NFL Player News

Mixon rushed the ball 14 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 19-16 divisional-round win over the Titans. He added six receptions for 51 yards.

Mixon was involved in all aspects of the Bengals' offense, as he accounted for 14 of the team's 18 rushing attempts while also racking up seven targets. He wasn't all that productive on the ground, though he did find the end zone on a 16-yard rush early in the third quarter. Mixon was also far more efficient as a receiver and topped 50 receiving yards for only the second time since Week 9 of the regular season. Though the passing attack has gotten the majority of the attention during Cincinnati's recent run of strong play, Mixon will be a key contributor in the AFC Championship Game.

Wilson was forced out of Saturday's playoff game against the Packers with an ankle injury, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Per Maiocco, Wilson sustained the injury while playing on special teams. His absence thins the 49ers' backfield depth behind top option Elijah Mitchell.

Henry (foot) rushed the ball 20 times for 62 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 19-16 divisional-round loss to the Bengals.

Henry was active for the first time since Week 8, and he immediately returned to play a central role in the Titans' offense. However, he was largely held in check by Cincinnati, as his longest rush went for only nine yards and he averaged only 3.1 yards per carry. He did manage to tally the first touchdown of the game, plunging into the end zone from three yards away midway through the second quarter. While Henry may have experienced limited explosiveness in his return from a lengthy absence, his presence on the field is an encouraging sign that he'll be healthy enough to retain a workhorse role in 2022.

Vaughn's teammate, Leonard Fournette (hamstring), has been activated off IR by the Buccaneers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

The looming return of Fournette for his first game action since Week 15 bolsters Tampa Bay's backfield ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams, with Ronald Jones (ankle) still out. In the team's wild-card win over the Eagles last weekend, Vaughn led the way with 17 carries, adding a pair of catches, while Giovani Bernard logged 13 rushes and five catches. As long as Fournette avoids any setbacks with his hamstring issue, however, both Vaughn and Bernard figure to see decreased volume versus Los Angeles, making them speculative fantasy lineup options.

Henry (foot), who was activated from IR on Friday, is expected to start Saturday's playoff game against the Bengals, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

The report notes that the running back, who is bouncing back from surgery that involved having a steel plate inserted into his foot, is also on track to play Saturday with a protective metal plate (described as a modified orthotic) in his shoe. Though Henry, who hasn't seen game action since Oct. 31, isn't expected to be on a snap count in his return to action per Rapoport, he will be monitored by the team, presumably with game flow and how he does with his carries early on likely to dictate his workload. D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard -- who had been filling in for Henry of late -- are available to handle complementary/change-of-pace touches in order to take some of the load off Tennessee's star back.

Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday night's playoff game against the Bills after practicing fully this past week.

The stage is thus set for Edwards-Helaire, who last saw game action in Week 16, to be available for Sunday's contest, while fellow running back Darrel Williams (toe) is listed as questionable by Kansas City after returning to a limited practice Friday. In Edwards-Helaire's looming return, it remains to be seen how much work he'll have, given that Jerick McKinnon, who led the team's backfield in the team's wild-card win over the Steelers last weekend -- and possibly Williams -- are also candidates to take snaps against Buffalo. Edwards-Helaire finished the regular season with 119 carries for 517 yards and four TDs to go along with 19 catches (on 23 targets) for 129 yards and a pair of receiving TDs in 10 games.

Jones (ankle) won't play in Sunday's game against the Rams, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jones will miss a second consecutive playoff game. Leonard Fournette (hamstring) is still on IR, and the Buccaneers have until 4 p.m. EST on Saturday to activate him. Fournette will likely lead the Buccaneers' backfield if available. Otherwise, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) will split the workload in the divisional round, just as they did with both Jones and Fournette sidelined in the wild-card round win over the Eagles. If the Buccaneers advance to the NFC Championship, Jones would have an opportunity to make his return next week.

Henry (foot) has been activated from IR ahead of Saturday's playoff game against the Bengals, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

The move sets the stage for Henry -- who last suited up Oct. 31 -- to return for Saturday's divisional-round contest versus Cincinnati. Considering the lengthy layoff, it remains to be seen how much work Henry will log, but ESPN's Turron Davenport indicated that the star back -- who practiced this past week without any setbacks -- is expected to start when Tennessee's offense takes the field. Game flow and how Henry fares with his carries early on figure to dictate his workload, with D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard available to handle complementary/change-of-pace touches.

Foreman will likely play a reduced role in Saturday's divisional round against the Bengals, as Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports that the Titans have activated Derrick Henry (foot) from injured reserve.

Even if Henry's not ready to return to his customary workhorse role right away, he'll likely get the majority of rushing attempts in Tennessee's backfield. Henry should usurp Foreman's early-down role, while Dontrell Hilliard's workload on passing downs will likely remain intact. After topping 20 rushing attempts in three of the past four games, Foreman will be fighting an uphill battle to even reach half that total against Cincinnati.

Williams (toe) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday night's playoff game against the Bills after returning to a limited practice Friday.

Meanwhile, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) practiced fully all week and doesn't carry an injury designation, which sets the stage for him to suit up Sunday, barring any last-minute issues, according to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Per Nate Taylor of The Athletic, coach Andy Reid previously indicated that he was hopeful Williams would be available for the contest, but the running back's divisional-round status won't be confirmed until Kansas City's inactives are released prior to Sunday's 6:30 ET kickoff. If active, Williams would presumably work in a time-share with Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon, who led the team's backfield in last weekend's wild-card win over the Steelers.