NFL Player News

Penny finished Thursday's win over the Vikings with three rushes for nine yards and one catch for five yards.

Penny opened the season fourth on the Eagles running back depth chart, having been a healthy scratch in Week 1. He began the second game of the year as the team's third running back, with Kenneth Gainwell out with a rib injury, and he ended it as a second stringer after Boston Scott exited with a head injury in the third quarter. Even with those injuries, Penny saw the field for just nine offensive snaps, slightly behind Scott (10) and well behind D'Andre Swift (58). Penny's role could increase again in Week 3 if both Gainwell and Scott remain out, but even then, he looks like a long shot to claim even half the available carries.

Jackson is expected to move into a backup role in Sunday's game against the Texans with Zack Moss (forearm) having been cleared to play Week 2 after practicing fully Wednesday through Friday, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

With Moss sidelined for Week 1 and with Jonathan Taylor (ankle) sidelined for at least the Colts' first four games while on the PUP list, Jackson drew the start out of the Indianapolis backfield in last Sunday's 31-21 loss to the Jaguars. He turned in a disastrous showing in the featured role, carrying 13 times for 14 yards and reeling in five of six targets for just 14 yards while also losing two fumbles. Jackson proved to be more effective as a receiver last season and could retain a role on passing downs this weekend, but the return of Moss likely means that Jackson's opportunities as a ball carrier will take a major hit. After coming over in a trade with the Bills midway through last season, Moss averaged a robust 4.8 yards per carry on 76 attempts with the Colts, so he'll likely get an extended look as the team's top option on the ground until Taylor rejoins the 53-man roster.

Moss (shoulder) was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday and is expected to serve as the Colts' starting running back Sunday in Houston, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Moss sat out the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Jaguars while he continued to recover from the fractured forearm he sustained in training camp. Even though Moss has gotten only one full week of practice under his belt since suffering the injury, the Colts could be comfortable with immediately leaning on him as their top option on the ground, given Evan Hull's (knee) recent move to injured reserve along with the nightmarish performance that fill-in starter Deon Jackson (13 carries for 14 yards, five catches for 14 yards, two lost fumbles) turned in against Jacksonville. Jackson may retain a role as the Colts' top passing-down back, but Moss offers a clear upgrade as a ball carrier after he averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 76 attempts for Indianapolis in 2022 after coming over in a midseason trade with the Bills. With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) out at least three more games and uncertain to play for the Colts even once fully healthy, Moss might have a path to operating as Indianapolis' lead back for the rest of the season.

Achane (shoulder) was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday and enters Sunday's game against the Patriots without an injury designation.

Achane also entered the Dolphins' Week 1 matchup with the Chargers without an injury designation, but he ended up being inactive for the contest while Miami elected to take a cautious approach with the rookie running back after he sustained a shoulder injury in an Aug. 19 preseason game that had limited his practice time leading up to the season opener. Now that he's had a chance to get another full week of practice reps under his belt, Achane may have a better chance to make his NFL debut Sunday, though he's not guaranteed to be active and may not be in store for a sizable role if he suits up. While Achane was in street clothes Week 1, starter Raheem Mostert played 72 percent of the offensive snaps and took on 12 touches in the Dolphins' 36-34 win over the Chargers, leaving little work left over for top backup Salvon Ahmed (29 percent snap share, three touches).

Kelley appears likely to get the bulk of the work out of the Chargers backfield in Sunday's game against the Titans with Austin Ekeler (ankle) listed as doubtful for the contest, Noah Camras of SI.com reports.

The Chargers leaned heavily on their ground attack in a 36-34 loss to the Dolphins in Week 1, allowing both Ekeler (16 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, four catches for 47 yards on five targets) and Kelley (16 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, no catches on one target) to come through with useful stat lines. Unless Ekeler -- who didn't practice all week -- makes more progress in his recovery from the ankle injury than anticipated as Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff approaches, he'll be inactive for Week 2, clearing the way for Kelley to take on a major role in one of the NFL's better offenses. Even if the Chargers rely more heavily on the passing game than they did in Week 1, Kelley should still operate as the clear-cut top option on the ground while also seeing more involvement than usual as a receiver. The other two healthy running backs on the Chargers' 53-man roster -- Elijah Dotson and Isaiah Spiller -- have combined for 54 career offensive snaps, and neither may be trusted to handle any sort of meaningful change-of-pace role behind Kelley.

Ekeler (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Titans after not practicing this week.

Ekeler's Week 2 status will be confirmed ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, but the official doubtful designation should prompt those who roster the star running back to seek a replacement for him this weekend. If Ekeler is ruled out, Joshua Kelley would be in line to lead the Chargers backfield this weekend, with Elijah Dotson and Isaiah Spiller in reserve.

Conner (calf) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.

Conner was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday, before upgrading to full at the end of the week and telling reporters he felt good after the practice. He played 83 percent of Arizona's snaps on offense last week en route to 19 touches for 70 yards, while backup Keaontay Ingram was seldom-used and finished with minus-four yards on five carries. Conner should be busy again this Sunday against New York.

McFarland (knee) did not participate at practice Friday ahead of Monday's game versus Cleveland, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

It's looking increasingly unlikely McFarland will be available in Week 2 after managing just five offensive snaps in Week 1. If he misses time, it will leave Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren virtually alone to share carries out of Pittsburgh's backfield.

Hall (knee) logged a full practice Friday but is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Dallas, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Hall started the week off with back-to-back limited practices, but his full participation Friday suggests the second-year running back is more likely than not to suit up Sunday. Per Cimini, coach Robert Saleh said Hall remains on a pitch count as the Jets ease the running back in after last year's torn ACL. Dalvin Cook had 16 touches to Hall's 11 in Monday's win over the Bills, and Cimini expects a similar distribution Sunday in Dallas.

Edwards-Helaire (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Jacksonville after being unable to practice Friday.

Edwards-Helaire didn't practice Wednesday or Friday, but he logged a full session Thursday in between. Per Adam Teicher of ESPN, Kansas City will likely promote either La'Mical Perine or Deneric Prince from the practice squad to join lead back Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon in the backfield if Edwards-Helaire is unable to suit up Sunday.