NFL Player News

Rodgers rushed three times for two yards and brought in his only target for 13 yards in Thursday's 19-14 loss to the Patriots.

With the return of Doug Martin from suspension, Rodgers played only 13 offensive snaps (18 percent), trailing both Martin (26 snaps) and Charles Sims (32 snaps) by a significant margin. However, given that the Bucs were behind throughout the second half and also likely wanted to see plenty of Martin in his first game back, Rodgers' reduced participation may only be an outlier. Looking ahead, both Rodgers and Martin are likely to see healthier snap counts, while Sims is unlikely to be as involved in games when Tampa isn't facing a prolonged deficit.

Sims carried once for three yards and brought in five of seven targets for 31 yards in Thursday's 19-14 loss to the Buccaneers.

After being uncharacteristically uninvolved for the first three games with nine total touches, Sims finally saw some volume in the passing game in Week 5. Sims saw the field for 32 offensive snaps (44 percent), leading all Bucs backs, including Doug Martin, who made his season debut after completing the final three games of his suspension. However, Sims was an afterthought in the running game, and given the availability of Martin, Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber, it's likely the majority of Sims' work will come through the air this season.

Martin rushed 13 times for 74 yards and a touchdown while also hauling in one of three targets for eight yards in Thursday's 19-14 loss to the Patriots.

Martin's play was a high point on a night when the Bucs came maddeningly close to pulling out a victory on the last play on the contest. The sixth-year back looked rejuvenated and decisive virtually each time he carried the ball, bursting through holes with impressive speed on his way to 5.7 yards per rush. Martin notably served as the clear-cut lead back despite it being his first game of the season, leaving backfield mates Jacquizz Rodgers (three carries) and Charles Sims (one carry) in the dust in terms of opportunity. Having proven his readiness to handle a starter's workload Thursday, Martin should be all systems go for the Week 6 road tilt against the Cardinals.

Gillislee rushed 12 times for 53 yards in Thursday's 19-14 win over the Buccaneers.

Gillislee averaged a solid 4.3 yards per tote while logging 12 carries for the third straight week. However, he wasn't involved whatsoever in the passing game, extending his catchless streak to five games to open the season. Gillislee is certainly capable of serving as an effective red-zone back -- as his four touchdowns through the first two games attest -- but he can put up lackluster fantasy numbers on weeks when he doesn't get any cracks at the goal line. He'll look to up his production and score for the first time since Week 2 when the Patriots tangle with the Jets in Week 6.

Barner might see work in the offense on Sunday against the Cardinals if Wendell Smallwood is limited or out, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Eagles re-signed Barner after Darren Sproles was lost to injury for the season in Week 3 and only saw action on special teams in his first game back. If Smallwood is still hampered by the swelling in his knee come Sunday, the door is potentially open for Barner, who is seen as a better fit in the passing game than either LeGarrette Blount or Corey Clement. The 28-year-old running back played 13 games last year for the Eagles, rushing 27 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns to go with 42 yards on five receptions.

Martin is listed as active Thursday against the Patriots, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Martin will be making his season debut after completing a four-game suspension for a violation of the policy on substances of abuse. No matter, there's no telling what kind of workload he'll handle, especially due to the success of Jacquizz Rodgers in the first three games. Overall, Rodgers took 40 carries for 165 yards and one touchdown, so a timeshare of sorts may dominate until a hot hand emerges between the duo. Either way, Martin is poised for his first touches since Week 15 of last season.

Abdullah (ankle) was listed as a full participant in Thursday's practice, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

The Lions held out Abdullah for much of the fourth quarter of their Week 4 win over the Vikings after he rolled his ankle, but it appears that his health is on fairly solid footing heading into Sunday's tilt with the Panthers. Though Abdullah's workload was limited in the team's first practice of the week Wednesday, his involvement in full drills a day later paves the way for him to lead the team's backfield again. Despite the early departure against Minnesota, Abdullah still finished with his best stat line of the young campaign, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries while adding 15 receiving yards on three catches.

McKinnon (ankle) turned in a full practice Thursday.

McKinnon exited late in Sunday's loss to the Lions with the ankle injury, but fortunately for a Vikings squad that will be without running back Dalvin Cook (knee) for the season with a torn ACL, it doesn't appear the team will suffer another personnel loss at the position. With Cook and his three-down role now up for grabs, McKinnon will naturally have an easier path to offensive snaps, but it's expected most of his opportunities will come on passing downs, as he's averaging just 3.3 yards per carry over the last season and a quarter. Instead, Latavius Murray should be the main beneficiary of Cook's absence and assume the bulk of the carries out of the Vikings' backfield.

Washington (quadriceps) was held out of the Lions' practice Thursday, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

With Washington confined to the sideline for the Lions' first two practices of the week, it seems likely that he'll miss his third consecutive game Sunday against the Panthers. The third-string back's continued absence will open up a role in the Lions' offense for Zach Zenner, who has seen some short-yardage work in both of the previous two contests.

The Vikings placed Cook (knee) on injured reserve Thursday, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

After Cook suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Sunday versus the Lions, the move from the 53-man roster to IR was expected. Of more importance, at least for fantasy purposes, is Cook's replacement. Latavius Murray will be given the first shot to lead the Vikings backfield, but his surgically repaired ankle is still plaguing him. Moving down the depth chart, Jerick McKinnon picked up an ankle injury of unknown severity Sunday. With ailments potentially hindering Murray and McKinnon at the moment, the Vikings signed six-year pro Stevan Ridley to round out the RB corps.