NFL Player News

After a sluggish start to camp, Williams finally showed some life during Friday's practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

After having a talk with running backs coach Bobby Turner during the team's off day Wednesday, Williams has looked like a different player over the past couple of practices. The highlight of the 23-year-old's day was when he made a decisive cut that led to a huge gain during 11-on-11 drills. Williams even drew praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan: "I thought [Williams] had his best day yesterday and then it seemed like today was better than that." The rookie appears to have reentered the conversation for meaningful touches, though he'll need to maintain the momentum he's gained over the past couple days.

Mixon (heel) returned to practice Friday, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports.

Mixon was forced into a premature exit from Thursday's session after being kicked in the heel. Although he had his left foot checked out by Cincinnati's medical staff afterward, Mixon's problem was always thought to be minor, which his return for Friday's practice confirms.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not expect Elliott to be suspended by the league once its investigation into his personal conduct is concluded, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Until the NFL announces its decision regarding potential punishment, the tailback's status for the season's early weeks remains up in the air. While Jones' support of Elliott and positive outlook isn't necessarily surprising, his belief that a ruling should come soon is perhaps most important to note. That said, the league has not revealed a timetable for its decision, leaving Elliott's situation in need of continuous monitoring going forward.

Mack has drawn considerable praise from coach Chuck Pagano for his performance through training camp thus far, Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star reports. Speaking on Mack, Pagano said: "He jumps off the tape. He's popping out here. He's a talented guy."

Mack's athleticism and vision were also mentioned by Pagano, who has come away impressed by the fourth-rounder's toughness in pass protection as well. The latter trait could lend itself to some nice third-down work for Mack, but if he continues to excel in camp, he could move his way up the Colts' depth chart. The South Florida product currently resides behind Frank Gore, Robert Turbin and Josh Ferguson, but as a slashing, big-play threat, it'll be interesting to see whether he can garner more opportunities over the course of the preseason.

Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie said Henry has looked "phenomenal" at training camp, ESPN.com's Cameron Wolfe reports.

With DeMarco Murray sidelined by a minor hamstring injury, Henry has dominated first-team work the past couple practices, making a strong impression with his improved pass-catching skills in addition to his running ability. The 2015 Heisman winner started to take a bigger chunk out of Murray's workload late last season -- especially near the goal line -- and it seems the young behemoth is poised for an even larger share in his sophomore campaign. Already a top-notch handcuff, Henry could also prove useful even if Murray stays healthy. The 23-year-old has long-term aspirations of becoming a three-down workhorse, with his receiving skills proving to be far better than what was expected when he was drafted.

Pumphrey (hamstring) still wasn't back at practice Friday, Martin Frank of The Delaware News reports.

Absent for a fourth straight day, Pumphrey is in danger of missing Thursday's preseason opener against Green Bay. He was mixing in with the first-team offense prior to injuring his hamstring, serving as a pass-catching threat both out of the backfield and from the slot. While perhaps viewed as more of a long-term replacement for Darren Sproles than a likely Week 1 contributor, Pumphrey did seem to be pushing for an immediate role in the offense before he got hurt.

Hillman gained five yards on six carries and didn't draw any targets in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against Arizona.

In addition to the poor stat line, Hillman worked behind Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris and Rod Smith, suggesting the Cowboys' recent addition is a long shot to make the roster. While he still has more time to prove himself during camp and the preseason, Hillman seems to be No. 5 in the backfield pecking order right now.

Murray (ankle) is hoping to return to practice in the near future, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "I had two really good [workouts], so things are good," Murray said Thursday. "It is [getting close]. ... I did a little bit of everything, so hopefully soon."

Murray was encouraged after two days of individual work earlier this week, which marked the most activity he's managed on his ankle since bone spurs were removed in March. The Vikings followed up his signing that month with the selection of running back Dalvin Cook in the second round of the 2017 draft. As a result, Murray's lengthy absence has laid the groundwork for Cook to stake a claim to the top RB gig in Minnesota, at least that is until the veteran is able to return to the practice field.

Elliott won't be available for Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Cardinals, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Drawing an extra exhibition game this year, the Cowboys will sit most of the starters, among them Elliott, Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant. Because Elliott will be out of the lineup and Darren McFadden has plenty of experience in the offense, the backfield could be primarily the domain of Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Ronnie Hillman on Thursday.

Though Mixon was kicked in the heel and cut during Thursday's practice, his injury is not considered serious, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter's report adds further detail to news Jim Owczarski of The Cincinnati Enquirer relayed earlier Thursday, noting that the rookie back "gingerly left team drills" and subsequently had his left foot checked out.