NFL Player News

Jacobs (shoulder) wasn't present for Thursday's practice, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

After missing two of the Raiders' last three games with a fractured right shoulder, Jacobs' health heading into the regular-season finale became an even bigger question mark when he revealed in an Instagram story that he underwent a procedure Christmas Day. Per Bair, Jacobs later provided more clarity on the nature of his procedure, which merely treated a superficial skin infection on his left leg rather than an injury. As a result, overcoming the shoulder issue remains Jacobs' main priority in advance of Sunday's game in Denver. Jacobs' status for Week 17 won't gain clarity until after Friday's practice, and the rookie would likely need to participate in that session in at least some capacity to have a realistic shot at playing against the Broncos.

Offensive coordinator Scott Turner said Thursday that McCaffrey should fill his normal role in the Panthers' offense at least to begin the team's Week 17 matchup with the Saints, though the running back's workload could be scaled back as the game unfolds, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. "Potentially as the game goes on, we could take a look at some of those other backs," Turner said.

The Panthers were eliminated from postseason contention after Week 14, but that didn't stop McCaffrey from logging 100 percent and 90 percent offensive snap shares the following two games and taking on 55 touches between the contests. Based on Turner's comments, McCaffrey looks poised to continue dominating the backfield snaps and touches heading into the regular-season finale, though the Panthers may deviate from that plan if they fall behind early. Considering Carolina has lost two of its last three games by at least 20 points, it wouldn't be surprising if the team found itself in another big hole against a 12-3 Saints team that still has a first-round bye in the playoffs at stake. That reality may lessen McCaffrey's appeal in DFS contests, though he still shapes up a strong lineup option in season-long fantasy leagues that are active for Week 17.

The Raiders relayed Thursday that Jacobs "woke up with discomfort in his leg on Wednesday" and was subsequently "evaluated and treated for a superficial skin infection," Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The statement supports the notion that the procedure Jacobs underwent Wednesday won't impact his status for Sunday's game against the Broncos. That said, the running back was unable to play in Week 16 due to a lingering shoulder injury, and that's still something that could impact his availability this weekend.

In the wake of reports that he underwent an unspecified procedure Wednesday night, Jacobs relayed that the issue addressed was not a football injury, rather he was dealing with an infection, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

We'll look for added clarity on the running back's status later Thursday, but Jacobs -- who was sidelined by a lingering shoulder injury in Week 16 -- previously posted an image which suggests that Wednesday's procedure dealt with a lower-leg issue. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network indicated that Jacobs' procedure "should not affect" his status for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

The Raiders are still expected to have Jacobs (shoulder) available for Sunday's game in Denver, even though the rookie underwent a procedure Christmas Day to address an apparent lower leg issue, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Jacobs broke the news of his procedure early Thursday via his personal Instagram account, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. The running back has been contending with a fractured right shoulder since the Raiders' Week 7 loss to the Packers and has missed two of the team's last three games because of it, but since bandages were spotted on his lower leg in the Instagram post, his procedure appears to be unrelated to the shoulder. The Raiders are expected to provide more clarity on Jacobs' situation later Thursday, but with the 7-8 squad still technically alive for a playoff spot, the 21-year-old looks like he's tentatively planning to try playing this weekend.

Jacobs posted on his Instagram page late Wednesday night that he underwent an unspecified procedure, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle, the running back -- whose post included an image of his lower/leg foot wrapped in a bandage -- relayed that his procedure "went great." Jacobs missed the Raiders' Week 16 win over the Chargers due to a shoulder injury that he's been dealing with/managing since Oct. 20. That ongoing issue, plus Wednesday's post, which requires further context, obviously clouds Jacobs' status for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Broncos.

Jacobs (shoulder) relayed via a post on his personal Instagram account that he underwent an unspecified surgery Wednesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.

Details aren't available at this point, but the surgery was presumably to address his fractured right shoulder. Assuming that's the case, Jacobs would likely sit out the Raiders' regular-season finale Sunday in Denver.

Conner (quadriceps) didn't practice Wednesday.

More news on the running back's status will arrive Thursday, but coach Mike Tomlin previously noted that Conner's Week 17 availability "is very much in question." If Conner is limited Sunday against the Ravens or withheld from action entirely, Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels and Kerrith Whyte would handle added work out of the Steelers' backfield.

Williams (shoulder) was a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

Though the shoulder injury that forced Williams out of Monday's 23-10 win over the Vikings isn't viewed as a serious concern, the running back's availability for this weekend's regular-season finale in Detroit is in some peril nonetheless. If Williams can't gain clearance for the Week 17 contest, unproven rookie Dexter Williams and return man Tyler Ervin would represent the available depth backs behind lead option Aaron Jones.

Mattison (ankle) was a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-through practice.

While it's encouraging in some sense that Mattison wasn't deemed a non-participant to begin the week, the Vikings probably won't have a better feel for his status for the Week 17 matchup with the Bears until getting a look at him in more traditional practices Thursday and Friday. Given that the Vikings are locked in as the NFC's No. 6 seed in the playoffs, it wouldn't be surprising if the team acted conservatively with Mattison and top back Dalvin Cook (shoulder) -- who was also limited Wednesday -- and withheld both from the regular-season finale to preserve their health for the postseason.