NFL Player News

Hill garnered two offensive snaps, though he did not register a carry during Sunday's 28-24 loss to Pittsburgh.

Hill dealt with a September thigh injury that held him out early in the season, but since his Week 4 debut, the 22-year-old has played a nearly exclusive special-teams role. 57 of Hill's 59 total snaps have come in that department, while he's yet to garner a carry amongst Baltimore's talented RB stable. Week 8 did mark the first time in 2020 that Hill registered a snap on the offensive side, and perhaps a limited role will continue in the near future for him as Mark Ingram nurses a high-ankle injury.

Freeman garnered no offensive snaps during Sunday's 31-30 win against the Chargers.

The Oregon product got involved with 19 snaps as a member of the special-teams group, but he did not have any offensive role as Phillip Lindsay made his return from a concussion. Freeman had garnered at least one carry in all six of his appearances entering Week 8, but Lindsay (six rushes) and Melvin Gordon (eight) split the RB workload for Denver in a pass-heavy game script. The Broncos will face an Atlanta defense in Week 9 that just surrendered 147 rushing yards and one rushing score to Carolina on Thursday Night Football.

Vaughn garnered three special-teams snaps but no offensive snaps during Monday's 25-23 win against the Giants.

The third-round rookie collected 12 combined touches between Weeks 4 and 6, notching eight rush attempts for 46 yards along with four receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. With Leonard Fournette back to full strength the past two weeks, however, Vaughn has seen his offensive role evaporate. It's not a favorable Week 9 matchup for Tampa Bay backs going up against New Orleans' No. 3 rush defense, but it is expected to be Ronald Jones and Fournette who command virtually all of the RB workload in a crucial NFC South bout.

Coach Matt LaFleur said a decision on whether Jones (calf) will play this week will come down to the wire ahead of Thursday's game at San Francisco, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports. "We'll give him up to game time, and then we'll figure it out," LaFleur noted. "So we'll see."

Jones was listed as LP on Monday's practice estimate and officially was a limited participant at Tuesday's walk-through. Ideally, the Packers would like him to elevate to full by Wednesday, but considering the state of their backfield, waiting until a pregame workout Thursday seems like a prudent approach. With both Jamaal Williams (not injury related) and AJ Dillon (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Jones, Tyler Ervin and practice squad member Dexter Williams are the only running backs available to the Packers. As a result, Jones may have a huge workload this week if he's able to get past (or play through) his strained calf.

Barner completed his four-game suspension and returned to the Buccaneers' practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Barner was handed a four-game suspension Oct. 6 for violating the NFL's Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances, but he's now eligible to return to team activities. He's not expected to be called up to the active roster unless one of Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy or Ke'Shawn Vaughn suffers an injury.

Gaskin is expected to miss the Dolphins' next three games due to a sprained MCL, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Gaskin has been the team's top RB this season, gaining 585 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 130 touches through seven games. His work on the ground has been modest (3.9 YPC), but he also has gathered in 30 of 35 targets (86 percent catch rate). With such a void to fill in the backfield, Miami dealt for DeAndre Washington before Tuesday's deadline. Washington will join Matt Breida, Patrick Laird (ankle), Lynn Bowden, Jordan Howard and Salvon Ahmed in the backfield.

Jones (calf) was limited at Tuesday's walk-through, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Jones and Tyler Ervin are the only available running backs on the active roster, with Dexter Williams waiting in the wings on the practice squad, after Jamaal Williams (not injury related) landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list due to being a high-risk close contact of AJ Dillon (illness). Jones seems to have a chance to play Thursday at San Francisco after practicing for the first time since Week 6 prep, but much may depend on how he fares in Wednesday's session. If he's able to prove his health, he likely will be the lead back, with Ervin and potentially practice-squadder Williams taking on complementary roles.

The Packers placed Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Williams won't play in Thursday's game versus the 49ers because he's considered a high-risk close contact of AJ Dillon, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, and he'll need to isolate for five days before returning to team activities. With both Williams and Dillon already ruled out, Aaron Jones' (calf) status is even more important for the Packers in an NFC Championship Game rematch. If Jones is unable to play, however, expect Tyler Ervin and practice squad member Dexter Williams to handle the backfield workload.

Thompson tallied four carries for three yards and failed to haul in his lone target Sunday versus the Jets.

Thompson at least saw the field this week after being labeled inactive for Week 7. However, all of his reps came on the last drive with the contest well in hand, so there is little to glean from his effort Sunday other than he's a depth option should either Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Le'Veon Bell miss time.

Williams rushed three times for 19 yards and reeled in his only target Sunday versus the Jets.

Williams saw a slight bump in his workload Sunday after playing just one offensive snap last week. However, that action primarily came on the final drive with the game a blowout, so it may not be worth reading into too much. Both Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le'Veon Bell remain ahead of him in the pecking order for reps out of the backfield, which leaves just spare snaps for Williams.