NFL Player News

Conner (ribs) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Conner seems to be scratching and clawing his way to gain clearance for game action. After opening Week 8 prep with back-to-back capped practices, he didn't practice last Friday before the Cardinals ruled him out for this past Sunday's visit to Minnesota. Conner again is starting this week as a limited participant, while fellow running back Darrel Williams (hip) didn't practice and was placed on injured reserve with a new injury, per Darren Urban of the team's official site. With two more sessions to go Thursday and Friday, Conner will aim to do enough to put an end to a three-game absence and join Eno Benjamin and rookie Keaontay Ingram in Arizona's backfield Sunday versus the Seahawks.

Harris missed practice Wednesday due to an illness, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

While working in tandem with Rhamondre Stevenson in the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Jets, Harris logged 32 of a possible 78 snaps on offense, carrying 11 times for 37 yards and catching two passes for 15 yards. However, now that he's missed the team's first practice of the week, the running back's status is worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts. In the event that Harris is out or limited this weekend, Stevenson would be in line to see added touches.

Swift (ankle/shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday.

Swift was healthy enough to put an end to a three-game absence this past Sunday against the Dolphins, handling a 52 percent snap share on his way to five carries for six yards and five catches (on five targets) for 27 yards. After the game, he told Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com on Monday that he still wasn't 100 percent but was hopeful for more work going forward. Wednesday's absence from practice may have been precautionary, but Swift's status now should be watched closely as the week goes on. He'll have two more chances to mix into drills ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Packers.

Hubbard (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Hubbard was back on the field for the first time since spraining his ankle in the second half of a Week 7 win over Tampa Bay. Teammate D'Onta Foreman handled the lead role Week 8 and cleared 100 rushing yards while scoring three touchdowns in the overtime loss to the Falcons sans Hubbard, who said Monday that he hopes to make it back for the game in Cincinnati this Sunday. Interim head coach Steve Wilks said Hubbard will have a chance to play in that game, but that will be contingent on Hubbard increasing his activity in practice by the end of the week.

Harris wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday due to an undisclosed reason, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Harris wasn't on the Patriots' Week 8 injury report, so it's unclear what's keeping him off the field Wednesday. In this past Sunday's win over the Jets, the running back was on the field for 32 of a possible 78 snaps on offense, carrying 11 times for 37 yards and catching two passes for 15 yards.

Hubbard (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday, Ellis L. Williams of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Hubbard and interim head coach Steve Wilks both were optimistic Monday that the running back would return for Sunday's game in Cincinnati, after his absence from the Week 8 loss to Atlanta helped D'Onta Foreman operate as the clear lead back en route to a three-touchdown day. Hubbard actually picked up more work than Foreman through the first three quarters of Carolina's first game without Christian McCaffrey in Week 7, only to exit early with an ankle sprain. Hubbard looks like he may miss just the Week 8 game, though it's possible he's now fallen behind Foreman in the backfield pecking order.

Taylor (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Bowen relays that the running back tweaked his ankle in this past Sunday's loss to the Commanders and isn't 100 percent as this weekend's game against the Patriots approaches. If Taylor ends up sitting out or is limited in the contest, Deon Jackson and the newly acquired Zack Moss would be next up for touches out of the Indianapolis backfield after Nyheim Hines was dealt to the Bills on Tuesday.

Indianapolis signed Wilkins to its practice squad Wednesday.

Wilkins was drafted by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2018 Draft and rushed for more than 300 yards in each of his first three seasons in Indianapolis. However, he saw just one offensive snap across five appearances -- split between Indianapolis and Tennessee -- last year and ended the 2021 campaign on the Titans' practice squad.

The Falcons announced Wednesday that Patterson (knee) has been designated for return from injured reserve, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Arthur Smith said Patterson will practice Wednesday, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, with the transaction opening up the running back's 21-day window to be evaluated for a return to the 53-man roster. Patterson has spent time rehabbing a left knee injury since being placed on IR after Week 4, but pending his participation level in practice this week, he could be activated for as early as Sunday's game against the Chargers. Tyler Allgeier has led the Atlanta backfield in Patterson's stead, but the 31-year-old will likely reclaim the No. 1 role once back to full health.

Williams turned five carries into eight yards and two catches on three targets for six yards during Sunday's 34-26 loss in Minnesota.

In his return from a two-game absence due to a knee injury, Williams served as the Cardinals' No. 2 running back behind Eno Benjamin with James Conner (ribs) again sidelined. However, Williams' snap share (27 percent) and touch count (seven) paled in comparison to Benjamin's marks (74 percent and 13). There's a chance Conner returns to action as soon as Sunday against the Seahawks, which could mean Williams sees few to no opportunities.