NFL Player News

Gordon rushed eight times for 18 yards and brought in two of three targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 17-14 loss to the Browns on Thursday night.

Gordon's 2.3 yards per carry average underscores how tough the sledding was against Cleveland's stingy run defense, but the veteran back still gave fantasy managers some consolation with his eight-yard scoring grab midway through the third quarter. Gordon doubled up Javonte Williams in carries, but the eight rushing touches still qualified as his lowest total in that category this season. The Broncos will likely try to run a more balanced attack in a Week 8 home matchup versus Washington a week from Sunday.

Williams rushed four times for 20 yards and brought in six of seven targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos' 17-14 loss to the Browns on Thursday night.

Williams and Melvin Gordon combined for just 12 carries, but the rookie still found a way to make a fantasy impact with his 10-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter. Williams' reception total was also a career and team-high figure, and he now has multiple catches in five consecutive contests after opening his NFL career with a pair of one-reception tallies. Williams will look for more overall touches in a Week 8 home matchup against Washington a week from Sunday.

Johnson rushed 22 times for 146 yards and a touchdown and brought in both targets for 22 yards in the Browns' 17-14 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.

Johnson stole the show in his start in place of Nick Chubb (hamstring) and Kareem Hunt (IR-hamstring), repeatedly gashing the tough Broncos front seven for sizable gains on the ground. The third-year pro, who'd flashed occasionally during his time with the Orlando Apollos of the AAF back in the spring of 2019 but had seen very modest opportunities since joining the Browns later that same year, averaged a robust 6.6 yards per carry and notched his first career NFL touchdown on a four-yard run to cap off a five-play, 75-yard opening drive. Johnson could still see a solid workload as Chubb's main backup if the latter is ready to suit up for a Week 8 home AFC North showdown against the Steelers a week from Sunday.

Boone (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Browns, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Boone made his season debut last week but played just five offensive snaps against the Raiders. He won't suit up against Cleveland, and Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams will shoulder the load for the Broncos once again.

McNichols (ankle) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com reports.

The running back suffered an ankle injury Monday night versus the Bills, causing him to leave the game early and also miss Wednesday's walkthrough. With his participation Thursday, his chances to play Sunday versus the Chiefs are a little higher. Friday's practice will offer a little more clarity on his availability. McNichols has operated behind Derrick Henry in the backfield this year, rushing the ball seven times for 38 yards while also making 17 catches for 160 yards and a score in six games.

Williams (illness) is unvaccinated, meaning he won't be able to clear the NFL's COVID-19 protocols until Saturday at the earliest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Due to his status, Williams has a mandatory 10-day period in which he must remain away from the Bears. Only at that point will he be allowed to rejoin his teammates, if he's asymptomatic. He thus would seem very questionable to be available Sunday at Tampa Bay, which would allow Khalil Herbert to lead Chicago's backfield again.

Evans (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Marisa Contipelli of the Bengals' official site reports.

Evans' reps were capped for the second straight day while he continues to tend to a hamstring injury in the aftermath of setting season highs in offensive snaps (16) and touches (seven) in last week's win over the Lions. He served as the Bengals' No. 2 back for that contest behind Joe Mixon, but if available Sunday against the Ravens, Evans could drop to third on the depth chart. After sitting out against the Lions, Samaje Perine (illness) was reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday and could immediately reclaim the top backup role he held prior to testing positive for the virus.

Swift (groin) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Swift may end up being listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams if he doesn't practice fully Friday, but fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about his availability for the Lions' Week 7 matchup. While being listed as questionable with the same injury ahead of each of the past three contests, Swift has played no fewer than 72 percent of the offensive snaps in any game while averaging 15.7 touches.

Edmonds (shoulder) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Edmonds has been a productive member of the Cardinals' sixth-ranked run offense this season and aided in the team's fourth-ranked scoring offense. But he's tending to a shoulder injury for a third straight week, which has contributed to his two lowest yards from scrimmage tallies of the season in Weeks 5 and 6 (16 combined touches for a combined 84 total yards). Edmonds may enter the weekend with a designation next to his name, but considering he hasn't missed any games to date he should be out there Sunday against the Texans as the 1A runner for Arizona with 1B James Conner.

Gibson (shin) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

After sitting out Wednesday's session, Gibson has begun a slow ramp-up as Washington prepares for Sunday's visit to Green Bay. It's a positive sign for the running back, who has been playing through a stress fracture in his shin since Week 4. Gibson's offensive snap share suffered this past Sunday against the Chiefs -- a season-low 40 percent -- but he still had 12 touches, while J.D. McKissic had 16 on the other 60 percent.