NFL Player News

Demercado (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Monday's game against the Cowboys.

Demercado was limited by an ankle issue in the first two practices of the week but he will avoid an injury tag for Week 9 after logging a full practice Saturday. Per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site on Saturday, head coach Jonathan Gannon said that Bam Knight will be the first running back to handle carries Monday but reiterated that he'll lean more heavily on whoever out of Knight, Demercado or Michael Carter is most effective as the game progresses.

The Chargers placed Haskins (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday.

Haskins was already ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the Chargers' Week 7 loss to the Colts. The injury is severe enough for the fourth-year pro to warrant a stint on injured reserve, which will force him to miss at least the next four games, making Week 14 against the Eagles on Monday, Dec. 8 the earliest he can be activated from IR. Kimani Vidal will be the Chargers' clear RB1 moving forward, with Haskins joining fellow running backs Omarion Hampton (ankle) and Najee Harris (Achilles) on injured reserve. The Chargers elevated Jaret Patterson and Amar Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster to provide backfield depth behind Vidal for Week 9.

The Rams elevated Rivers to their active roster Saturday.

The Fresno State product was also elevated for the Rams' Week 7 win over the Jaguars, failing to record an offensive stat across 10 total snaps (nine on special teams, one on offense). Now back with the active roster, he's likely to contribute on special teams in Sunday's matchup against the Saints.

Dallas was released by the Panthers on Saturday, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.

The veteran running back was a healthy scratch in each of the Panthers' last two games, so it's no surprise that he was let go Saturday. Dallas appeared in two games and played 49 total snaps (33 on special teams, 16 on offense) for Carolina this season, recording 141 kick-return yards. He'll likely return to the Panthers' practice squad if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

The Chiefs elevated Edwards-Helaire to their active roster Saturday.

The 2020 first-round pick from LSU provides Kansas City with needed depth at running back, as Isiah Pacheco (knee) will be sidelined in the Week 9 matchup against the Bills. Now with the active roster, Edwards-Helaire is likely to play a depth role in the Chiefs' backfield Sunday.

The Bears elevated Brown to their active roster Saturday.

The UCLA product's elevation provides the Bears with much-needed depth at running back, as D'Andre Swift (groin) and Roschon Johnson (back) are both dealing with injuries. Expect Brown to play a depth role in Chicago's backfield while also contributing on special teams in the Week 9 matchup against the Bengals.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday that Knight will be the "first one out there" at running back against the Cowboys on Monday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Knight will get the first backfield touches for Monday's game, though Gannon relayed that the Cardinals will go whichever running back in Knight, Emari Demercado and Michael Carter is most effective. Knight was the Cardinals' lead back for the two games prior to the Week 8 bye and posted 25 carries for 91 yards (3.6 YPC) and a touchdown while adding four catches (on six targets) for 27 yards over that span. Week 9 might be Knight's last opportunity for an expanded role on offense if Trey Benson (knee) has recovered enough to be activated off injured reserve for Week 10.

Johnson (hamstring) was a full participant at Friday's practice and is listed as questionable leading up to Week 9 against Denver.

Johnson, who was designated to return from the injured list earlier in the week, logged full practices Thursday and Friday. The fullback was considered as one option to fill in for tight end Dalton Schultz (knee, shoulder), but that doesn't appear to be needed as Schultz logged a full practice Friday and is likely to play Sunday. Johnson has appeared in three games but does not have a carry over 40 snaps on offense. He's also a component on special teams, where he has one tackle and one blocked punt over 36 snaps.

Ouzts (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Commanders, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

The rookie fifth-round fullback was a full participant in practice all week, and head coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Ouzts will play Sunday night, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Ouzts will need to be activated from injured reserve before being cleared to play Week 9, but he's set to return from a four-game absence due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Saints.

Carter, who currently is on the Cardinals' practice squad, took the initial running back reps in practice Thursday and Friday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Following Arizona's Week 8 bye, the team released Carter on Monday and then re-signed him to the practice squad one day later. The Cardinals still have two elevations to use on Carter this season, so the transactions seemingly were procedural to open up a spot on the active roster for one of the players currently on a reserve list. Elsewhere in the backfield, Emari Demercado (ankle) returned to practice this week in a limited capacity, indicating that he's closing in on his first game action since Week 6. The order of RBs in practice has been Carter, Demercado and then Bam Knight, so the team may be preparing to run with the backfield of Carter on early downs and Demercado in obvious passing situations Monday in Dallas, assuming the latter is able to suit up.