NFL Player News

Conner (shin/knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The Cardinals are left with Corey Clement and Keaontay Ingram in the backfield, after mostly using Clement last week when Conner made his early exit from a 20-19 loss to Denver. The Cardinals haven't indicated that Conner's injury is one that might require offseason surgery, and there's a good chance the 27-year-old is back with the Cardinals in 2023 given that his $5.75 million base salary is fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.com. A $2 million roster bonus due in mid-March is one potential complicating factor, along with the possibility of the Cardinals bringing in a new coaching staff.

Foreman was added to the practice report Friday as a limited participant with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against New Orleans.

An end-of-week addition to the injury report puts Foreman's availability into question for the season finale. If he's deemed inactive ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Carolina will rely on Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear out of the backfield. Interim head coach Steve Wilks said Friday that he expects Foreman to be a game-time decision, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.

Williams is expected to serve as the Commanders' starting running back Sunday against the Cowboys with Brian Robinson (knee) ruled out for the season finale and with Antonio Gibson (foot/knee) having been placed on injured reserve earlier this week, Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington reports.

J.D. McKissic (neck) has also been sidelined since early November and won't be activated from IR for Week 18, so the Commanders will close the season without any of their top three running backs entering the campaign. While Gibson was sidelined for last week's loss to Cleveland, Williams saw a healthy amount of work behind Robinson, carrying nine times for 30 yards while reeling in three of five targets for three yards across 31 snaps. His ability to contribute on three downs makes Williams a more appealing fantasy target than Jaret Patterson, who was elevated from the practice squad Thursday and should also have a role in the finale, but more likely as a runner than as a weapon in the passing game. Washington could also bring up Reggie Bonnafon from the practice squad to provide additional depth behind Williams and Patterson.

Gibson (knee) underwent surgery Thursday to address a fracture in his foot, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Gibson played through the fracture for most of December but then missed the final two games of the regular season after spraining his knee Week 16. He's expected to recover in time for offseason workouts, at which point he'll be in the fourth and final season of his rookie contract. Rookie back Brian Robinson, meanwhile, will miss Week 18 with a knee injury that isn't considered especially serious. Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson are Washington's healthy backs for the season finale, while Robinson and Gibson should be ready to go for OTAs.

Robinson (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Antonio Gibson (knee) missed Week 17 and was then placed on injured reserve Thursday, leaving the Commanders with Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson as the team's healthy running backs for the season finale. Williams had been the No. 3 option since late November, but that might be more for special-teams reasons and doesn't ensure he'll get more touches than Patterson on Sunday. Robinson, a third-round pick, wraps up his rookie year as the team's leading rusher with 205 carries for 797 yards, though he caught only nine passes in 12 games and found the end zone just three times (including once on a reception). While the Commanders could upgrade the position group this offseason, it won't necessarily be one of their priorities with the running-back room in decent hands between Robinson and Gibson.

Dallas (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

For a second session in a row, Dallas was absent, which also can be said for backfield mates Kenneth Walker (ankle/illness) and Travis Homer (ankle). As such, the Seahawks backfield has question marks with one practice to go this week, some of which may clear up upon the release of Friday's injury report. If Walker continues to be the team's lead runner Sunday versus the Rams, he'll take on most of the RB reps, but Dallas has been able to make an impact over the last two contests, notching 18 touches for 140 yards from scrimmage.

Homer (ankle) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Homer is seeking to end his DNP streak at one game, but a sprained ankle hasn't allowed him to practice since Week 16 prep. Fellow running backs Kenneth Walker (ankle/illness) and DeeJay Dallas (ankle) also didn't practice Wednesday and Thursday, so the state of the position group remains up in the air in the midst of Week 18 prep. If Walker is able to play Sunday against the Rams, he likely would be the Seahawks' primary backfield option, which would leave some snaps and touches for whoever among Homer and Dallas are available. In the end, Homer's status could receive some clarity, one way or another, upon the release of Friday's injury report.

Coach Kyle Shanahan told Adam Copeland of KNBR 680 San Francisco on Thursday that he expects Mitchell (knee) to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game versus the Cardinals.

While Mitchell returned to practice Wednesday, the 49ers didn't officially designate him for return from IR until Thursday. The move opened up a 21-day window for the 49ers to activate Mitchell from IR, but he seemingly won't need that much time for the team to do so. As for the rest of the backfield, Christian McCaffrey (ankle/knee) hasn't practiced this week, but he revealed to David Lombardi of The Athletic on Thursday that his absences were a precaution, and he should be active this weekend. If both McCaffrey and Mitchell are able to suit up, it'll mark their fourth contest working together since the former arrived from Carolina in October. In the first three, Mitchell recorded 41 touches to McCaffrey's 47 in Weeks 10 through 12, so there may be room for both to produce.

Walker (ankle/illness) was held out of Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

It's uncertain whether a lingering ankle concern, an illness or a combination of the two are keeping Walker sidelined this week, but he has yet to log any activity after two sessions. The same can be said for fellow running backs Travis Homer (ankle) and DeeJay Dallas (ankle), so the situation in the Seahawks backfield remains in flux with just one more chance to practice during Week 18 prep. Friday's injury report will unveil if any of the trio sidestep a designation ahead of Sunday's game versus the Rams. However, if Walker is able to suit up for the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, he's the likely candidate to handle the majority of RB reps after posting back-to-back 100-yard performances on the ground.

McCaffrey (ankle/knee) didn't practice Thursday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Per Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News, McCaffrey was seen jogging straight ahead during the part of Thursday's session open to the media before going to the locker room. While McCaffrey received a DNP on a second consecutive Week 18 injury report, he told David Lombardi of The Athletic afterward that he felt great, and that his absences this week were a precaution taken by the 49ers. Even if he sits out again Friday, McCaffrey may avoid a designation entirely for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, but the final report of the week will reveal whether or not he does so. Assuming he's able to suit up this weekend, he appears as if he'll be welcoming back fellow RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) from IR because coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he expects the Mitchell to be available, according to Adam Copeland of KNBR.