NFL Player News

Though Mack (hamstring) was present for practice Thursday, Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan Indianapolis indicates that the running back's Week 1 status is cloudy.

Mack was officially listed as a limited practice participant Thursday. Given that it was the first time Mack has worked since Aug. 9 and that he's heavily reliant on his speed, it wouldn't surprise us to see the Colts ease him into the mix and either elect to hold him out, or limit him if he suits up Sunday against the Bengals. In both of those scenarios, Jordan Wilkins profiles as the front-runner to head the team's Week 1 backfield.

Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said there's no set plan for Cook's workload on Sunday. "We're not sure yet. We're going to see how it goes. There's nothing that hasn't told us that he can't carry the load," DeFilippo told Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

Cook has only two carries (both in preseason Week 3) since tearing the ACL in his left knee Week 4 of last season. While head coach Mike Zimmer has praised Cook and said he's back to full strength, it's not clear if Cook will be eased into action Sunday. DeFilippo's comments could be read either way in that Cook isn't on a limited play count, but not guaranteed a large workload either.

Mack (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Zak Keefer of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Mack is practicing for the first time since hurting his hamstring in the first preseason game. He's likely a long shot to play this week, but track his progress in practice.

Penny (hand) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Penny entered training camp somewhat behind the eight ball while second-year back Chris Carson handled most of the first-team reps early on. During an Aug. 13 practice, Penny suffered a broken pointer finger on his left hand, putting him further behind in the competition. While his recovery was pegged at 3-to-4 weeks, Penny was always on track to be available for Week 1, which was confirmed with his activity level on the first injury report of the campaign. Still, Penny is slated to begin his rookie season as the No. 2 option behind Carson, who performed well enough in the preseason to earn the starting nod in Seattle's season opener Sunday in Denver.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer believes Cook's "foot quickness" and "acceleration" have returned to normal, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

During a conference call with San Francisco media members Wednesday, Zimmer spoke about the recovery of his No. 1 running back from a torn ACL, adding, "I think he's ready to roll." The positive outlook is encouraging, but Cook has only carried the rock two times (both in the third week of the preseason) since suffering the injury that ended his rookie campaign in Week 4 of 2017. Cook himself talked to the media Wednesday and hinted that fellow backs Latavius Murray and Mike Boone could be a part of game plans early this season, but the second-year player should serve as the workhorse in due time.

Walton (shoulder) does not appear on the injury report ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Colts, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Walton dinged up his shoulder in the preseason finale, but his absence from the injury report suggests the running back was never dealing with a serious injury. The rookie is thus fully on track to suit up for his regular-season debut this weekend, when Walton will serve as the No. 3 option behind Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard.

Elliott believes his disappointing 2017 campaign has led to an improvement in his focus and intensity heading into the upcoming season, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports. "The chip on my shoulder is just not having a full year last year and not performing the way I believe I could have," Elliott said.

Elliott's touch volume made him a first-rate fantasy asset when he played last year, but a six-game suspension and underwhelming mark of 4.1 yards per carry put a major stain on his season. He won't have to play with the weight of a possible suspension hanging over him this time around, and preseason concerns about the health of the Dallas offensive line have mostly cleared up. The team will be playing without standout center Travis Frederick (illness) indefinitely, but it seems the other four starters should be fine for Sunday's opener in Carolina. Elliott is expected to handle his typically huge workload on the ground in 2018, with the possibility of more pass-catching responsibilities in an offense that no longer has tight end Jason Witten and wideout Dez Bryant gobbling up targets.

Barkley (hamstring) isn't listed on Wednesday's injury report in advance of the Giants' Week 1 game against the Jaguars.

The hamstring injury limited Barkley to one appearance during the preseason, but he had been practicing in some capacity for the past couple weeks. The rookie confirmed Monday that he made a full recovery, allowing for a normal week of practice ahead of a difficult debut matchup. The Jaguars surrendered 116.3 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry last season, but only allowed 11 touchdowns (seven rushing) to running backs.

Mack, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue since Aug. 9, is "trending in the wrong direction" as Sunday's season opener against the Bengals approaches, Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Given that Mack is a player reliant on speed more so than power, it's expected the Colts will ease him into the mix once he's ready to practice, whenever that might be. If Mack is sidelined this weekend, Jordan Wilkins, Christine Michael and Nyheim Hines would serve as the team's backfield options in Week 1. Of that group, Wilkins would be the presumed starter.

Drake and Frank Gore are listed as co-starters on the Dolphins' depth chart ahead of the team's Week 1 matchup with the Titans.

Drake still profiles as the centerpiece of Miami's offense, but the depth-chart slotting does serve as a useful reminder of head coach Adam Gase's stated intention to give Gore a portion of the work. The biggest concern for Drake is the possibility of Gore poaching carries near the goal line, where the former's speed and agility-based skill set arguably loses value relative to what the stocky 35-year-old offers. Given that Gore barely played during the preseason, Week 1 will provide the first real hint of what can be expected from both backs throughout the campaign.