NFL Player News

Mostert was promoted to the Bears' 53-man roster Wednesday, Scott Krinch of CSNChicago.com reports.

Mostert has appeared in 11 NFL regular season games with three teams after going undrafted in 2015. He has yet to record a rushing attempt, however, instead spending all of his time as a kick returner. He'll fill in the No. 4 spot at running back in Chicago behind Jeremy Langford, Ka'Deem Carey (hamstring) and Jordan Howard.

Coach Mike Zimmer relayed Wednesday that McKinnon is now slated to serve as the Vikings' starting running back, with Adrian Peterson set to undergo a knee procedure.

With Peterson out indefinitely, McKinnon is in line to head the Vikings' backfield, though Matt Asiata also figures to see added touches in the coming weeks, with Ronnie Hillman having been signed Wednesday to provide the team with added backfield depth.

McKinnon will start at running back this week against Carolina, head coach Mike Zimmer told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

With Adrian Peterson set to have knee surgery and expected to miss multiple games, the Vikings will turn to McKinnon and Matt Asiata. While McKinnon will start, it's not clear how the touches will be divided as Asiata has ten carries this season to McKinnon's three carries.

Hillman signed a contract with Minnesota.

Hillman's signing with the Vikings likely indicates they expect Adrian Peterson to miss several games or more. It's hard to see Hillman having a role initially as he'll add depth, but he could work his way into the rotation in a few weeks if Peterson remains out.

Washington will take over as the Lions' backup running back with Ameer Abdullah (foot) on injured reserve, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Washington played sparingly in the Lions' first two games, but he is set to move up the depth chart with Abdullah out at least the next eight weeks. Theo Riddick will be the Lions' primary running back, but Washington is a bigger back who already found paydirt from one yard out in Week 1, so he could see snaps in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

Rodgers' workload should see a significant bump in light of Ian Rapoport of NFL Network's report that Doug Martin will miss approximately three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The veteran back will thus be thrown right into the fire with the Bucs after just having signed on Sep. 13, two days following the opener. Rodgers received two carries after Martin exited Sunday's game with his injury and is now expected to serve as a change-of-pace option to Charles Sims in the coming weeks, essentially filling Sims' role when Martin is active. Rodgers served as a primary back for the Falcons over five games back in 2013, rushing for 194 yards on an average of 3.3 yards per carry, while also adding 152 yards on 24 receptions and scoring four total touchdowns. The initial expectation is that Sims will receive the majority of carries, but a much closer timeshare is not out of the question depending on how matters unfold.

Sims' workload should see a significant bump following Ian Rapoport of NFL Network's report that Doug Martin will miss approximately three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old does have some prior, albeit limited, experience as the Bucs' lead back, having totaled 59 yards on 21 carries over two 2014 games in which Martin was sidelined. Sims is expected to be in at least a modest timeshare this time around, however, as the recently-signed Jacquizz Rodgers also figures to see a handful of touches at a minimum. Sims' most extensive workload in college came during his senior season at West Virginia, when he tallied 208 totes over 12 games, which netted 1,095 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Martin (hamstring) is expected to be out about three weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Martin had a MRI on Tuesday and the results must not have been great. Charles Sims figures to become the Buccaneers' lead tailback as a result, with recent signing Jacquizz Rodgers in line for snaps behind him.

Abdullah (foot) was placed on injured reserve.

Abdullah was slated for an examination of his left foot Tuesday with Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina and it must not have gone well. Theo Riddick and rookie Dwayne Washington should have larger roles in Week 3 against the Packers as a result.

Cunningham rushed one time for two yards and added one reception (on two targets) for seven yards in Sunday's win over the Seahawks.

Cunningham has now tallied four touches and 17 total yards in the Rams' first two games. Starting running back Todd Gurley is a true bell-cow, and as long as Gurley remains healthy, Cunningham is likely going to have a diminished role in the Rams' offense.