NFL Player News

Head coach Jay Gruden said Tuesday that Kelley is day-to-day due to an ankle sprain.

Kelley was the only Redskins running back to receive a touch on their opening touchdown drive, while Chris Thompson mixed in on the team's second possession. However, Kelley didn't make an appearance beyond the first quarter due to an ankle injury and was eventually downgraded to doubtful to return, which is generally the death knell for any more snaps. By game's end, though, the Redskins hadn't focused on any one player to fuel the ground game. Kirk Cousins led the way with seven carries for 38 yards, followed by Samaje Perine (six for 27), Thompson (six for 23) and Kelley (seven for 23). Because Kelley handled seven reps in the first quarter alone, he can be considered Washington's lead back, when healthy, until further notice.

Elliott could get a decision during the Cowboys' Week 6 bye on the NFL's appeal of the preliminary injunction that is keeping the league from enforcing his six-game suspension, Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Both the NFL and NFLPA made their cases in oral arguments Monday before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, with Judge Edward Prado indicating to both parties the court would "try to get back to you as soon as we can," but no decision is expected before the Cowboys take the field this weekend against the Packers. The NFL's best chance to get the suspension to stick in 2017 would seem to rest on NFLPA lawyer Jeffrey Kessler's unusual decision to file his appeal in Texas rather than New York, where the league's offices are located, and to do so before arbiter Harold Henderson even issued his ruling. If those procedural issues get rejected, however, Elliott seems all but certain to play the entire rest of the season while his case winds its way through the legal system.

Perine rushed six times for 27 yards in Monday night's 29-20 loss to the Chiefs.

Perine entered Monday's contest having carried 40 times over Washington's previous two games. Although his average of 2.9 yards per rush left much to be desired, Perine's usage still seemed to be a source for encouragement. His prospects appeared brighter when starter Rob Kelley exited with a first-half ankle injury, but in the end, the rookie tied Chris Thompson with just six carries, trailing both Kelley (seven) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (seven) in the category. To his credit, though, Perine was productive when called upon, which could help his case if Kelley's availability is impacted by his ailment following the Redskins' bye week.

Johnson rushed 13 times for 32 yards and reeled in all three passes for 31 yards during Sunday's 18-15 overtime win against the 49ers.

Johnson made better use of a second consecutive start, tripling his yards from scrimmage from 21 in Week 3 to 63 in Week 4. That said, fellow running back Andre Ellington again picked up more offensive snaps than Johnson (46 to 35), while eclipsing the century mark with 104 total yards, most of them on a team-high nine receptions. In David Johnson's (wrist) absence, the Cardinals appear to have discovered a backfield elixir that works for them, with (Chris) Johnson handling the majority of carries and Ellington operating as a key check down for quarterback Carson Palmer. As a result, expect the elder Johnson to pick up double-digit runs from game to game to give the offense a modest threat on the ground.

Washington has downgraded Kelley (ankle) to doubtful to return to Monday's game against the Chiefs, Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports.

Kelley was originally labeled questionable to return after heading to the locker room in the first half. He subsequently ran sprints after returning to the sideline but was apparently unable to convince the training staff he was capable of returning to the game. Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson figure to continue working in tandem out of the Redskins backfield, assuming Kelley remains sidelined. Should that transpire, Kelley will finish Week 4 with seven carries for 23 yards.

Sims carried once for 14 yards and secured his only target for seven yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 25-23 win over the Giants.

Through three games, Sims has logged just nine touches, well behind the 38 he'd already notched at this point last season. Part of the boost in opportunity he saw in the early going of 2016 stemmed from a Doug Martin hamstring injury, but Sims hasn't really been given the same chance to capitalize on the latter's early-season absence due to a suspension this year. While the receiving touchdown Sunday was certainly a positive, it's fair to wonder what level of involvement Sims will have moving forward, considering that Martin is officially reinstated and therefore in line to split the majority of backfield work with Jacquizz Rodgers.

Kelley (ankle) is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Chiefs.

Kelley went to the locker room but was seen returning to the sidelines, where he performed sprints as if he were gearing to get back into the game. If the team doesn't clear him to return, then Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson will work in tandem to keep the Redskins' run game churning.

Williams rushed one time for one yard and had zero catches on two targets in Sunday's 20-0 loss to the Saints in London.

Williams saw only 11 of 52 offensive snaps and remains relegated primarily to a special teams role. Opportunities are few and far between for the 25-year-old, as starter Jay Ajayi continues to dominate the snap count at running back.

Ekeler is expected to see an uptick in usage moving forward, Ricky Henne of the Chargers' official site reports. "Every drive he's in the game, we move the chains," head coach Anthony Lynn said of the running back after Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Eagles dropped the team to 0-4.

Despite turning heads throughout training camp and the preseason, Ekeler didn't see much action during the first three games of the season. However, he received his first professional carry in Week 4 and took it 35 yards to the house while clearly proving he possesses the quick-twitch explosiveness to succeed at the professional level. It's not clear if Lynn envisions the undrafted rookie as someone who could quickly supplant Branden Oliver as the direct backup to starter Melvin Gordon, but, at a minimum, Ekeler seems destined to see added work on passing downs moving forward.

Drake had one carry for six yards and two receptions for five yards in Sunday's 20-0 loss to the Saints in London.

Drake played only nine of 52 offensive snaps, but the three touches represented a season high. Fellow running back Damien Williams saw a similarly light workload, while even workhorse Jay Ajayi only registered 13 touches in the blowout.