NFL Player News

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Friday that he's already decided between Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard as the lead runner for Sunday's game against the Jets but won't reveal his plan, Steve Reed of The Associated Press reports.

Hubbard missed the previous two games due to a calf injury but has been cleared to return after practicing this week. In Hubbard's absence, Dowdle became one of a handful of running backs in NFL history to exceed 230 yards from scrimmage and score a touchdown in consecutive games. The recent success makes Dowdle at least a slight favorite to lead Carolina's backfield Week 7, though not necessarily beyond that.

Hubbard (calf) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at the Jets, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

The remaining question is how the Panthers split work between Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, the latter of whom ran for 389 yards over the past two games (both wins) while Hubbard was out. Head coach Dave Canales hasn't been helpful on that front, merely noting that Dowdle has earned the right to maintain a role. Dowdle already had a role, of course, getting between seven and 11 touches in Weeks 2 through 4 when Hubbard was the starter. In light of his consecutive big performances, Dowdle could take on a larger portion of the workload, but the Panthers probably won't provide hints on the specifics before Sunday's game.

Bears coach Ben Johnson said Friday morning that Swift's groin injury isn't something new from practice, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

It sounds like Swift's addition to the injury report Thursday (as a limited participant) was a matter of maintenance rather than anything that might impact his Week 7 availability, but it's still worth keeping an eye on the situation unless he avoids a designation on the final injury report Friday afternoon.

Demercado (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Green Bay, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Demercado hasn't practiced since missing the second half of Sunday's loss to the Colts. Michael Carter took on more passing-down work in Demercado's absence, while Bam Knight got more playing time and carries. Carter and Knight figure to split work this Sunday, with D'Ernest Johnson or Jermar Jefferson potentially promoted from the practice squad for depth.

Rodriguez (calf) is participating in practice Friday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez had been listed as a non-participant on Washington's previous five practice reports, so this is a step in the right direction, though it remains to be seen if he'll be listed as a full or limited participant Friday. He was active for Monday's loss to the Bears but logged only one offensive snap, opening up more opportunities for Jeremy McNichols alongside Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

Johnson was active but wasn't on the field for any snaps during Thursday's 33-31 loss to the Bengals.

Johnson recorded six carries in each of the Steelers' last two games, but he was held off the field Thursday night despite being active. Jaylen Warren was dominant in Thursday's loss, racking up 158 yards from scrimmage, while Kenneth Gainwell was on the field for 39 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, so work likely will continue to be hard to come by for Johnson as long as the team's top two running backs are healthy.

Gainwell rushed three times for 14 yards, brought in both targets for one yard and returned three kickoffs for 88 yards in the Steelers' 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.

Gainwell was back to a strict complementary role in Thursday night's game, as Jaylen Warren put together his best performance of the season with a 127-yard tally on the ground. Gainwell's carry and rushing yardage totals were both season lows, but the veteran back was able to make some solid contributions in his capacity as a returner. Gainwell should remain in a similar role when the Packers come to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night Week 8 showdown on Oct. 26.

Brown rushed 11 times for 108 yards and brought in two of four targets for minus-8 yards in the Bengals' 33-31 win over the Steelers on Thursday night.

Brown left a mostly frustrating first six games of the season in the rearview mirror Thursday, posting a season high in rushing yards by a wide margin. Prior to Thursday, Brown hadn't even cracked 47 rushing yards in any contest, but he blew past that threshold on his way to his first 100-yard tally since Week 9 of last season, with the help of a season-long 37-yard run. Brown's overall workload still remained modest, however, but Cincinnati doesn't figure to have to take as much of a pass-heavy approach when the Bengals return to action in a Week 8 home matchup against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Warren rushed 16 times for 127 yards and brought in four of five targets for 31 yards in the Steelers' 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.

Warren came just two yards short of his single-game career high in rushing yards, which he set against the Browns back on Nov. 19, 2023. The versatile back was in outstanding form against a Bengals defense that had been particularly prone to allowing chunk plays on the ground, compiling a season-high yardage total with the help of four runs of 10+ yards and a co-game-long 37-yard scamper. Warren also has at least four catches in three of the last four contests, and Thursday's performance affords him plenty of momentum heading into a Week 8 home showdown against the Packers on Sunday night, Oct. 26.

Williams (concussion) did not participate at practice Thursday.

Williams remains in concussion protocol ahead of Week 7, missing the team's first practice of the week. The reserve running back and returner will have two more chances to return to practice and potentially be cleared to play in Monday's matchup with the Lions.