NFL Player News

Murray seems set to be the Ravens' starting running back Monday against the Colts, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

During pregame warmups, Murray was the No. 1 RB, while Ty'Son Williams and then Devonta Freeman mixed in behind him. On the season, Murray has been the most consistently used running back for the Ravens, who have been attempting to cover for season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Gus Edwards (knee). Murray has averaged just 3.4 YPC on his 44 rushes, however, and he hasn't been targeted through four games. Meanwhile, Williams is back in the mix after his surprise scratch Week 4, and on the campaign he's been more efficient to the tune of 6.1 YPC on 27 runs and five catches for 45 yards on seven targets. Murray likely will be the lead back Monday, but Williams could steal some work in key situations.

Williams is active for Monday's game against the Colts.

Williams hovered around a 50 percent snap share in the Ravens' offense in each of the first three games of the season, turning 27 carries into 164 yards and one touchdown to go with five catches (on seven targets) for 45 yards. Clearly the initial beneficiary of all the injuries in Baltimore's backfield, he was curiously a healthy scratch Week 4 while Latavius Murray was the lead runner, with Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman getting the rest of the RB work. The team opted not to elevate Bell from the practice squad Monday, leaving Murray, Freeman and Williams as its available running backs. Considering he's been active for each of the Ravens' five contests this season, Murray again seems poised to be the No. 1 RB, but it'll be interesting to see if Williams can regain a foothold.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Elliott is feeling soreness in his lower back and ribcage, but the running back is expected to be available for the team's Week 6 game in New England, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports. "I don't see [the injury] being an issue as far as him playing this week," McCarthy said.

Elliott picked up the injury in question during the Cowboys' win over the Giants on Sunday, when he landed awkwardly on a camera pylon. On an encouraging note, McCarthy didn't express any concern about the knee issue Elliott nursed heading into the weekend, as the 26-year-old proceeded to compile 112 total yards and two touchdowns on 23 touches. After back-to-back 100-plus-yard games on the ground, Elliott now ranks third in the NFL in rushing.

Giants head coach Joe Judge said Monday that X-rays on Barkley's sprained left ankle came back "with better news than it could've been," Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports. Though Judge was unwilling to offer a timeline for Barkley's return, the running back appears likely to miss 2-to-3 weeks.

Judge's unwillingness to go into detail about the extent of Barkley's injury means he can't yet officially be ruled out for the Giants' Week 6 game against the Rams, but fantasy managers should already begin preparing to look at other options at running back this week, and likely next week, too. Devontae Booker served as the primary replacement when Barkley exited early in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, finishing with 42 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to go with three receptions for 16 yards and another score.

Perine's placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier Monday was the result of a positive test, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Since Perine was deactivated as a result of a positive test rather than through contact-tracing reasons, he may not clear the NFL's COVID-19 protocol ahead of the Bengals' next game Sunday in Detroit. The development is a less-than-ideal one for the Bengals, given that top back Joe Mixon was able to handle only a limited role in the Week 5 loss to the Packers while managing an ankle injury. While Mixon's workload was restricted, Perine picked up a season-high 11 carries and gained 59 yards. He also drew five targets, hauling in four of them for 24 yards and a score. With Perine sidelined and Mixon banged up, rookie Chris Evans is the only healthy back on the roster, so expect Cincinnati to add another body at the position ahead of the matchup with the Lions.

Williams is expected to be active for Monday's game against the Colts as the Ravens' third running back after Baltimore elected not to elevate Le'Veon Bell from the practice squad, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

While the possibility exists that the Ravens may keep only two backs (Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman) active for Week 5, the team's decision not to bring Bell aboard for another game suggests that Williams may have temporarily exited head coach John Harbaugh's doghouse. Though Williams averaged a healthy 6.1 yards per carry through the Ravens' first three games, his ball-security concerns and struggles as a pass blocker likely contributed to him being a healthy scratch Week 4 in Denver. With that in mind, Williams may not be in line to handle an extensive role behind Murray and Freeman even if he dresses Monday.

Sermon was only on the field for two offensive snaps (three percent) Sunday, finishing with one carry for seven yards in a 17-10 loss to Arizona.

Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) returned from injury and reclaimed his starting role (44 snaps). The playing time distribution between the rookie backs was a bit surprising considering that Sermon had been performing well in Mitchell's stead, and also given head coach Kyle Shanahan's propensity to utilize two backs in his system. It is clear that the coaching staff believes that Mitchell has more to offer despite where the club selected the backs in this year's draft. It is probably safe to explore other options when it comes to Sermon, especially with the 49ers' bye week on tap.

Harris (ribs) checked out fine after exiting Sunday's win over the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Harris dealt with chest and rib injuries in Sunday's contest, but he's considered day-to-day as the Patriots prepare to face the Cowboys on Sunday. If the 24-year-old is unable to play against Dallas, Brandon Bolden and Rhamondre Stevenson should handle the Patriots' backfield duties Week 6.

Williams is likely in line for a starting role after Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a sprained MCL in Sunday's loss to the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Williams entered Sunday's game after Edwards-Helaire went down, and he recorded five carries for 27 yards while hauling in three of five targets for 18 yards. While Edwards-Helaire's injury isn't as serious as the team initially feared, he's still slated to miss time. As a result, Williams should be the lead back with Jerick McKinnon also on hand as the Chiefs prepare for a favorable matchup against Washington in Week 6.

Edwards-Helaire suffered a sprained MCL in Sunday's loss to the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Edwards-Helaire was carried off the field after he suffered his injury Monday but was able to walk gingerly to the locker room under his own power. The 22-year-old is expected to miss a few weeks due to his injury, while Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon should handle increased work in his absence.