NFL Player News

Williams (ribs) put in a full practice Thursday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Williams seemingly experienced no aggravations to his cracked ribs during the Cardinals' Week 13 loss to the Rams, with the Utah State product filling in admirably for Adrian Peterson (neck) and providing 97 yards on the ground. With Peterson sidelined for the Cardinals' first two practices of this week, Williams looks like he could be on tap for another starting role Sunday against the Titans. The Tennessee defense has done well to stymie the run this season, yielding just 3.5 yards per carry.

Abdullah (neck) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.

Abdullah has already doubled his practice output from the week before, when he managed just one limited practice before sitting out Sunday's loss to the Ravens. The Lions would likely want to have Abdullah go through a full practice Friday before removing him from the injury heading into the Week 14 matchup with the Buccaneers, but as things currently stand, the running back looks to be in line to play. If he suits up, Abdullah would likely take back starting duties in the backfield, but with no more than 11 carries over any of his past three outings, he remains a fairly low-ceiling fantasy option.

Martin was cleared from the protocol for head injuries Thursday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Martin will thus miss just one game as a result of the concussion suffered Week 12. Whether or not he starts Sunday versus the Lions remains to be seen, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken hinted as much Thursday, according to Roy Cummings of WFLA NewsChannel 8. With Martin sidelined this past weekend, Peyton Barber took advantage of a great blocking scheme, per Monken, running 23 times for 104 yards. If the coaching staff turns back to Martin as the No. 1 back, he'll aim to take advantage of a Detroit unit that has conceded 146.5 rushing yards per game and six touchdowns on the ground to running backs over the last four contests.

Martin may start Sunday's game against the Lions if he gains clearance from the concussion protocol, Roy Cummings of WFLA NewsChannel 8 reports.

On the heels of a 23-carry, 104-yard effort this past Sunday at Green Bay, Peyton Barber could be usurped by Martin, who was absent due to a concussion. Prior to suffering the injury Week 12 in Atlanta, Martin was on pace for one of his most productive performances of the season -- seven rushes for 33 yards, or 4.7 YPC -- so the coaching staff wants to see if the run blocking in front of Barber translates to the Bucs' typical starting running back. Martin himself hasn't reeled off 100-plus yards in a given game since Week 11 of the 2015 campaign, but he won't have a chance to accomplish the feat again until he's cleared by an independent neurologist.

Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said that Williams (shoulder) won't practice Thursday, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald reports.

Williams missed the Week 13 win over the Broncos while recovering from the dislocated shoulder, allowing Kenyan Drake to take hold of the starting running back role. While he'll benefit from an extra day of recovery with the Dolphins playing the Patriots on Monday night in Week 14, Williams isn't off to a good start to the week by missing the team's first practice. Drake, who erupted for 120 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and three receptions for 21 yards last week, would make for a strong lineup option in just about any format if Williams ultimately misses his second straight game.

Mixon (concussion) isn't taking part in practice Thursday, Jay Morrison of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Mixon's absence for the second straight day of practice to begin Week 14 preparations suggests he remains in the initial stages of the NFL's concussion protocol. The running back won't necessarily need to practice Friday to receive clearance to play Sunday against the Bears, but he'll at least need to pass all tests administered by an independent neurologist by the weekend. At this time, it's looking unlikely Mixon will get the green light to play Sunday, which would open the door for Giovani Bernard to serve as the Bengals' feature back.

Patterson (hip) didn't practice Wednesday.

Patterson has been managing a hip issue of late, so it's quite possible that his absence Wednesday is maintenance-related as opposed to being indicative of a setback. In any case, Patterson's Week 14 fantasy upside hinges on the status of fellow wideout Amari Cooper, who is trying to move past both a concussion (which is no longer a concern) and an ankle sprain.

Williams (ribs) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

In relief of the inactive Adrian Peterson (neck) in Sunday's loss to the Rams, Williams earned the start and led all Cardinals running backs by playing 31 of the 64 offensive snaps, followed by D.J. Foster (28) and Elijhaa Penny (five). On the box score, Williams had the most success by far, totaling 16 carries for 97 yards, while Foster accrued 25 yards from scrimmage and Penny recorded a one-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals have implemented a wait-and-see approach with Peterson, but another absence would leave Williams with the most intriguing potential due to the sheer number of touches. Williams' practice reps leading up to the Week 14 matchup with the Titans may be restricted, however, as he continues to recover from the cracked ribs he first sustained in Week 12.

Martin (concussion) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

While this doesn't mean Martin has made it out of the concussion protocol, it does put him on track to play in Sunday's game against the Lions. The extent of his role in that contest will be subject to scrutiny, as Peyton Barber gained 102 yards on 23 carries and 41 yards on four catches in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Packers. Martin hasn't produced that many scrimmage yards or rushing yards in a single contest since Week 11 of 2015.

Abdullah (neck) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Abdullah missed practice last Wednesday and Thursday before returning as a limited participant Friday, but he ultimately was ruled out for Sunday's 44-20 loss in Baltimore, leaving Theo Riddick, Tion Green and Zach Zenner to share snaps in the backfield. It will be hard to have confidence in Abdullah returning to action Sunday in Tampa Bay unless he makes it back to full participation by the end of the week.