NFL Player News

Spears (concussion) is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders.

Spears missed the Titans' Week 12 contest against the Texans while in concussion protocol. He should return to a change-of-pace role in the Tennessee backfield behind Tony Pollard. Spears did see 10 total touches in his last full contest and should play a meaningful role in Sunday's contest.

Hall (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Randy Lange of the Jets' official site reports.

After tweaking his knee during the Jets' Week 11 loss to the Colts, Hall was still sore coming out of a Week 12 bye and sat out Wednesday's practice. Though the Wednesday absence initially seemed to put his availability for Sunday's game in peril, Hall made steady improvement throughout the week, as he upgraded to limited participation Thursday before putting in a full practice Friday. While Hall still carried a questionable designation into the weekend, now that he's been cleared to play, he should be expected to handle something close to a normal workload Sunday. Hall has earned no fewer than 14 touches in each of the Jets' last six games, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 10.1 yards per reception while scoring three touchdowns over that stretch.

McCormick reverted to the Raiders' practice squad Saturday, per the NFL's transaction log.

With Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps) both inactive for Friday's game against the Chiefs, McCormick was thrust into backup running back duties behind Ameer Abdullah. McCormick finished Friday's game with 12 carries for 64 yards while adding two catches for one yard, and he played 26 snaps on offense while Abdullah led the Raiders' backfield with 42 offensive snaps. McCormick has an opportunity to reprise his backup role for Week 14 against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 8 if both Mattison and White were to be sidelined for that contest.

The Jets elevated Nwangwu from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

It's the first time Nwangwu has been elevated to the Jets' active roster, and he has an opportunity to make his 2024 regular-season debut against the Seahawks on Sunday. Nwangwu played in nine regular-season games for the Vikings in 2023 and logged five carries for 13 yards.

Ekeler (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

This wasn't that surprising given Ekeler's history of concussions over his career, with the Week 12 concussion accounting for his second of the 2024 campaign. The veteran running back won't be eligible to return until Week 18, effectively ending his fantasy season. Jeremy McNichols figures to step in immediately as the pass-catching running back and has done well in that role in replacement of Ekeler, tallying nine touches for 74 yards and two touchdowns back in Week 4 against the Cardinals.

Dobbins (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh suggested earlier in the week the talented running back would be out some time, and now we know Dobbins will miss at minimum four weeks due to a knee sprain. He should be back well in time for the NFL playoffs, but fantasy managers will be without the powerful back until at least Week 17 against the Patriots. Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins were the two backs used in the Week 12 loss to the Ravens, but that was in part because rookie Kimani Vidal wasn't active for the contest, as the Chargers prefer Haskins' utility on special teams. Vidal could be poised to see the biggest leap in playing time, perhaps effectively taking over Dobbins' role as an explosive option out of the backfield, with Edwards operating as a bruising between-the-tackles ball carrier.

Conner signed a two-year, $19 million extension with the Cardinals on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Conner was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent and a marquee name ahead of another deep class of available running backs, but the Cardinals proactively locked down one of their main offensive pieces through the 2026 season instead. With Arizona in the midst of a playoff push in a tough NFC West, the 29-year-old is on pace to surpass his career high in rushing yards (1,040) and receiving yards (497) thanks in large part to his health, as Conner is poised to miss four or fewer games for just the second time in his eight-year career.

Pacheco (ankle) took seven carries for 44 yards and caught his only target for five receiving yards in Friday's 19-17 win over the Raiders.

Pacheco made a successful return from a nine-game layoff due to an ankle injury that occurred back in Week 2. The explosive back looked the part after averaging 6.3 yards per carry while tying fill-in starter Kareem Hunt with seven carries in Friday's slim win. Both backs figure to remain involved with a head coach as creative as Andy Reid, but Pacheco is certainly the back with the upward trending arrow on his fantasy stock. For now, consider both Chiefs playable options heading into an important divisional matchup against the Chargers next Sunday.

Hunt rushed seven times for 15 yards while catching two of four targets for no yards in Friday's 19-17 win over the Raiders.

Week 1 starter Isiah Pacheco (ankle) was activated from a 10-week stint on injured reserve to out-gain Hunt by 34 total yards on one less touch Friday. The latter remained involved with an even split in carries in the first game the two backs have played together this year. Hunt figures to maintain a minor role as both a rushing and a receiving option as Pacheco works back from a long layoff, but his value certainly took a hit Week 13. The Chiefs will have a couple of extra days off ahead of next Sunday's home tilt against the Chargers.

McCormick rushed 12 times for 64 yards and brought in both targets for one yard in the Raiders' 19-17 loss to the Chiefs on Friday.

McCormick led the Raiders in rushing yardage, logging two additional carries and 25 more rushing yards than backfield mate Ameer Abdullah. McCormick had just seen his first five career touches Week 12 against the Broncos and had been similarly efficient with a lighter workload, recording 33 yards on five carries on just eight snaps. The UTSA product, who twice rushed for over 1,400 yards in college, has undeniably shown promise, but it remains to be seen what his role will be if both Zamir White (quadriceps) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) are available for a Week 14 road matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 8.