NFL Player News

Barkley (knee) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Denver, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Speaking Friday morning, Giants coach Joe Judge said Barkley would play in the game if he avoided setbacks during Friday's practice. Then, after practice, Barkley still wouldn't comment on his status for Sunday, though he did acknowledge that he'd made it through Friday's session without incident. He thus appears on track to play, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting as much Friday afternoon. Even so, cautious fantasy managers will want to check back for the Giants' inactive list approximately 90 minutes before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. In all likelihood, it'll be Barkley's first game since the ACL and MCL tears last September

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Barkley (knee) will play in Sunday's game against the Broncos

It isn't quite clear if Rapoport is relying on a source or just reading between the lines like everyone else. Either way, Barkley has made steady progress over the past few weeks, and he finished Friday's practice without any setbacks a few hours after coach Joe Judge had said that a setback-free session would allow the running back to play in Sunday's game. For his part, Barkley once again avoided commenting on his Sunday availability, merely saying he won't know the decision until after he's met with team officials and medical staff. Final word should come down at some point this weekend as the Giants prepare for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.

Barkley (knee) avoided any setbacks during Friday's practice, saying afterward that he'll meet with team leaders and the medical staff to make a decision on his availability for Sunday's game against Denver, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Barkley made his comments about two hours after coach Joe Judge had told reporters the running back would play in Sunday's game if he avoided setbacks during Friday's practice. It now appears that happened, but Barkley has been crystal-clear that he won't be the one to comment on expectations for Week 1. While all the recent signs point toward him suiting up, it'd still be nice to have confirmation one way or the other before game day. The Giants host the Broncos at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Edwards (knee) will be placed on injured reserve by the Ravens.

After previously losing both J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles) to season-ending injuries, Edwards is the latest Baltimore back to hit IR. In the wake of the team's string of backfield injuries, Latavius Murray is poised to join the Ravens' active roster alongside Ty'Son Williams and Trenton Cannon, while Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman are candidates to be elevated from the team's practice squad.

Coach Joe Judge relayed that Barkley (knee) has "one more hurdle" to clear in practice Friday in order to play in Sunday's season opener against the Broncos, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Per Judge, at this stage it would take a setback at practice Friday for Barkley not to suit up Week 1. It remains to be seen if the running back heads into the weekend with any sort of injury tag, but it looks like he'll be out there Sunday in some capacity. If that's the case, what sort of workload he'd be handed out of the gate is unclear, but once Barkley reestablishes the health of his knee, he'll reclaim his role as the Giants' undisputed top back ahead of Devontae Booker and rookie sixth-rounder Gary Brightwell.

Once Murray gets up to speed with Baltimore's offense, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com believes that the running back has the potential to eventually emerge as the team's top option at the position.

In the short term, Ty'Son Williams is expected to shoulder a key role in Monday's season opener against the Raiders, but Hensley believes that Murray's physical running style profiles as an ideal fit for the Ravens' system. The team's backfield is in quick transition mode following season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins (knee), Gus Edwards (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles), but reinforcements are on the way, with Le'Veon Bell and/or Devonta Freeman candidates to be promoted to the team's active roster, while Trenton Cannon is on hand in reserve. Though it remains to be seen how quickly and how heavily Murray -- whose signing was confirmed Friday -- is introduced into the mix, he nonetheless is a worthy fantasy roster add to see how this situation plays out.

Williams is expected to draw the start at running back for the Ravens in their opener against the Raiders on Monday, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

As Hensley points out, Williams is the only healthy running back who was on Baltimore's roster before Wednesday, but in the wake of season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins (knee), Gus Edwards (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles), Williams' profile in the team's offense has expanded as Week 1 approaches. With news that Latavius Murray is slated to join the ranks, Trenton Cannon in reserve and the potential that Le'Veon Bell and/or Devonta Freeman could be promoted from the Ravens' practice squad, this is a fluid backfield situation. By necessity, it appears that Williams is headed for a key role Monday night, with a committee/hot hand approach a plausible outcome in subsequent weeks.

The Ravens have reached an agreement with Murray on a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

In the wake of a succession of season-ending backfield injuries, the Ravens understandably are adding running back depth in advance of Week 1. Once Murray's deal becomes official and corresponding roster moves are made, he'll be in line to join Ty'Son Williams and Trenton Cannon on the team's active roster, with Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman profiling as candidates to be elevated from Baltimore's practice squad. Given the timing of the team's looming moves, it remains uncertain how the carries will be distributed Monday night against the Raiders, but for now it looks like Williams is headed for a key role in the contest, with a committee/hot hand approach likely to emerge by necessity in the coming weeks.

Elliott rushed 11 times for 33 yards and brought in both targets for six yards in the Cowboys' 31-29 loss to the Buccaneers on Thursday night.

The modest rushing volume and production both carry a fairly sizable asterisk, considering the caliber of defensive front the Cowboys were facing and the fact that game flow ended up tilting heavily toward the air attack despite the score being relatively close, at minimum, throughout. Elliott did look like a more motivated and explosive version of himself than he seemingly did at times down the stretch in 2020, and both Cowboys fans and fantasy managers will hope for a much more robust role in a Week 2 road matchup against the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 19.

The Ravens are closing in on a deal with Murray, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

This looked like a fit after Murray was cut by the Saints on Tuesday, and Gus Edwards' season-ending torn ACL has expedited the process between the two sides. The 31-year-old produced 1,295 rushing yards (4.4 YPC) and nine rushing touchdowns while adding 57 receptions for 411 yards and two receiving scores over the last two seasons with the Saints. Once the deal is official, he's in line to join Ty'Son Williams and Trenton Cannon on Baltimore's active roster, while Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman are candidates to be elevated from the team's practice squad. In such a scenario, Murray has a chance to claim a key backfield role once he's up to speed with the offense, though out of necessity, a committee/hot hand approach could well be used early on this season.