NFL Player News

Murray is expected to take on a larger role Sunday against the Panthers, with teammate Alvin Kamara ineligible to play after testing positive for COVID-19, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Murray put up 307 total yards and four touchdowns in a two-week span the last time Kamara missed games, back in Weeks 7 and 8 of last season. A repeat of that level of production may be too much to ask, but Murray should at least see a nice workload uptick relative to his 2020 average of 9.7 carries, 1.7 targets and 55.4 total yards per game. Carolina has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs, including 204 combined yards and a touchdown to Kamara and Murray in Week 7. Ty Montgomery and Dwayne Washington are the other running backs on the Saints' roster, while undrafted rookie Tony Jones resides on the practice squad.

Scott is expected to lead the Philadelphia backfield Sunday against Washington, as teammate Miles Sanders has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Scott played 56, 69 and 66 percent of the offensive snaps in the three other games Sanders missed this season, averaging 12 carries for 50.3 yards and 2.3 catches for 24.7 yards, with his one touchdown being a game-winning reception Week 7 against the Giants. Scott now gets another chance to strut his stuff in a primetime game, though any of Corey Clement, Jason Huntley and Jordan Howard could also have a role in the game plan.

Kamara's eligibility for the wild-card round of the playoffs could depend on whether the Saints are scheduled to play Saturday (Jan. 9) or Sunday (Jan. 10), Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

With two of his tests for COVID-19 coming back positive, Kamara can't play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Panthers. He won't be eligible to play in another game until 10 days after Dec. 31 -- when he initially tested positive -- and that's only if he remains asymptomatic and receives medical clearance. There's some chance the Saints won't even play in the first round of the playoffs, but it requires three games going in their favor to create a three-way tie at 12-4 atop the NFC.

Coach Pete Carroll said that Homer (knee) has an opportunity to return from injured reserve in the coming weeks, Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio 950 KJR Seattle reports.

While Homer won't be eligible for reactivation during the regular season given his Dec. 19 placement on IR, the 22-year-old would be able to suit up as soon as the wild-card round. He hasn't appeared in a game since Week 10. However, Seattle could use the extra depth at running back with Carlos Hyde (illness) and DeeJay Dallas (ankle) continuing to be beleaguered by health issues of their own.

Edmonds (hip) didn't practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Edmonds and wideout Larry Fitzgerald (groin) will be game-time decisions ahead of the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Neither logged any level of practice participation this week, but Edmonds suited up last week after managing only one limited session. He was then forced out after 16 snaps and two touches in the 20-12 loss to San Francisco, suffering a hip injury to add to the ankle and knee issues that put him on the injury report in the first place. D.J. Foster stepped in to play 17 snaps behind Kenyan Drake last week, finishing with one carry and no targets.

Akers (ankle) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Akers suffered a high-ankle sprain Week 15 and didn't practice or play Week 16. He didn't seem likely to return for the regular-season finale, but the Rams are giving him a shot to suit up, after apparently being encouraged by what they saw Thursday during a workout and then Friday in a limited practice session. Fellow running back Darrell Henderson (ankle) is on injured reserve, so Malcolm Brown could be looking at a three-down role if Akers doesn't end up playing. The Rams are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, needing a win or a Bears loss to reach the playoffs. Quarterback Jared Goff (thumb) and receiver Cooper Kupp (reserve/COVID-19 list) both will miss the game, and left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) isn't expected to return from IR until the playoffs.

Penny (knee) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the 49ers, Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio 950 KJR Seattle reports.

Penny made a late-week appearance on the injury report by posting a limited session Thursday. This constituted a notable development given that Penny tore his ACL last December and went without a game appearance until Week 15 of this season. The 24-year-old has garnered five rush attempts for 15 yards in his two 2020 appearances, and it appears he's in line for a Week 17 appearance as well given Seattle's latest injury update. With DeeJay Dallas (ankle) confirmed out for the regular-season finale and Carlos Hyde (illness) remaining questionable, Penny could see an uptick in usage against San Francisco.

Kamara was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday and won't be available for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With multiple COVID-19 tests coming back positive, Kamara may not be eligible to play in the wild-card round of the playoffs. There's still some chance for the Saints to secure the NFC's No. 1 seed and thus earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs, so they'll likely give Latavius Murray a sizable workload this weekend. Murray put up back-to-back games with triple-digit yardage and multiple touchdowns when Kamara missed Weeks 7 and 8 of the 2019 season.

Harris (ankle) won't play in Sunday's season finale against the Jets.

With Harris set to miss his third straight game, Sony Michel, James White and J.J. Taylor will continue to handle the team's backfield duties. Harris finishes his second NFL season with 137 carries for 691 yards and two touchdowns to go along with five catches for 52 yards in 10 games. While Harris' limited involved in the Patriots' pass game limited his fantasy upside, his 5.0 yards-per-carry average illustrated his effectiveness as a runner. Looking ahead to the 2021 campaign, Harris will likely be in line to head New England's backfield once again.

Kamara tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and is waiting on results from a follow-up test before a decision on his status for Sunday's game against the Panthers is made, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

If the second test also comes back positive, Kamara will sit out Week 17, and he'll also be unlikely to return for the wild-card round of the playoffs. Latavius Murray would fill in as the Saints' lead back if Kamara misses any games. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football relays that the star running back hasn't shown any symptoms of the virus and says he's feeling healthy, perhaps giving the Saints some hope the initial test was a false positive.