NFL Player News

Grimes did not practice Thursday due to illness.

The longevity of this flu bug will ultimately be the deciding factor on whether or not Grimes is available Sunday against the Jaguars. As the No. 3 running back on the depth chart, his absence wouldn't necessarily take a huge toll on the offensive game plan, but the back does play an important role in the special teams unit. Look for more updates to come as kickoff nears.

Martin (hamstring) logged his second limited practice in a row Thursday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. "I feel good. I was practicing yesterday and I'm getting there," Martin told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "I'm getting to that point and it's kind of frustrating but I'm just going to take all the proper steps and we have to take the proper steps to get me back on the field."

The beleaguered Buccaneers received great news this week with the return of Martin, who was clearly referencing the setback with his hamstring in his previous attempt to return to the field in Week 5. His activity has so far included agility work, cutting, change of direction, and pass-catching, according to Laine. Ultimately, the coaching and training staffs will convene before Sunday's game versus the Bears in order to determine whether Martin is ready for the rigors of running back. With Jacquizz Rodgers still working his way back from a foot sprain, Martin's presence would be a welcome relief for a backfield that currently boasts Peyton Barber, Mike James, and Russell Hansbrough among its healthy options.

Henry (strained calf) did not practice Thursday, Jim Wyatt of titansonline.com reports.

That said, coach Mike Mularkey indicated that he's optimistic Henry -- who is dealing with a calf injury he suffered in pregame warmups this past weekend --will be able to practice on a limited basis Friday. "The plan is to try and go out there tomorrow in practice and see how it feels," noted Henry, who added Thursday "I definitely think I have a chance to play on Sunday, but you have to go through the process and get more treatment and see how it feels tomorrow."

Head coach Jay Gruden termed Kelley the Redskins' "first-string running back" Thursday, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post reports.

Although previous No. 1 back Matt Jones used the team's Week 9 bye to rid himself of a knee injury, Gruden will stick with Kelley for the foreseeable future. Coming off 87 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries in their last game on Oct. 30, Kelley has reeled off runs this year at a clip of 5.0 YPC, but the Vikings' eighth-ranked run defense may present a stumbling block for the undrafted rookie Sunday.

Carey (illness) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Carey's bout with an illness was only a momentary concern, as he progressed from a DNP on Wednesday to handling every practice rep one day later. Elsewhere in the backfield, Jordan Howard staked his claim to a plurality of touches with 202 yards from scrimmage in their last contest in Week 8. Barring a step back in production, he likely doesn't have to worry about Carey or Jeremy Langford pilfering reps, at least for the time being.

Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed Wednesday that Rawls (fibula) won't suit up for Sunday night's game at New England, Liz Mathews of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Carroll added that Rawls completed the walk-through session, before partaking in some drills at practice itself, if his designation as a limited participant is any indication. With Rawls out of commission, the Seahawks will be more reliant on C.J. Prosise after back-to-back games in which he roughly split snaps with Christine Michael.

Jones (knee) was unlisted on the Redskins' injury report Wednesday, Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports.

Uneven play characterized the first seven games of the season for Jones. While he surpassed 100 yards rushing two times, he combined for just 208 yards in the other five outings. Soon, an inability to avoid fumbles was the first indication that a changing of the guard may be happening within Washington's backfield. The final nail in the coffin was likely the knee injury that kept Jones on the sideline in the team's last contest before a Week 9 bye, which allowed Robert Kelley to rack up 87 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in a 27-27 tie with the Bengals on Oct. 30. Jones clearly benefited from the week off, progressing from individual drills Monday to an uncapped session just two days later. The primary question mark hanging over his head at the moment is the number of snaps and, by proxy, touches he'll see as he works in conjunction with Kelley.

Martin (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Martin's mobility was evident in the portion of practice open to the media, but his reps were nonetheless contained as he eases back into the fold. Whether he logs his first game action since Week 2 remains to be seen, but his ability to handle a full workload Thursday or Friday will perhaps be the best indicator of a potential return.

Henry (strained calf) did not practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of titansonline.com reports.

Henry, who is dealing with a calf injury that he suffered in pre-game warmups this past Sunday, remains iffy for this weekend's game against the Packers, though the rookie back hasn't been ruled out for the contest at this stage. If he ends up sitting this week, Antonio Andrews would once again be in line to serve as DeMarco Murray's top backup.

Carey (illness) was unable to practice Wednesday.

Prior to Jordan Howard's outburst in Week 8, Carey had been making inroads within the Bears' backfield, totaling 19 carries for 98 yards in the two games previous. In the aforementioned contest, Howard was ridden to the tune of 202 yards from scrimmage on 50 of the 61 offensive snaps, with the remainder split between Carey (six) and Jeremy Langford (five). The preceding will likely be the breakdown moving forward due to the vote of confidence given Howard from running backs coach Stan Drayton in the interim, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Carey's current bout with an illness also isn't doing him any favors in the quest for touches.