NFL Player News

Perine is active for Sunday's contest against the Falcons, Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post reports.

Available on gameday for just the third time in eight games this season, Perine has a chance for his most significant workload of the season due to injuries elsewhere in the backfield. Chris Thompson (ribs) is sidelined, while the only other active running back Kapri Bibbs is suiting up just one week removed from separating his shoulder. On the season, though, Perine has managed just two yards from scrimmage on four touches, so it's difficult to count on much (if any) production behind Adrian Peterson.

Cook (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Lions.

Passing a pregame warmup was the final hurdle for Cook to get past before gaining clearance for his first action since Week 3. After missing five of his last six contests, he isn't expected to play more than 15-to-20 offensive snaps, making it difficult to forecast his carry count. Cook will otherwise yield the remaining work out of the backfield to Latavius Murray.

Foreman (Achilles) is expected to return to practice following the Texans' Week 9 game against the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Foreman opened training camp on the PUP list while recovering from surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon and reverted to the regular-season PUP list once the preseason game to a close. Though Foreman's recovery from the major injury has proceeded slowly, Rapoport's nugget suggests that the running back's practice timeline has moved up, as coach Bill O'Brien previously indicated the 22-year-old likely wouldn't be back on the field until after the Week 10 bye. It sounds like Foreman will now be able to take part in some of the light practices the Texans will hold during the bye week, at which point the team would open up a 21-day window to evaluate him for activation. If he's eventually added back to the 53-man roster, Foreman would likely be eased into a backfield mix that has featured Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue as the top two options this season.

Ekeler will likely move into the No. 2 role out of the backfield Sunday against the Seahawks with Melvin Gordon (hamstring) expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Gordon sat out the Chargers' Week 7 game against the Titans in London, allowing Ekeler to assume the starting gig for the first time all season. While the elevated role yielded Ekeler a season-high 42 offensive snaps, his output was somewhat underwhelming (12 carries for 42 yards, five receptions for 26 yards) against a tough defense. Gordon retains a questionable designation heading into Sunday's contest, but after the Chargers were on bye in Week 8 and he put in a full practice Friday, there doesn't seem to be much concern about his availability. It's thus expected that Gordon will take back his usual ample workload, though Ekeler should still offer utility in deeper formats based on what he's been able to do in a change-of-pace capacity this season. Over the first six games in which both backs were active, Ekeler compiled 263 yards on 41 carries and another 207 yards to go with three touchdowns on 14 receptions.

Freeman (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, isn't expected in the contest. His absence puts Phillip Lindsay in line to head the Broncos' backfield in Week 9, Zac Stevens of BSNDenver.com reports.

With the Broncos on bye in Week 10, it looks like the team is inclined to play it safe with Freeman, who will now turn his focus to returning Nov. 18 against the Chargers. Final confirmation of Freeman's status for Sunday's game will arrive when Denver releases its inactive list 90 minutes ahead of the 4:05 p.m. EST kickoff.

Freeman (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, isn't expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Freeman likely in line to miss his second straight game, Phillip Lindsay should serve as the Broncos' main running back in Week 9, while Devontae Booker works in a complementary role. The Broncos are on bye in Week 10, which gives Freeman three weeks to recover from a high-ankle sprain.

Gordon (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, will be available to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

After sitting out the Chargers' last game against the Titans in Week 7, Gordon returned from the team's bye week by logging limited practices Wednesday and Thursday. He upgraded to full participation Friday and apparently came out of the session without any setbacks, so he should be ready to handle a full workload in Week 9. Confirmation on Gordon's status won't come until the Chargers release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before the 4:05 p.m. EDT kickoff, but fantasy owners can probably keep him in lineups with confidence. He'll square off against the Seahawks' 17th-ranked run defense, which has surrendered 108.3 yards per game.

Cook (hamstring) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions but appears likely to play, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Krammer's report essentially matches what Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com relayed Friday, with the Vikings likely to ease Cook back from a four-game absence with around 15 to 20 offensive snaps. Cook's return won't be confirmed until he completes pregame warmups without a setback, so expect another update on his status to come approximately 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. EST kickoff, when the Vikings release their inactive list. Latavius Murray is still expected to handle the bulk of the touches and snaps out of the backfield, but his fantasy ceiling would be lower if Cook is available for a handful of plays.

Penny may see an uptick in usage if Chris Carson (hip) sits out Sunday's game against the Chargers, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Penny didn't play a single offensive snap in the Week 8 win over the Lions, as Carson and Mike Davis both shared the backfield work. The same timeshare arrangement could be in place if the two backs are ready to go for Week 9, but Penny would likely have a clear path to a spot in the rotation if Carson -- who is considered a game-time decision -- is deemed unavailable. Even if that's the case, Davis would still represent the top option to pace the backfield in touches. When the Seahawks played without Carson against the Cardinals in Week 4, Davis registered 25 touches to Penny's nine.

The 49ers officially placed Mostert (forearm) on injured reserve Friday.

Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed earlier Friday that Mostert would be shut down for the season after undergoing surgery to address the fractured forearm, which he sustained in Thursday's 34-3 win over the Raiders. Mostert finishes the campaign with 34 carries for 261 yards and a touchdown, with his 7.7 yard-per-carry average leading all NFL ballcarriers with at least that many totes. He'll be a free agent this offseason and shouldn't have trouble finding work with the 49ers or another team in light of his exceptional performance in a backup role.