NFL Player News

Gaskin is expected to see increased involvement out of the Miami backfield after Kalen Ballage (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports.

Gaskin stands to duke it out with Patrick Laird and Zach Zenner for backfield work to close out the season, while De'Lance Turner looms as more of a special-teams contributor. Laird has shown well as a pass catcher in recent weeks, and he outpaced Gaskin in the Week 13 win over the Eagles, playing 43 offensive snaps (60 percent) to the latter's 16 (20 percent). Still, Gaskin could still see enough opportunities to push for a larger role if he impresses. In four games this season, the rookie seventh-round pick has rushed seven times for 30 yards and has caught three of four targets for 13 yards.

Breida (ankle) was present at Wednesday's practice, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

It'll be interesting to see if Breida increases his practice reps this week after being listed as a limited participant on every Week 13 injury report in advance of a third straight absence this past Sunday in Baltimore. Assuming he makes the requisite progress through his low-ankle sprain and gets the all-clear from the 49ers' training staff, he'll join a somewhat unsettled backfield Sunday at New Orleans. In the aforementioned showdown with the Ravens, Raheem Mostert received 74 percent of the offensive snaps en route to 21 touches for 154 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Tevin Coleman had a meager 18-percent snap share, finishing with six touches and 15 yards from scrimmage.

Williams (ribs) isn't practicing Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Williams still has a shot to play Sunday against the Patriots, but his absence from practice to begin the week isn't a positive early sign for his status. With Darrel Williams (hamstring) also not practicing, the Chiefs' healthy backfield currently consists of LeSean McCoy, Darwin Thompson and Spencer Ware. Damien hasn't practiced in any fashion since injuring the left side of his ribs in the Week 11 win over the Chargers.

Williams (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports.

Williams is trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's tilt against the Patriots. He would likely need to resume practicing in some capacity Thursday or Friday to have a legitimate chance of playing Week 14, and his expected absence likely factored into the Chiefs' decision to sign Spencer Ware for extra backfield depth Tuesday. With Damien Williams (ribs) also not practicing to begin the week, the Chiefs could enter the matchup with New England with only LeSean McCoy, Darwin Thompson and Ware on hand at running back.

Coach Frank Reich said that Mack (hand) will practice Wednesday and has "a chance" to return Week 14 against the Buccaneers, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.

Mack sat out the Colts' last two games while recovering from a broken right hand, but he looks like he'll be at least a limited participant in Wednesday's session, setting him up for a potential return to action over the weekend. The third-year pro will have two more chances to increase his level of activity in practice before the Colts render an official verdict on his status for the game in Tampa Bay. Jonathan Williams filled the lead role out of the backfield Week 12 versus the Texans, but those duties primarily fell to Jordan Wilkins (11 carries for 47 yards, two catches for nine yards) in the Week 13 loss to the Titans.

Williams (hamstring) isn't expected to play in Sunday's game against the Patriots, Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports. "Darrel's injury, he had a hamstring and that didn't look very good," coach Andy Reid said Monday. "So, there's probably a pretty good chance he doesn't play."

Williams suffered a non-contact injury during the third quarter of Sunday's 40-9 win over Oakland, finishing with six carries for 13 yards and one catch for a three-yard touchdown. LeSean McCoy also scored shortly after Williams left the game, and Darwin Thompson then took over in garbage time with an 11-44-1 rushing line that all came on one drive in the fourth quarter. With Damien Williams (ribs) also hurting, the Chiefs signed Spencer Ware on Tuesday to add some depth behind McCoy and Thompson. It isn't clear if Damien will be available this week.

Williams (ribs) has a shot to play in Sunday's game against the Patriots, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Williams may have a chance to suit up, but the Chiefs' recent signing of Spencer Ware suggests that's far from a sure thing. The team now has five running backs on the 53-man roster, with Darrel Williams nursing a hamstring injury while Ware joins LeSean McCoy and Darwin Thompson among the healthy group. Damien Williams injured his ribs in Week 11 and was inactive for the Week 13 win over Oakland, unable to take advantage of the extra time to recover during a Week 12 bye. Prior to the injury, Damien had re-emerged as the leader of the backfield, playing 73 percent of snaps in back-to-back games Weeks 9 and 10. The initial injury report for Week 14 will be released later Wednesday.

Ogunbowale caught both of his targets for 12 yards and did not gain yardage on his only carry during Sunday's 28-11 win over the Jaguars.

Ogunbowale rebounded a bit Sunday after Week 12's one-touch outing. Though he has just nine touches over his past three games, it's worth noting that four of them have come in the red zone. Ogunbowale remains capable of stealing a touchdown here and there, as he has twice already this season, but he better be right outside the goal line as he's averaging just 1.1 yards per carry this season. Next up is a Sunday matchup against Indianapolis' middle-of-the-pack run defense.

Hill had a three-yard run during Sunday's 20-17 win over the 49ers.

Hill had two of his busier days of the season in Weeks 11 and 12 in blowout wins over the Texans and Rams, with many of his carries coming in the second half with the game well in hand. Those opportunities weren't available during Sunday's slugfest and it wouldn't be a surprise if the red-hot Bills keep it close against the Ravens on Sunday. Buffalo has one of the best pass defenses in the game, but -- fortunately for Hill and Baltimore's backs -- the Bills have been more generous on the ground, surrendering 4.5 yards per carry, 21st in the league.

Edwards ran for 15 yards on six carries and added a seven-yard catch during Sunday's 20-17 win over the 49ers.

Predictably, Edwards' usage and efficiency dropped precipitously when forced to face off against a stout defense in a close game. After beating up on the Texans and Rams in back-to-back blowouts, Edwards, and the Ravens offense as a whole, struggled against the 49ers. A similarly tough matchup awaits Sunday in Buffalo, though the Bills have been gashed at times in the run game, surrendering 4.5 yards per rush -- 21st in the league.