NFL Player News

Benson (ankle) was estimated as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports. ""We'll see how they go, but that's obviously why I didn't rule them out," head coach Jonathan Gannon said of Benson and fellow running back James Conner (knee), who was also listed as a limited participant. "They both have a chance to play [Saturday versus the Rams]."

Conner exited this past Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to the Panthers with the knee injury, while Benson sat out the contest entirely due to the ankle injury he sustained a week earlier in the Cardinals' win over the Patriots. The two backs seem to be in similar spots in their respective recoveries from the injury, but both may need to upgrade to full participation in practices Wednesday and/or Thursday to avoid taking a designation into Saturday. If neither Conner nor Benson is able to gain clearance for the Week 17 contest, Gannon said that Michael Carter "would get a lot of carries," per Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic.

Conner (knee) was estimated as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Despite exiting Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to the Panthers with the knee injury, Conner looks like he still has a chance at being available for the Cardinals' Week 17 matchup with the Rams on Saturday. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said as much earlier Tuesday, and Conner backed up that optimism by being able to take the field for the Cardinals' first Week 17 session, albeit with a cap on his reps. Even if Conner makes enough progress in his recovery from the injury to play Saturday, he could be in store for a lighter workload than he's handled in previous weeks, as the Cardinals have no incentive to push him while the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

McLaughlin (quadricep) was a limited practice participant Tuesday.

After exiting the Broncos' Week 15 win over the Colts on Dec. 15 with the quad injury, McLaughlin was unable to heal up quickly enough to play on a short week, prompting Denver to make him inactive for last Thursday's 34-27 loss to the Chargers. He'll have a better chance at returning to action for Saturday's game at Cincinnati, though McLaughlin will likely need to upgrade to full participation in practice Wednesday or Thursday to avoid carrying a designation into the contest.

Badie (back) was a full participant in his return to practice Wednesday.

After being designated for return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday and having his 21-day practice window opened, Badie faced no restrictions while taking part in his first on-field work since Week 4. The third-year running back has spent the past two and a half months recuperating from a back injury he suffered in a Sept. 29 win over the Jets, so the Broncos may want him to turn in more than just one week of practice before activating him from IR. Denver signed Blake Watson off their practice squad Wednesday to bolster its depth in the backfield, which lessens the need for the team to rush Badie back from IR in advance of Saturday's game in Cincinnati.

The Broncos signed Watson to their active roster from their practice squad Tuesday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Watson appeared in two games for Denver while on their practice squad and has carried the ball twice for nine yards. He could see increased usage once again during Saturday's matchup versus the Bengals if Jaleel McLaughlin (quadricep) is out again.

Mims accrued four rushes for 16 yards and caught five of eight targets for 16 yards during Monday's 34-0 defeat to the Packers.

The undrafted rookie served as RB2 behind second-year running back Jordan Mims while Alvin Kamara (groin) was inactive. Mims logged season highs in targets and catches, as rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler faced consistent pressure throughout the night and was forced to check down over and over again. The running back still averaged just 3.6 yards per touch, which is on par with his production from the nine previous games that he suited up for this year. With two more games left in the regular season and the Saints already eliminated from the playoffs, Mims could continue to serve as RB2 if Kamara ends up being shut down for the remainder of the year.

The Broncos designated Badie (back) to return from injured reserve Tuesday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

Badie was placed on IR on Oct. 5, just a few days after he collapsed on the sideline upon suffering a back injury in the Broncos' Week 4 win over the Jets. More than two and a half months later, he's ready to start practicing again, but given the length of his absence, the running back may not be activated from IR ahead of Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

The Packers placed Merriweather (undisclosed) on the practice-squad injured list Tuesday.

It's not clear what Merriweather is working through, but he will now be barred from being elevated to the Packers' practice squad for the next four games. That means the earliest he could be available for elevation would be the NFC Championship Game if Green Bay were to make it that far. Merriweather has yet to play in a regular-season game since signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in May of 2023.

Green Bay signed Fenwick to the practice squad Tuesday.

Fenwick has been without a team since failing to make the Patriots' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He gives the Packers added depth at running back and could be elevated to the active roster if Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks or Emanuel Wilson were to miss time due to injury, illness or suspension.

The Ravens have ruled Hill (concussion) out for Wednesday's game against the Texans.

Hill was knocked out of Saturday's 34-17 win over the Steelers after his head hit the turf violently when he was brought down on a 25-yard run in the second quarter. Unsurprisingly, Hill was unable to clear the five-step concussion protocol on a short week, and he'll miss his first game of the season Wednesday. With Hill sidelined, Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell will be the available depth options in the backfield behind starter Derrick Henry.