NFL Player News

Mixon (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Mixon, who was limited at practice Friday for the second consecutive day, appears to be trending toward Week 17 availability, but his status should still be verified in advance of Sunday's nine-deep slate of 4:25 ET games. Assuming Mixon -- who was limited to just six snaps in Week 16 -- suits up this weekend, he'd presumably work in some form of a time-share with Giovani Bernard (ankle), who racked up 116 rushing yards (on 23 carries) and a TD, as well as seven catches for 52 yards in last week's win over the Lions.

Gillislee (knee) did not take part in Friday's practice, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.

Gillislee found paydirt last week in his first action in nearly two months, but he has not practiced this week due to his injury, so it's looking unlikely he will get a chance to back up that performance. Gillislee's official status for Week 17 will be revealed after Friday's practice comes to an end.

Jones (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.

The extent of the knee injury Jones suffered in Week 16 is still not entirely certain, but it has prevented him from practicing this week and will sideline him for the Packers' regular-season finale. Jones finishes his rookie season with a pedestrian 448 yards, but he will be a player to keep in mind heading into fantasy drafts in 2018. He averaged a healthy 5.5 yards per carry and proved capable of handling lead-back duties several times during the campaign.

The Chargers listed Gordon (ankle) as a limited practice participant Thursday.

It was thought that the running back would be listed as a non-participant, but evidently he got some work in Thursday. Assuming his ankle responds fine to the work he put in, Gordon would appear to be headed toward active status Sunday against the Raiders. More on his status no later than Friday, when the Chargers release their final Week 17 injury report.

Mixon (ankle) returned to a limited practice Thursday.

Fellow running back Giovani Bernard (ankle) -- who ran for 116 yards and a TD and caught seven passes for 52 yards in Week 16 -- was also limited Thursday, in his case for the second day in a row. Both players appear on track to play Sunday against the Ravens, barring any setbacks, though Mixon could well end up listed as questionable for the contest.

Gordon (ankle) won't practice Thursday, but Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is optimistic the running back will turn in a limited session Friday.

Gordon isn't abandoning hope of playing in the season finale against the Raiders, but he'll almost certainly carry an injury designation heading into the weekend after Lynn more or less confirmed the 24-year-old won't practice fully at any point this week. Though the swelling around the sprained left ankle Gordon sustained in the Week 16 win over the Jets is said to be minimal, it appears he'll have to play through pain if he ultimately suits up Sunday. In the event Gordon isn't able to demonstrate enough progress in his recovery and is ruled out for Week 17, backup Branden Oliver would assume lead-back duties for the first time this season.

The Chargers signed Simmons to their practice squad Wednesday, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The addition of Simmons bolsters the Chargers' backfield depth heading into the team's Week 17 matchup against Oakland. In the event Melvin Gordon (ankle) is ruled out Sunday and Austin Ekeler (finger) remains limited to special-teams work, Simmons or fellow practice squad running back Russell Hansbrough could be promoted to the 53-man roster to serve as the top backup to Branden Oliver.

Oliver could act as the Chargers' lead back Sunday against the Raiders if Melvin Gordon (ankle) is sidelined for the contest, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Oliver hasn't been pressed into a full-time role since 2014 and has languished in seven games in 2017, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry on 28 totes. However, with Gordon failing to practice Wednesday and uncertain to suit up in the regular-season finale while he nurses a sprained ankle and Austin Ekeler's broken ring finger likely to prevent him from contributing on offense, opportunity knocks for Oliver in a game that will determine the Chargers' playoff fate. Oliver's poor efficiency this season creates some justified skepticism about his fantasy prospects in Week 17, but the potential absences of Gordon and Ekeler from the game plan would likely leave Oliver in line to handle the overwhelming share of the touches out of the backfield.

Gillislee (knee) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.

The same applies to fellow running back Rex Burkhead (knee), and with James White (ankle) -- who was inactive in Week 16 -- still working in a limited fashion, Friday's final injury report will provide intrigue with regard to the composition of the Patriots' Week 17 backfield. The one thing that appears clear on that front is that Dion Lewis is on track to head the team's ground game Sunday against the Jets, though who will be around to back him up/work in complementary roles this weekend has yet to be solidified.

Williams (quad/ribs) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Williams seems to be healthier than last week, which he kicked off with back-to-back DNPs before practicing in a limited capacity Friday. After getting the all-clear to play Sunday against the Giants, he earned 16 carries and three targets on his 33 offensive snaps, racking up 65 yards from scrimmage in the process. Williams still hasn't reached the end zone since Week 1, but an upcoming matchup with the Seahawks, who have allowed the eighth-most TDs (14) to running backs this season, could be just what the doctor ordered.