NFL Player News

Dillon and Patrick Taylor are the running backs available to the Packers offense Sunday in Detroit with Aaron Jones (knee) inactive, Mike Spofford of the team's official site reports.

Green Bay is opting to rest Jones, who has dealt with a knee injury since Week 10. Dillon is the clear top option between himself and Taylor, but it's unclear if the team will ride the former or opt for a split of the RB snaps and touches with the latter. No matter, Dillon has handled at least 50 percent of offensive snaps in five of the last seven games, a span in which he averaged 16.6 touches for 80 yards from scrimmage and scored six total TDs.

Jones (knee) is listed as inactive Sunday at Detroit, Mike Spofford of the Packers official site reports.

Jones has been tending to a knee injury that forced him to sit out Week 11 at Minnesota. While he's been able to play in the meantime and again was limited in practice during Week 18 prep, the Packers won't take any chances with their No. 1 running back, allowing him two weeks to rest up before the team's playoff opener in the divisional round. With Jones on the sideline, AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor are the available options out of Green Bay's backfield in the regular-season finale.

Clement rushed seven times for 58 yards and caught all four of his targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 51-26 win over the Eagles.

Clement enjoyed an expanded role with Tony Pollard (foot) unavailable. Although starter Ezekiel Elliott led the Cowboys with 19 touches, Clement made an impressive impact with his 11, totaling a season-high 80 yards while scoring for the first time with an eight-yard reception to begin the fourth quarter. Despite Pollard potentially being set to return for next weekend's playoff game, Clement's performance Saturday emphasizes Dallas' depth at tailback heading into the postseason.

Sermon (ankle) wasn't among the players added to San Francisco's roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

San Francisco designated Sermon for return from injured reserve Dec. 22, a transaction that gives the team 21 days to evaluate him for a return to the 53-man roster. The team will thus have until Wednesday of the upcoming week to either activate Sermon or keep him on IR for the entirety of a potential postseason run, pending the results of the Week 18 games. The rookie running back will finish the regular season with 41 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown to go with three catches for 26 yards over nine appearances.

Akers (Achilles) is in line to make his season debut Sunday against the 49ers, though he's expected to handle only a limited role, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Rams activated Akers from injured reserve Dec. 25, but he's been inactive for both of the past two contests after being listed as questionable in advance of both games. After another week of full practices, however, Akers entered the regular-season finale without a designation, putting him on track to make his season debut following his recovery from the torn Achilles' tendon he suffered in mid-July. Though Akers finished his rookie campaign as the Rams' lead back, he's expected to be eased back into the mix as the top change-of-pace option behind Sony Michel, who is averaging 4.6 yards per carry since stepping into the top role Week 13. Akers' opportunities are expected to increase during the Rams' upcoming playoff run, though if Michel continues to shine as a ballcarrier, Akers may end up seeing most of his snaps on passing downs.

Gainwell rushed 12 times for 78 yards and a touchdown and caught four of seven targets for nine yards in Saturday's 51-26 loss to the Cowboys.

Gainwell was effective while starting at tailback, gaining 63 of his yards on the ground in the first half. That total included Gainwell's seven-yard touchdown run during the second quarter, giving him six touchdowns on his rookie campaign. Although Gainwell was heavily involved Saturday, it'll be interesting to see how the Eagles split their backfield snaps in next weekend's playoff game, when fellow running backs Boston Scott and Jordan Howard could potentially return from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Usual starter Miles Sanders' (hand) status worth monitoring as well.

Elliott rushed 18 times for 87 yards and caught one of three targets for three yards in Saturday's 51-26 win over the Eagles.

Elliott garnered his most carries since Week 5, as running mate Tony Pollard was unavailable due to a foot injury. With his increased workload, Elliott also racked up his most rushing yardage since Week 5, with Saturday actually being the first time he's topped 70 yards on the ground since then as well. Although he didn't find the end zone in Dallas' blowout win and wasn't very involved in the passing game, Elliott's performance still saw him surpass 1,000 rushing yards on the campaign, sending him into the playoffs fresh off a notable personal accomplishment.

Gore recorded seven carries for 30 yards in Saturday's 28-24 win over Denver.

Gore tied for the team lead with seven carries after Darrel Williams (toe) was forced out of the game early. In Williams' absence, Gore took over as the lead back on the ground, though his longest rush of the day went for only six yards. Meanwhile, Jerick McKinnon served as the change-of-pace back, tallying five carries and three receptions while also working more efficiently than Gore. Should Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) be sidelined for any part of Kansas City's playoff run, Gore would likely continue to get the majority of the work on the ground with McKinnon serving as the pass catcher out of the backfield.

Williams rushed 12 times for 46 yards and brought in both targets for 18 yards in the Broncos' 28-24 loss to the Chiefs on Saturday.

Given how well and evenly Williams and Melvin Gordon worked in tandem this season, it was fitting the two split carries right down the middle for the Broncos' final contest. The rookie bounced back well from a pair of atypically inefficient outings Week 16 and 17 where he'd gained just 42 yards on 21 carries, and Saturday's production put him just over the 900-yard mark (903) to close out his first NFL season. The UNC product also generated an impressive 43-316-3 line through the air, and with Gordon slated for unrestricted free agency come the new league year, Williams could well be set to enter training camp as the clear lead back this coming summer.

Armah was elevated from Washington's practice squad Saturday.

Armah has appeared in 10 games this season, but just one with Washington. Starting the season with the Saints, Armah was waived Nov. 30 and signed to Washington's practice squad Dec. 2. Armah will likely provide depth in the backfield and work on special teams Sunday against the Giants.