NFL Player News

Gillislee (knee) isn't expected to play in Sunday's AFC championship game against the Jaguars, ESPN.com reports.

Per the report, Gillislee's knee has "not sufficiently recovered" at this stage. On the plus side for the Patriots, fellow running back Rex Burkhead (knee) is slated to be available Sunday and is on track to work in a rotation with lead back Dion Lewis and change-of-pace option James White.

Gillislee (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC championship game after practicing in a limited fashion this week.

Gillislee -- who is bouncing back from a sprained knee ligament -- may have progressed enough to be available Sunday, though he isn't a lock to play in such a scenario, with Dion Lewis and James White ahead of him on the depth chart and Rex Burkhead (knee) a candidate to return to the Patriots' backfield mix this weekend.

Gillislee (knee) was limited at Wednesday's practice.

Per ESPN's Mike Reiss, Gillislee, who last suited up on Dec. 24, is bouncing back from a sprained ligament in his knee. Gillislee isn't a lock to play in Sunday's AFC championship game against the Jaguars even if he is healthy enough to do so, with Dion Lewis, James White and Rex Burkhead (knee) -- health permitting -- also in the team's backfield mix.

Head coach Jay Gruden said Kelley (ankle/knee) was rarely healthy during the 2017 season, Stephen Czarda of the Redskins' official site reports. "Rob Kelley, his second game of the year against the Rams, he almost had 100 yards and that's when he hurt his ankle," Gruden relayed. "He never really was quite the same, but when healthy Rob Kelley was very good. Unfortunately, he played in about three or four games not healthy and he just kept returning that ankle and we had to put him on IR."

Gruden's comments don't jibe with reality, at least regarding Kelley's first issue of the campaign. In Week 2, Kelley's departure was blamed on a rib cartilage injury, which forced one DNP before a return Week 4. During the latter contest, he sustained the initial ankle sprain and continued to aggravate it until his placement on injured reserve midseason. When the Redskins ruled Kelley out for the season, two injuries were to blame: a high-ankle sprain and a Grade 1 or 2 MCL sprain. Kelley was one of many dominoes to fall in the backfield during the year, as all of Chris Thompson (fibula), Byron Marshall (hamstring), LeShun Daniels (hand) and Keith Marshall (knee) landed on IR. With Thompson, Samaje Perine, Kelley and Kapri Bibbs under contract for the 2018 season, it'll be interesting to see how the pecking order breaks down during the offseason program.

Murray rushed 19 times for 50 yards and one touchdown while catching both of his targets for 17 yards during Sunday's 29-24 NFC divisional-round victory over the Saints.

Murray surprisingly wasn't able to get much going against a Saints run defense that allowed the fifth-most yards per carry during the regular season. Teammate and fellow tailback Jerick McKinnon, who carried eight times for 34 yards and a score, was much more effective with his touches. Tougher sledding is sure to come in next week's NFC championship game against an Eagles team that's allowed just 3.8 yards this season, but it can't be ignored that Murray has averaged over four red-zone carries (with eight rushing touchdowns) per game in his past nine outings.

Kamara rushed 11 times for 43 yards while catching four of seven targets for 62 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 29-24 NFC divisional-round loss to the Vikings.

Both Kamara -- who averaged 6.1 yards per carry during the regular season -- and backfield counterpart Mark Ingram were stifled by the Vikings' stout run defense. However, as we experienced on multiple occasions throughout his rookie campaign, Kamara salvaged his fantasy line with a strong showing in the passing game, where his 14-yard touchdown grab gave New Orleans its first lead of the game with just three minutes left in regulation. The Tennessee product and Rookie of the Year candidate will now enter his first full NFL offseason training program with his team out of postseason contention and, especially since the Saints are returning all key offensive cogs in 2018, should indisputably be in the first-round conversation in advance of 2018 fantasy drafts after averaging the most yards per touch in NFL history as a rookie.

Toussaint has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will be able to return to Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Toussaint will be able to return kicks in the second half of Sunday's contest for the Steelers if need be, but he likely won't see much action out of the backfield with Le'Veon Bell at full health.

Toussaint is being evaluated for a possible concussion and his return to Sunday's contest against the Jaguars is questionable.

Toussaint's potential absence could result in additional kick-return opportunities for JuJu Smith-Schuster, but the backfield will continue to be led by Le'Veon Bell per usual.

Gillislee (knee) is listed as inactive Saturday versus the Titans.

A regular scratch for most of the second half of the season, Gillislee wasn't deemed healthy enough to provide support out of the backfield in the Pats' postseason opener. Because Rex Burkhead (knee) is also out of the lineup, Dion Lewis and James White (ankle) will take on RB responsibilities.

Gillislee (knee) is not expected to participate in Saturday's showdown against the Titans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Gillislee returned to practice Thursday in limited fashion, but it appears as though he has not recovered enough to suit up Saturday. With Rex Burkhead (knee) also expected to sit this one out, look for Dion Lewis and James White to take on the majority of the work out of the backfield. Final confirmation on Gillislee's status will be announced once the Patriots release their inactives closer to kickoff.