NFL Player News

Thompson signed with the Chiefs' practice squad Friday, per the NFL's official transactions log.

Thompson was cut from the Buccaneers' practice squad Thursday. He now returns to the franchise that selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) out and Darrel Williams (toe) questionable, there is small chance Thompson could suit up Sunday against the Steelers.

Doaks signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins on Friday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Doaks was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He spent the entire season on the Dolphins' practice squad, aside from a stint on the COVID-19 list. The 23-year-old will hope to carve out a role in the Dolphins' backfield next season.

Mitchell (knee) practiced fully Friday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's wild-card game against the Cowboys.

Even though Mitchell sat out the team's first practice of the week Wednesday, the 49ers provided no indication he was dealing with any sort of setback with the knee issue that kept him out for three consecutive games Weeks 14 through 16. He gradually increased his participation in practice throughout the week and should be ready to fill his usual role Sunday as the 49ers' lead option on the ground, just as he did in the final two regular-season games. In each of the last five contests he's played, Mitchell has picked up no fewer than 21 carries, so he'll likely remain heavily involved so long as the 49ers aren't forced into catchup mode early on during the postseason opener.

Conner (ribs) was a non-participant in practice Friday for the second day in a row, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Though head coach Kliff Kingsbury is terming Conner as a game-day decision as Monday's wild-card matchup with the Rams approaches, the running back's absence from the Cardinals' first two practices of the week isn't a promising sign for his availability. Unless Conner is able to take a step forward in terms of activity Saturday, he'll be at great risk of being sidelined for the third time in the Cardinals' last four games. In that scenario, Chase Edmonds (ribs/toe) -- who remained a limited participant Friday -- would likely be in store for a three-down role as Arizona's clear lead back.

Edmonds (ribs) was a limited participant in Friday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Though Edmonds wasn't able to take a step forward in terms of activity for the Cardinals' second practice of the week, he at least appears to be in a better spot than backfield mate James Conner (ribs), who was held out of a second straight session. Unless Conner shows tangible improvement at Saturday's practice, he'll be in jeopardy of missing Monday's wild-card game against the Rams. In that scenario, Edmonds would likely find himself in a three-down bellcow role for one of the few times all season.

Scott and Jordan Howard are expected to rotate in behind lead option Miles Sanders (hand) for reps out of the backfield in Sunday's wild-card game against the Buccaneers, Mike Kaye of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Both Scott and Howard were sidelined for the regular-season finale against Dallas due to stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list, while Sanders was out for the second game in a row as he continued to recover from hand surgery. When Sanders was idle for the Week 17 win in Washington, Scott played a position-leading 52 percent of the offensive snaps and took 14 carries for 47 yards and two scores to go with four receptions for 39 yards, while Howard played 34 percent of snaps and finished with 11 carries for 26 yards. Both Scott and Howard will be hard pressed to see double-digit touches in the postseason opener, as head coach Nick Sirianni said that Sanders will face "no limitations" this Sunday after practicing fully Friday, according to Geoff Mosher of InsideTheBirds.com. That said, Sanders hasn't topped 60 percent of snaps since Week 6, so the Eagles should have small roles in the game plan available for both Scott and Howard. Scott is a decent bet to serve as a change-of-pace option who can relieve Sanders if there's any question about his ability to catch the ball securely in his return from the hand injury, while Howard's sturdy six-foot, 222-pound frame makes him well suited for short-yardage and goal-line work.

Williams had 35 carries for 185 yards and a touchdown over 13 games in 2021. He added nine receptions for 84 yards on 12 targets.

Williams was a hot name at the end of draft season as the lone remaining running back on the roster after J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards went down late in the preseason with season-ending knee injuries. The early returns were promising; he scored a touchdown in the opener and had 13 carries for 77 yards in Week 2. However, issues such as blitz pickup forced the Ravens to go away from Williams after that as the team pilfered the pile of veteran free agents like Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray and even Le'Veon Bell to handle the backfield duties. Williams' role diminished from there and he had all of 20 offensive snaps and two total carries after the Week 8 bye. With Dobbins and Edwards primed to return, Williams projects to be the No.3 running back going into the offseason assuming the team doesn't retain Freeman and Murray.

Gainwell is likely to see limited use out of the backfield during Sunday's wild-card game at Tampa Bay with Miles Sanders (hand) cleared to return from a two-game absence and with Boston Scott (illness) and Jordan Howard (illness) available following one-game absences, Mike Kaye of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

While all of Sanders, Scott and Howard were sidelined for Week 18, Gainwell stepped into a lead role for Philadelphia in the team's blowout loss to the Cowboys in the regular-season finale, finishing with 12 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown to go with four receptions for nine yards on seven targets. Considering he had picked up just one carry in each of the previous three games before Week 18, Gainwell likely won't have much of a role in the ground attack now that the Eagles are back to full strength at the position. However, Kaye suggests Gainwell could receive more playing time out of the slot Sunday, as the Eagles only have four healthy wideouts for the postseason opener following J.J. Arcega-Whiteside's (finger) placement on injured reserve.

Williams (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers.

Williams was able to practice in a limited fashion all week and despite getting a designation for the postseason opener, the running back appears to be trending toward playing, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. On that note, head coach Andy Reid relayed Friday that he thinks Williams will be available "unless something happens" ahead of Sunday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, per Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star. Assuming he's active for the contest, Williams would be in line to head Kansas City's rushing attack, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) ruled out for the third game in a row. In that context, Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon will fill complementary roles behind Williams.

Perine rushed eight times for 31 yards and wasn't targeted in 2021.

Perine spent most of the season as a healthy scratch. Barring massive offseason improvement, the 2020 fourth-round pick could find himself on the chopping block in camp with the Jets next season.