses were certainly factors in his lack of touches, but even with a more favorable draw Monday versus Seattle, Breida is probably unlikely to match the 19 touches that Barkley averaged in the Giants' first two games of the season. Breida at least profiles as the most interesting fantasy option among a Giants running back group that will also include Gary Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray on Monday.

White rushed three times for 15 yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Chargers.

White was limited to just seven offensive snaps Sunday, but his Week 4 performance was highlighted by an 11-yard run to move the chains late in the third quarter. He's now earned only nine total touches through the Raiders' first four games, and starter Josh Jacobs figures to remain a bell cow out of the backfield against the Packers in Week 5.