NFL Player News

Murray (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Vikings after not practicing again Friday.

Given the official doubtful designation and the fact that Murray was unable to practice this past week, he'll almost assuredly be inactive for Sunday's 1:00 ET contest. In that case, Devonta Freeman, Le'Veon Bell and Ty'Son Williams will continue to work in a backfield time-share in Week 9. It's an arrangement that led to Freeman logging four carries and three targets on 29 snaps in the Ravens' Week 7 loss to the Bengals, while Bell carried five times and had two targets (on 22 snaps), with Williams notching two carries and two targets, while being on the field for 21 snaps.

Evans (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Evans missed last week's game, but coach Zac Taylor sounded optimistic that the rookie sixth-round pick will be able to return for this clash of AFC North rivals, per Hobson. If he suits up, Evans -- who has been limited in practice throughout the week -- will likely return to a change-of-pace backfield role behind top back Joe Mixon that utilizes his pass-catching ability.

Robinson (heel) is officially questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Coach Urban Meyer said before Friday's practice that the tailback was expected to receive the questionable tag, and that proved to be correct after the 23-year-old practiced as a limited participant. Per John Reid of The Florida Times-Union, Robinson was also spotted catching passes out of the backfield Friday, which could indicate he wasn't too far off from practicing fully. Regardless, he'll have a chance to suit up Sunday, with Carlos Hyde waiting to step in as Jacksonville's lead back should Robinson be unavailable.

Coach Andy Reid relayed Friday that Edwards-Helaire (knee) is "closer" to a potential return from IR, but added "we'll have to see how time handles it here in the next couple of weeks," Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Edwards-Helaire, who is bouncing back from an MCL sprain, thus remains on IR in advance of Sunday's game against the Packers and his Week 10 status remains cloudy as well. In his continued absence this weekend, Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore are slated to head Kansas City's rushing attack versus Green Bay.

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said McCaffrey (hamstring) will be re-evaluated Saturday before a determination is made whether the running back is reinstated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Rhule noted that he's "hopeful" McCaffrey will play this week, after the running back returned to practice Wednesday and was on the field for each of the last three days. Because McCaffrey isn't officially a member of the 53-man roster, the Panthers don't have to disclose the extent of his involvement in practice, though Rhule told the media that the 25-year-old was a limited participant Wednesday. Fantasy managers for both McCaffrey and his primary replacement the past five weeks -- rookie Chuba Hubbard -- should have more clarity on what Carolina's Week 9 backfield will look like by 4 p.m. ET Saturday, the deadline for the Panthers to add McCaffrey back to the roster in order for him to be eligible to play Sunday.

Edwards-Helaire (knee) remains on IR in advance of Sunday's game against the Packers, Charles Goldman of the USA Today reports.

With Edwards-Helaire, who last suited up in Week 5, not yet having been designated to return from IR, Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore appear poised to head Kansas City's rushing attack in Week 9. In the team's 20-17 win over the Giants this past Monday, Williams logged 13 carries for 49 yards and caught six passes for 61 yards, while Gore ran 11 times for 48 yards and a TD.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch said "there's a chance" Wilson (knee) could be activated from the PUP list ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

After he was sidelined for the first eight weeks of the season while recovering from late-May surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Wilson was cleared to resume practicing this week. The 49ers will have a 21-day window to evaluate Wilson for a return to the roster, but with Lynch noting that the running back is already back in "tremendous shape," he hasn't been ruled out from making his return to the lineup after just three practices. San Francisco will wait and see how Wilson looks coming out of Friday's session before determining whether to activate him ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline Saturday for teams to make Week 9 roster moves.

Murray (ankle) wasn't spotted at Friday's practice, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

At this point Murray appears to be trending toward missing Sunday's game against the Vikings. If that's the case, Devonta Freeman, Le'Veon Bell and Ty'Son Williams would be in line to head the Ravens' backfield in Week 9.

Coach Urban Meyer said Robinson (heel) will be questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Robinson was unable to practice Wednesday or Thursday but is expected to test things out on the practice field Friday. Meyer indicated it's a pain issue for the 23-year-old, and the tailback could end up being a game-time decision. Carlos Hyde lines up to lead Jacksonville's backfield Sunday should Robinson ultimately be ruled out.

Barkley (ankle/COVID-19 protocols) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday and is at the Giants' team facility.

Barkley landed on the COVID list on Wednesday due to positive test result, but he's back with the team a couple days later after it was determined to be a false positive. The 24-year-old's availability for Sunday's game against Las Vegas remains firmly up in the air as he continues to nurse the ankle sprain that's sidelined him the past three games.