NFL Player News

Benson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's contest at the Rams, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

After sitting out Week 16 at Carolina due to an ankle injury, Benson has been listed as limited on all three Week 17 practice reports. No. 1 RB James Conner (knee) followed the same regimen this week, but coach Jonathan Gannon told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com on Thursday that he wasn't certain about the statuses of both running backs. In the end, The Cardinals will post their list of inactives about 90 minutes before Saturday's 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff, but if Conner and/or Benson are limited or sidelined, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the next players up at the position.

Charbonnet is slated to serve as Seattle's lead back for the final two games of the regular season after Kenneth Walker was placed on injured reserve Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Walker had already been ruled out in advance of Thursday's game in Chicago, but his move to IR sets up Charbonnet for two starts to close out the season, and potentially at least two more in the playoffs if the Seahawks are able to punch their ticket to the postseason by beating out the Rams for the NFC West title. Charbonnet projects as a strong option in fantasy lineups in Week 17, given the heavy volume the Seahawks have given him in the other four games Walker has missed this season. In those four contests, Charbonnet has scored six touchdowns and has averaged 19.5 touches for 108.8 scrimmage yards.

Conner (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game at the Rams, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Conner made an early departure from this past Sunday's loss in Carolina due to a knee injury, which contained him to limited listings on all three Week 17 practice reports. The Cardinals held practice Wednesday and Thursday, the latter of which Conner was spotted with a sleeve on his right leg, per Mackie. Coach Jonathan Gannon told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com earlier Thursday that Conner has made "good progress" in his recovery, but he also was unsure of the statuses of both Conner and fellow RB Trey Benson (ankle), who also is listed as questionable. Ultimately, Arizona will post its list of inactives for Saturday's game about 90 minutes before an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff, but if either or both RBs are inhibited or sidelined, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the next options at the position.

Kamara (groin) didn't practice Thursday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Kamara has been held out of all drills since sustaining an adductor injury Week 15 against the Commanders, but interim coach Darren Rizzi told John Hendrix of SI.com on Thursday that the running back was in the midst of rehab and in "good spirits." Such comments don't exactly shed light on Kamara's prospects for Sunday's game versus the Raiders, but Friday's practice report may provide some clarity on that front. Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims are on hand in the event Kamara requires another absence this weekend.

Shipley (concussion) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.

Shipley was diagnosed with a concussion following the Eagles' Week 16 loss to the Commanders. His inability to practice Thursday indicates that he is facing an uphill battle to clear the league's five-step concussion protocols ahead of Sunday's game against the Cowboys. The Eagles signed Lew Nichols to the practice squad Thursday, and he could be elevated to the active roster to serve as the No. 3 running back behind Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell if Shipley is unable to play Sunday.

Pollard (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field for Thursday's practice, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Pollard will go down as a non-participant for the seventh time on the Titans' last eight practice reports, but the running back has yet to miss a game. However, after sitting out all three of the Titans' sessions last week before taking a questionable tag into the weekend, Pollard played a season-low 40 percent of the offensive snaps in a 38-30 loss to the Colts. Even if Pollard is able to suit up again this Sunday in Jacksonville, he could once again find himself in a timeshare out of the backfield with Tyjae Spears, who played the other 60 percent of snaps last week and scored two touchdowns while accounting for 66 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches (10 carries, three receptions).

The Seahawks placed Walker (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Walker already was ruled out for Thursday's game at Chicago due to an ankle injury that he sustained in the second half of this past Sunday's loss to the Vikings, but he'll now be out Week 18 and for any playoff matchups that Seattle would have before the NFC Championship Game, assuming the team qualifies and makes it that far. In the meantime, Zach Charbonnet will pace the Seahawks backfield while Kenny McIntosh backs him up.

Patterson rushed once for two yards during Wednesday's 29-10 loss to Kansas City.

Patterson was on the field for just one offensive snap Wednesday, and he had minimal production on his lone carry. The 33-year-old has played single-digit snaps on offense in four consecutive weeks, and he's rushed seven times for 14 yards while securing all three of his targets for nine yards and a touchdown during that time.

Hubbard practiced in a limited capacity Thursday due to a knee injury.

Hubbard was listed as a non-participant on the Panthers' first Week 17 injury report Wednesday with rest, so it's unclear if his practice restrictions a day later are related to maintenance or indicative of a potential health concern suffered during Thursday's session. Friday's practice report could provide clarity on that front for a running back that's coming off his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the campaign this past Sunday against the Cardinals.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Guerendo (foot/hamstring) will be limited at Thursday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

As Shanahan projected Monday, Guerendo is returning to the practice field for the first time since Week 15 prep, which is a good sign after he sat out Week 16 in Miami due to foot and hamstring injuries. If Guerendo is able to make it through the week unscathed and suit up Monday against the Lions, he'd provide a boost for a 49ers backfield that will be without Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) in Week 17.