NFL Player News

Walter rushed 26 times for 101 yards and a touchdown while catching two of three targets for nine yards over four appearances in 2021.

Walter spent most of the season on the Jets' practice squad but was signed to the 53-man roster down the stretch after the team battled some injuries in the backfield. The 25-year-old Rice product has another year left on his contract with the Jets, but Walter will be fighting an uphill battle to make the roster in camp.

Harris (elbow) was a full practice participant Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card game against the Chiefs, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Though players that close weeks as full participant don't typically get designations ahead of games, the Steelers appear to be exercising more caution with Harris since he didn't practice in any capacity Wednesday or Thursday. Even so, Harris told Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com before Friday's practice that he's feeling good after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection for his elbow, with most of the soreness he was experiencing having since subsided. As long as he didn't experience any setbacks with his elbow following his return to practice, the rookie will presumably be on the field for the postseason opener and ready to take on his usual three-down workload. While playing in all 17 of the Steelers' regular-season games, Harris was one of the NFL's most heavily-used backs with averages of 18.1 carries and 5.5 targets per contest.

Sanders (hand) doesn't have an injury status for Sunday's wild-card game against the Buccaneers.

Sanders was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday and a full participant Friday, after he spent the final two weeks of the regular season recovering from a broken hand. While the surgically repaired hand could affect the running back's receiving ability or even ball security, head coach Nick Sirianni said Friday that Sanders will have "no limitations" come Sunday, per Geoff Mosher of InsideTheBirds.com. The fourth-year back has competition for carries in the form of quarterback Jalen Hurts and fellow running backs Jordan Howard and Boston Scott, not to mention a challenging matchup against Tampa Bay's top-ranked run defense. Still, Sanders is the favorite to lead Philadelphia's rushing attack, which also ranks first in the league in total yardage.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid ruled Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) out for Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Following a two-game absence to close the regular season, the second-year back looked to be on the right track to suit up this weekend after he practiced Wednesday in a limited capacity, but his odds of playing dipped when he regressed to no practice participation Thursday. Edwards-Helaire won't be on the field for Friday's practice session either, prompting Reid to rule him out since his shoulder injury "wasn't quite as good" as the team expected following Wednesday's workout, per Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Meanwhile, Darrel Williams (toe) is practicing Friday and is expected to be ready to play Sunday, leaving him in line to serve as Kansas City's lead back for the postseason opener.

Sanders (hand) said Friday that he "absolutely" will play in Sunday's wild-card game against Tampa Bay, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.

Sanders fractured his hand in Week 16 and missed the final two games of the regular season after undergoing surgery. He now appears ready for the playoffs after limited participation in practices Wednesday and Thursday, with Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal noting that Sanders' media availability Friday is a strong hint that he'll be cleared for the postseason opener. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be removed from the injury report -- nor does it mean his hand is back at 100 percent -- but Sanders is at least on track to play Sunday. He draws a tough matchup against Tampa Bay's stout run defense, and the Eagles aren't likely to go out of their way to throw him passes while his hand might not be fully healed.

Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Edwards-Helaire didn't practice Thursday, so his absence from the early portion of Friday's session isn't the best sign with regard to his chances of suiting up for Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers. Later Friday, the Chiefs will release their final injury report, which will add further clarity regarding Edwards-Helaire's status as well as fellow running back Darrel Williams (toe), who has been limited in practice the past two days.

Jones (ankle) won't play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Eagles, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Jones wasn't able to practice all week before head coach Bruce Arians ruled him out Friday for the postseason opener. With Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) both hoping to come back from injured reserve this weekend -- and both shaping up as potential game-time decisions -- it's hard to discern what the Tampa Bay backfield will look like for the wild-card round. Last week, with both Jones and Fournette out, Ke'Shawn Vaughn took 12 touches for 41 yards and a touchdown, with Le'Veon Bell adding four touches for 15 yards and a score of his own in the Buccaneers' 41-17 win over Carolina. Vaughn took 45 percent of the offensive snaps in the contest, with Bell at 38 percent and Kenjon Barner taking 15 percent.

Conner (ribs) wasn't seen during the portion of Friday's practice that was open to the media, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Conner, who suffered the rib injury during the Cardinals' Week 18 loss to the Seahawks, was unable to practice Thursday and looks set to miss another session. The 26-year-will have one more opportunity Saturday to take the field ahead of Monday's wild-card matchup with the Rams.

Jones (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field during the portion of Friday's practice that was open to the media, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Jones hasn't practiced since suffering an ankle injury Week 17. Meanwhile, Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip) remain on injured reserve but have both resumed practicing this week, though at this stage it's unclear if either tailback will be activated ahead of Saturday's deadline for roster moves. In any case, Jones seems unlikely to be available for Sunday's wild-card game against the Eagles, leaving Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Le'Veon Bell to handle the backfield work should Fournette and Bernard remain sidelined.

Freeman played one snap on offense and 15 on special teams in Week 18's 28-25 loss to the Titans.

Freeman dropped to the third back with the return of David Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Prior to Week 18 and without an available Johnson, he had served as the second back but never threatened Rex Burkhead for the top role. Houston's rushing offense finished last in the league, so it's expected there will be some churn in 2022. Freeman is not under contract heading into the free agency period, and if the team had plans for him, they would have used him more over the final six weeks.