NFL Player News

Carter (coach's decision) is inactive against the Giants on Sunday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Carter was elevated from the practice squad Saturday, but he will observe Sunday's game in street clothes after Tyjae Spears (ankle) was cleared to play. Spears, rookie fifth-rounder Nicholas Singleton and Julius Chestnut will all provide depth in the Titans' backfield behind Tony Pollard for Week 3.

Heidenreich (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

It looked like the rookie seventh-rounder was in line for a slightly larger role Sunday after Rico Dowdle (toe) was ruled out. However, Heidenreich will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, with Travis Homer and Lew Nichols providing depth in the backfield for Jaylen Warren while fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen operates as the primary returner on kickoffs. Heidenreich's next chance to play is Thursday against the Browns.

Spears (ankle) is listed as active Sunday at the Giants, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

The Titans backfield hosted two injuries this week, and while Tony Pollard (ankle) got back to a full practice Friday, Spears logged only one limited session (also Friday) and ended up listed as questionable for Week 3 action. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Tennessee were set to monitor Spears pregame, with rainy and windy conditions likely to play a role in whether or not to make the running back active. Now that Spears is available to the offense, it's unclear if he'll merely be available in case of emergency, with Pollard and potentially rookie fifth-rounder Nicholas Singleton handling most of the RB reps.

Warren (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

A limited participant throughout Week 3 prep before being deemed questionable heading into Sunday, Warren ultimately received the green light to play. After splitting the snaps and touches out of the backfield fairly equitably with Rico Dowdle this season before Dowdle missed the entire fourth quarter of the Week 2 loss to the Patriots with a toe injury, Warren could be primed for a workhorse role in Week 3. Dowdle won't be available against the Bengals, leaving Travis Homer and Lew Nichols as the available depth options behind Warren, who played every offensive snap in the fourth quarter last week while Dowdle was sidelined.

Giddens (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans.

Giddens was a full participant in practice after being unavailable for Week 2 against the Chiefs due to a knee injury. He'll be a healthy scratch for Sunday's AFC South showdown, with Seth McGowan being the lone depth option out of the backfield behind bellcow running back Jonathan Taylor. Giddens' next opportunity to play is Week 4 against the Commanders on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Spears (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, will be monitored pregame, but the Titans are hopeful he'll be able to play, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Spears managed just one limited session (Friday) this week due to an ankle injury that left him questionable for Sunday, but rainy and windy conditions at MetLife Stadium seemingly will be a factor in the decision surrounding the running back. If Spears is inhibited or sidelined, Tony Pollard would serve as the Titans' unquestioned lead runner, with rookie fifth-rounder Nicholas Singleton likely stepping into the No. 2 role.

Warren (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Week 3, is expected to play Sunday versus the Bengals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Warren was limited during the entirety of Week 3 prep due to a shoulder injury, while fellow RB Rico Dowdle was ruled out for Sunday as a result of a toe issue. Assuming Warren is deemed active approximately 90 minutes before a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, he should be the primary backfield option for the Steelers offense, while practice-squad members Travis Homer and Lew Nichols likely will be the complementary options.

Brooks caught his only target for four yards and added a tackle on special teams during the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday.

Brooks totalled 40 yards on 11 carries through the first two games of the regular season. However, he wasn't involved in the rushing game Thursday, though Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd combined for only 17 yards on eight carries. Part of the Packers' struggles in the running game has to do with injuries to the offensive line, though it's hard to trust Brooks, Johnson or Lloyd for consistent production, even if Josh Jacobs (personal) continues to remain on the Commissioner's Exempt List. The Packers hit the road for a Week 4 tilt against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Johnson tallied four carries for six yards and gathered in one of three targets for 10 yards during Thursday's 35-14 loss to the Falcons.

The Packers backfield mustered just eight rushes (MarShawn Lloyd had the other four) on a night in which the team was increasingly in catch-up mode, spurring 53 pass attempts from QB Jordan Love. After Johnson was dealt to Green Bay from Pittsburgh on Aug. 30, he didn't receive a snap on offense Week 1, but his offensive snap share increased from 27 percent Week 2 to 36 percent Week 3, while Lloyd's share has gone in the opposite direction, and Chris Brooks' has remained relatively stable. Because the team's RBs have mustered just 146 rushing yards (3.0 YPC) through three games, none of the trio are particularly intriguing for fantasy purposes at the moment, especially behind a makeshift O-line, but Johnson's elevated sway could mean that a stash eventually yields positive results.

The Steelers elevated Nichols from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Nichols has played in one NFL regular-season game, logging six special-teams snaps in the Steelers' Week 9 game against the Colts in 2025. The running back has been elevated to provide additional depth as Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is questionable to suit up and Rico Dowdle (toe) is already ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest with the Bengals.