NFL Player News

Williams (quadriceps) practiced in full Wednesday.

In the same contest in which No. 1 running back David Montgomery sprained his knee this past Sunday, Williams emerged with a bruised quad, but it didn't hinder his ability to handle every drill to begin Week 5 prep. With Montgomery expected to miss 4-to-5 weeks, Williams is in the driver's seat for plenty of touches for the foreseeable future. On the season, Williams has averaged 4.6 yards on his 16 carries, hauled in eight of 10 passes for 41 yards, and scored one rushing touchdown in four outings. Williams' primary competition for snaps will be rookie sixth-rounder Khalil Herbert.

Jones (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Jones operated under a similar practice regimen last week, logging capped showings Wednesday through Friday. The ankle injury didn't stop him from playing and producing this past Sunday versus the Steelers, with Jones finishing with 99 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches. Assuming Jones maintains at least limited practice activity Thursday and Friday, he should enter this weekend's matchup in Cincinnati without an injury designation.

Perine (illness) wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Perine was inactive for Sunday's win over the Titans due to an illness, but he's absent from the injury report to open this week. The 23-year-old was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season, so he's likely to be inactive again Week 5 despite being healthy.

Cook (ankle) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.

During individual drills, Cook didn't put in much work in what was described as a full-pads session, per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. The Vikings appear to be managing Cook's reps due to the right ankle sprain that kept him on the sideline Week 3. While he suited up in this past Sunday's loss to the Browns, he was in and out of the contest and earned just 51 percent of the offensive snaps by game's end en route to 11 touches for 44 yards. Behind Cook, Alexander Mattison had 10 carries for 20 yards on a 32-percent snap share, and Ameer Abdullah caught his only target for two yards on an eight-percent snap share.

McNichols was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, John Reid of The Florida Times-Union reports.

He apparently hurt his hamstring in the process of setting career highs for snaps (40), targets (12), catches (eight) and receiving yards (74) during Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Jets. It was a solid showing from a back who has really only played in clear passing situations this season, but his role still won't lead to more than three or four targets most weeks. There's also a chance McNichols loses some or all of his snaps to Darrynton Evans (knee) in the not-so-distant future. The Titans designated Evans to return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday, and he's eligible to play as soon as this weekend in Jacksonville.

The Saints placed Jones (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Jones is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks anyway after injuring his ankle this past Sunday versus the Giants. With this transaction, he'll officially be out for at least the next three games, as he won't be eligible to return from IR until prior to the Saints' Nov. 7 contest against the Falcons. While Jones is sidelined, New Orleans may rely on Alvin Kamara even more out of the backfield, with the remaining touches going to depth backs Dwayne Washington and newcomer Devine Ozigbo.

Williams was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a hip injury.

The ability to practice in any capacity suggests Williams is on track to play in Sunday's game at Minnesota. Fellow running back D'Andre Swift (groin) was also a limited participant Wednesday, though in his case, that's been the norm this season.

Swift (groin) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Fellow running back Jamaal Williams (hip) was also limited in the Lions' first Week 5 practice. Swift has logged at least 56 percent of snaps and 12 touches in every game this season, despite being listed on the injury report each week with the groin issue. He'll head to Minnesota for a road date with the Vikings in Week 5, looking to rebound from a season-worst outing in the Week 4 loss at Chicago.

Head coach Matt Rhule said McCaffrey (hamstring) "looked real good" in his return to practice Wednesday, potentially setting him up for being a game-time decision this weekend against the Eagles, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

While it's a little early in the week to know that a player will be a game-time decision, McCaffrey at least appears to be truly questionable for Sunday's contest. He returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant after missing every session last week prior to being ruled out for Sunday's loss to Dallas. Chuba Hubbard got the start at running back and took 15 touches for 71 yards, but he ended up playing only 47 percent of snaps, as practice squad call-up Rodney Smith got the bulk of the work in obvious passing situations with Carolina attempting to make up a deficit late in the game.

McCaffrey (hamstring) rejoined practice Wednesday as a limited participant, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Matt Rhule said Monday that McCaffrey would attempt to practice Wednesday. The running back apparently was able to do so, though it isn't clear to what extent, apart from the official "limited" designation. For the time being, it's best to view McCaffrey as uncertain for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, with Chuba Hubbard next in line to start at running back. Hubbard took 15 touches for 71 yards in the Week 4 loss at Dallas, playing 47 percent of offensive snaps.