NFL Player News

McCrary was cut from the Panthers' practice squad Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

McCrary joined the team Nov. 1, but he never worked his way to the active roster. He was let go to make room for Tae Hayes, who was signed to the practice squad Tuesday in a corresponding move. McCrary, who spent last season with Baltimore, will now work to earn an opportunity elsewhere.

Jones was on the field for the Packers' unofficial practice session Tuesday following the team's Week 14 bye, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

In the Packers' last game against the Bears, Jones was managing a shin injury that caused him to exit the contest at one point, but he was ultimately cleared to return and finished with 50 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches (nine carries, five receptions) in Green Bay's 28-19 win. Though Jones was less than 100 percent by the end of the Bears game, the week off appears to have him in a better spot on the health front heading into Week 15. Jones should be positioned to deliver a bounce-back performance Monday against a depleted Rams squad that could be missing standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald (ankle).

Kelley tallied four carries for 29 yards and also caught one of his two targets for six yards in the 23-17 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Kelley scampered for a 22-yard run early in the second quarter, accounting for one of the more explosive gains on the ground all year for the Chargers. The third-year back saw a season-high 32 offensive snaps Sunday, confirming the platooned back up running back situation has essentially been dissolved.

The Texans waived Benjamin on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Benjamin logged his first touches with Houston during Sunday's loss to Dallas, when he had three carries for one yard and was on the field for eight snaps. The 2020 seventh-round pick was waived by the Cardinals in mid-November before being claimed by the Texans, and he will now need to search for a chance at a depth role with another organization.

Pierce suffered a "relatively mild" left high-ankle sprain in Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Cowboys and could miss 1-to-2 weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

According to Wilson, Pierce went in for an MRI on Monday that revealed no structural damage, though his tests confirmed that he's dealing with the high-ankle sprain. The Texans haven't confirmed the diagnosis, but the standout rookie appears likely to miss at least the team's Week 15 game against Kansas City at a minimum. If Pierce sits out this weekend, the Texans would be left with Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale at running back after waiving Eno Benjamin on Tuesday.

Strong rushed five times for 70 yards and a touchdown and brought in both targets for 20 yards in the Patriots' 27-13 win over the Cardinals on Monday night.

A bulk of Strong's production came on a game-long 44-yard run on the Patriots' first possession of the second half, with the rookie taking the ball to the Cardinals' 12-yard line to set up a Nick Folk 23-yard field goal. Strong then capped off the scoring on the night with a three-yard touchdown rush early in the fourth quarter, his first NFL trip to the end zone. Strong could have a significant role in a favorable Week 15 road battle against the Raiders if either or both Damien Harris (thigh) and Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is sidelined for that game.

Harris rushed eight times for 24 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 27-13 win over the Cardinals on Monday night.

Harris ended up pacing the Patriots in rush attempts due to Rhamondre Stevenson's early exit with an ankle injury that first cropped up in the first quarter and was later aggravated shortly before halftime. Harris recorded a 14-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, during Stevenson's initial stint on the sideline, but he finished with 44 fewer rush yards than backfield mate Pierre Strong despite logging three more carries. If Stevenson's injury lingers into a Week 15 road battle against the Raiders and Damien Harris (thigh) remains sidelined as well, Kevin Harris figures to retain a complementary role, at minimum, in that game.

Conner rushed 15 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and brought in six of seven targets for 29 yards in the Cardinals' 27-13 loss to the Patriots on Monday night. He also recovered a fumble.

Conner opened the night with a nine-yard reception and six-yard rush before disaster struck on the next play and Kyler Murray went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury on a non-contact play. The versatile back remained an integral part of the gameplan with Colt McCoy under center, often serving as a safety valve for the veteran and also recording a 10-yard touchdown run with 2:59 remaining in the first half. Conner has put together his two best performances of the season in the Cardinals' last pair of contests, and if Murray's injury is as devastating as it seemed, the veteran running back could be in line for an even bigger role in coming weeks. Conner did leave the game briefly with a minor injury but returned quickly.

Stevenson has been ruled out for the remainder of Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Stevenson came back in for a few plays after getting hurt, but he was unable to continue. He was ruled out shortly after halftime, leaving Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris as New England's available options at running back.

Stevenson (ankle) went to the locker room late in the first half after reentering Monday's game against the Cardinals, Jeremy Grant Schnell of Arizona Sports reports.

Stevenson didn't look fully healthy after coming back in for a few plays, so he'll get additional treatment for the ankle injury he suffered earlier in the game. If he's unable to return again, Stevenson will finish with three carries for eight yards and two catches on three targets for two yards.