NFL Player News

Edmonds is in line to headline the Cardinals backfield with Kenyan Drake slated to miss "a few weeks" due to a high-ankle sprain, Kyle Odegard of the team's official site reports.

With the help of Drake's departure in the fourth quarter of an eventual overtime win against the Seahawks on Sunday, Edmonds handled a season-high 61 percent of the Cards' offensive snaps en route to 12 touches for 145 yards. He reeled off a 32-yard run, a 21-yard catch-and-run and an 18-yard reception among his opportunities, which leaves him with a healthy 6.1 yards per carry and 6.9 yards per catch on the season. If Edmonds bumps up from his own 7.9 touches per game closer to Drake's 18.0 during the latter's absence, he'll be a must-start in the short term. Any reps that remain will be taken by 2020 seventh-rounder Eno Benjamin, undrafted rookie Jonathan Ward and potentially practice-squad RB D.J. Foster.

Wilson (ankle) is expected to land on the 49ers' injured reserve later this week, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

This news come straight from coach Kyle Shanahan. Wilson was excelling in his opportunity as the team's primary back prior to suffering a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's win at New England, accumulating 112 yards and three touchdowns on the ground before exiting. The expected move to IR means he'll join fellow running backs Raheem Mostert (ankle) and Tevin Coleman (knee) on IR, though Coleman could be activated from the list this week. Nonetheless, Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty are the 49ers' current available backs heading into Week 8.

Coach Matt Rhule noted Monday that McCaffrey (ankle) is a "possibility" for Thursday night's game against the Falcons, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Per Myles Simmons of the Panthers' official site, Rhule indicated that McCaffrey's Week 8 status is "sort of out of my hands. I'm hopeful that we'll have him." For now, though, McCaffrey has yet to be designated to return from IR, which needs to happen before he can practice. Either way, McCaffrey appears to be nearing a return to action, but even if he remains sidelined Thursday night, he'd presumably be ready for the team's Nov. 8 contest against the Chiefs.

Drake is expected to miss "a few weeks" due to a slight tear of a ligament in his ankle, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter notes that the Cardinals are treating Drake's recovery timeframe similar to that of a high-ankle sprain, a hint that he could be a candidate for injured reserve. Drake was carted off the field during Sunday's overtime win against the Seahawks in serious pain. The Cardinals are scheduled for a Week 8 bye, so Drake at least will have the benefit of extra time to get healthy, but it looks likely that Chase Edmonds will be called upon to lead the team's backfield versus Miami on Nov. 8.

McCaffrey (ankle) is present for Monday's practice and dressed in uniform, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.

McCaffrey hasn't necessarily been designated for a return from injured reserve yet, as it remains to be seen whether he'll actually participate in Monday's session. As Getzenberg notes, however, this is the first time he's been present for practice since suffering a high-ankle sprain Week 2. The star running back hasn't yet been ruled out for Thursday's divisional game against the Falcons.

The 49ers may have to rely on McKinnon heavily in the coming weeks after Jeff Wilson (17 carries, 112 yards and three touchdowns) was carted off the field late in Sunday's 33-6 win over New England with a high-ankle sprain, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers continue to be dealt blow after blow each week in terms of key players going down to injury, and this week it struck yet another 100-yard rusher in Wilson. It sounds like the fill-in starter will miss multiple weeks, opening the door for McKinnon -- who disappointed in what looked to be his game to shine -- moving forward. Head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that he was trying to give McKinnon some rest after being used heavily in recent weeks and also dealing with a rib injury, but it sounds like he's ready to turn back to the veteran as a starter moving forward. Undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty shined in garbage time Sunday (nine carries for 57 yards), and also figures to be in the mix until Raheem Mostert (ankle) returns from injured reserve. Based on Shanahan's comments, we have to assume McKinnon will officially be named the starter for a key division matchup against the Seahawks on Sunday, with Hasty also sharing the workload.

Coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Mixon (foot) is day-to-day, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.

Mixon's foot injury kept him from suiting up for Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Browns, but it looks like he has a chance to return Week 8. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported that Mixon was considered week-to-week, so Taylor's day-to-day label seems like a step in the right direction. Giovani Bernard will remain on hand and ready to handle a lead role again, should the Bengals opt to give Mixon the benefit of a bit more rest prior to the team's Week 9 bye.

Snell rushed twice for two yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.

While Snell was on the field for just six of a possible 79 snaps on offense in the Week 7 contest, both of his carries came on the goal line as he found the end zone for a second consecutive week. The 2019 fourth-round pick saw less playing time than Jaylen Samuels (nine snaps), but Snell's workload on the goal line over the past several weeks has propped up his fantasy value.

McCaffrey (ankle) is considered a long shot to play Thursday against the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

McCaffrey hasn't been ruled out for Thursday Night Football, but the Panthers still have yet to officially designate him for a return to practice, and it's hard to imagine the team clearing him to play before being thoroughly evaluated during on-field reps. Even if McCaffrey's 21-day practice window is opened in the near future, he could only have a few chances to prove his health before Carolina makes a decision on his Week 8 availability. In the event that the star running back is forced to miss a sixth straight game due to his high-ankle sprain, Mike Davis would be in line to log another start.

McFarland recorded one carry for six yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.

McFarland was on the field for just five of the team's 79 offensive snaps Sunday, as he was outpaced by Jaylen Samuels (nine snaps) and Benny Snell (six snaps). While he was relatively effective by recording six yards on his single carry, the 2020 fourth-round pick has played just 20 snaps over the last three weeks while recording seven carries for 14 yards.