NFL Player News

Jones is poised to be the Saints' lead running back Thursday against the Bills with both Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram sidelined due to knee injuries, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

While Kamara is missing a third consecutive contest, Ingram is logging his first absence since returning to New Orleans via trade from Houston back on Oct. 27. Jones thus is in line for more work, but his small sample isn't particularly encouraging. In five appearances this season, he's averaged 3.6 yards on 22 carries and hauled in four of six targets for 10 yards. Aside from Jones, the Saints likely will give wide receiver Ty Montgomery and special teamer Dwayne Washington some run out of the backfield as well.

With Zack Moss a healthy scratch for Thursday night's game against the Saints, Singletary and Matt Breida are in line to head the Bills' Week 12 backfield.

Singletary still has Breida to contend with for touches Thursday, but minus Moss, he could see some added Week 12 opportunities against a New Orleans defense that has allowed an average of 89.8 rushing yards per game to date. While neither back profiles as a high-percentage lineup option, Singletary is worthy of consideration by those in need of RB help this week due to injuries or byes.

With Zack Moss a healthy scratch for Thursday night's game against the Saints, Breida figures to see added work in the Bills backfield along with Devin Singletary.

With Moss inactive, what had recently been a three-back playing time split now is down to a timeshare that should feature Singletary and Breida. In the process, the two RBs will be operating against a New Orleans defense that has allowed an average of 89.8 rushing yards per game to date. While Breida isn't a high-percentage lineup option Week 12, the spark he's provided Buffalo's backfield of late has earned him a chance to work in tandem with Singletary, a context that makes him an option for those scrambling for RB help this week due to injuries or bye issues.

Moss is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Saints.

With the Bills making Moss a healthy scratch Week 12, what had recently been a three-back arrangement is now down to a timeshare that will feature Devin Singletary and Matt Breida on Thursday. In the process, the two backs will be operating against a New Orleans defense that has allowed an average of 89.8 rushing yards per game to date.

Barkley (ankle) was listed as limited on Thursday's injury report.

Barkley continues to have a cap on his practice reps just days removed from his first game action since Week 5. During this past Monday's contest in Tampa Bay, he handled 12 touches and a 59 percent snap share, while No. 2 running back Devontae Booker got four and 39, respectively. With one practice report to go this week, Barkley still has a chance to clear up his health ahead of Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Hasty (ankle) was a non-participant on Thursday's injury report, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Hasty already has missed two games as a result of an ankle injury and appears poised for a third consecutive absence due to his inability to practice since the start of Week 10 prep. Meanwhile, Elijah Mitchell (rib/finger) put in limited work for a second straight session Thursday. It's unclear if Mitchell is trending toward a return to action Sunday against the Vikings, but the 49ers currently have Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and Trenton Cannon as healthy RB options on the active roster.

Williams rushed 15 times for 65 yards while securing five of five targets for 18 yards during Thursday's 16-14 loss to Chicago.

D'Andre Swift (shoulder) exited for good in the first quarter and Williams went on to handle his largest workload of the season. Even though a 19-yard scamper probably made his final stat line look more efficient than it really was, Williams barely shared any of the remaining work with fellow backups Godwin Igwebuike or Jermar Jefferson. Should Swift need to miss Detroit's Week 13 matchup with Minnesota, Williams could be in store for a heavy workload against a Vikings defense that has been middle-of-the-pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2021.

Mitchell (rib/finger) was listed as limited on Thursday's practice report, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mitchell also was limited Wednesday after a week in which he underwent surgery that forced him to sit out this past Sunday at Jacksonville. By at least maintaining his activity level for a second straight day, he seems to be putting himself in a position to return Sunday against the Vikings. Ultimately, though, Mitchell may enter the weekend with an injury designation, leaving a question mark about who will head the 49ers backfield in Week 12.

Gibson (shin) was listed as limited on Thursday's injury report.

This has been Gibson's reality for a good chunk of the campaign, but he's continued to garner a majority share of the backfield reps on a weekly basis, averaging 17.3 touches per game. Assuming he completes Week 12 prep without a designation as he usually does, he should approach a similar workload Monday against the Seahawks.

Montgomery carried the ball 17 times for 46 yards and caught all three of his targets for 28 yards in a 16-14 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving.

The performance was a far cry from his 106-yard, two-TD effort when the NFC North rivals met back in Week 4, but Montgomery still led the Bears in rushing. He's gone three games without finding the end zone since returning to the lineup from a knee injury, a slump he'll look to snap in Week 13 against the Cardinals.