NFL Player News

Head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Swift (shoulder) is "improving" in his recovery from an AC joint sprain, but he wouldn't provide an update on his potential to return, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.

The Lions held a walk-through session to kick off Week 14 prep, but Swift doesn't sound like he was on the field with his backfield mates. The second-year running back already has missed one game as a result of the injury, and there's a chance he's poised for another absence Sunday at Denver if he can't get back on the practice field by Friday. At the moment, Jamaal Williams, Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson are the healthy backs on Detroit's active roster.

Pollard took part in resistance work off to the side with the Cowboys' training staff during the open portion of Wednesday's practice, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Pollard appears to be dealing with an injury of unknown nature, while Ezekiel Elliott (knee) also rode a stationary bike before joining his teammates for practice. The Cowboys signed Ito Smith to the practice squad earlier Wednesday, likely as an insurance policy due to the top two backs on the depth chart being banged up. Pollard's activity level will become known upon the release of the team's first Week 14 practice report later Wednesday.

Mixon will miss Wednesday's practice due to an illness that isn't believed to be COVID-19-related, Marisa Contipelli of the Bengals' official site reports.

Meanwhile, head coach Zac Taylor indicated that the neck issue Mixon dealt with during the team's Week 13 loss to the Chargers isn't a concern, per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. With Mixon sidelined Wednesday, Samaje Perine is presumably in line to handle the first-team reps at running back for the Bengals' first Week 14 practice.

Breida carried once for three yards and hauled in his lone target for a five-yard gain Monday in the Bills' 14-10 loss to the Patriots.

After the Bills kept only three backs active in their Week 12 win over the Saints, Breida received the nod in that game over Zack Moss, who was a healthy inactive for the second time this season. Though Breida saw a decent amount of work against the Saints (nine carries for 26 yards, two receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown) as the No. 2 option behind starter Devin Singletary, the 26-year-old fell to third in the pecking order Monday with Moss returning to the mix. Singletary narrowly out-snapped Moss (27 to 24) in the loss and saw the same amount of touches (10), while Breida (seven snaps) lagged far behind the two in both playing time and usage. Breida's role looks like it may vary week to week based on the Bills' game plans, making him a rather unreliable fantasy option, particularly in contests in which Moss is also active.

The Football Team signed Williams off the Giants' practice squad Wednesday.

Williams spent time with Washington this offseason, and he will now provide the team with some backfield insurance while J.D. McKissic (concussion) continues to work through the league's protocol for head injuries. The running back appeared in five games for the Lions last year.

Perine carried five times for 36 yards and caught both of his targets for five yards in Sunday's 41-22 loss to the Chargers.

With Joe Mixon operating as a true bell cow back for the Bengals, little work was left over for Perine. Though he offers little fantasy value in his present role, Perine makes sense as a handcuff for Mixon's fantasy managers in the event the latter misses time over the final five weeks of the regular season.

Rountree played all five of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 41-22 win over the Bengals.

Rountree is currently operating as the Chargers' No. 4 running back, working behind starter Austin Ekeler and top backups Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley. Barring absences from one or more of the players ahead of him, the 22-year-old rookie should remain far off the fantasy radar heading into the Chargers' Week 14 game against the Giants.

Boone rushed four times for 35 yards and caught his only target for 19 yards in Sunday's 22-9 loss to the Chiefs.

Boone operated as the Broncos' No. 2 running back in the contest with Melvin Gordon (hip/shoulder) sidelined, though it was rookie Javonte Williams who received the bulk of the carries and targets out of the backfield, as expected. Boone showed burst in his limited touches, but Williams stole the show in his first opportunity as a true feature back. With Gordon expected to practice ahead of Week 14 matchup with the Lions, Boone should return to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.

Bellamy (ankle) was waived off of injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

The running back suffered the ankle injury in the preseason and has been unable to return to the field. He appeared in five games with the Broncos in 2020, rushing four times for 11 yards while catching one pass for five yards. Bellamy will now become a free agent.

Walter was signed by the Jets off their practice squad Tuesday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.

After top back Michael Carter (ankle) landed on injured reserve, Walter was elevated from the practice squad ahead of each of the Jets' last two games to bolster depth at the position. Though Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson have worked ahead of him in both contests, Walter was active ahead of La'Mical Perine as the No. 3 back in Weeks 12 and 13, collecting 10 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown plus two receptions for nine yards. Walter will now have a permanent home on the 53-man roster, filling the spot that belonged to Corey Davis (groin) before he was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move.