NFL Player News

Sanders (ankle) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.

Sanders has been a spectator for both of the Panthers' first two Week 12 practices and looks to be trending toward sitting out Sunday's game against the Chiefs, just as head coach Dave Canales had intimated would be the case earlier in the week. Before Sanders is formally ruled out for the Week 12 contest, the Panthers will wait and see what, if anything, he's able to do during Friday's practice session. Sanders will likely cede the top backup role out of the backfield to rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee), who has been a full participant in practices this week and should be ready to make his NFL debut Sunday as a change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard.

Demercado was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a shoulder injury, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Demercado took a back seat to rookie third-round pick Trey Benson in the two games before the Cardinals' Week 11 bye, earning 21 snaps and nine touches versus 32 and 21, respectively, for the latter. Benson also averaged 5.5 yards per carry, while Demercado averaged 4.7 YPC outside of his 53-yard touchdown run Week 9. With a health concern now in tow, Demercado may fall even further behind in the backfield pecking order to starter James Conner and Benson.

Jacobs was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to quadricep and calf injuries, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Jacobs operated with a cap on his practice reps last week due to a quad issue, but it didn't stop him from avoiding a designation ahead of this past Sunday's game at Chicago. Overall, he handled 22 touches in the 20-19 win and turned them into 134 yards from scrimmage and one rushing score. Jacobs now has another health concern to deal with, though, so his listing on injury reports Thursday and Friday should be telling for his odds to continue operating as the Packers' No. 1 back on Sunday against the 49ers.

Luepke (calf) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.

The calf injury prevented Luepke from practicing all of last week before he was inactive for Monday's loss to the Texans. The fullback will have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to play against the Commanders on Sunday.

Pacheco (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

While Pacheco's ability to continue practicing in a limited fashion is encouraging, head coach Andy Reid said earlier Wednesday that he's not yet ready to commit to the running back -- who remains on injured reserve -- playing Sunday against the Panthers, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. If Pacheco ends up sidelined this weekend, Kareem Hunt would once again be in line to handle the bulk of the Chiefs' backfield touches Sunday.

White (quadricep) won't practice Wednesday, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Alexander Mattison (ankle) was also sidelined for Wednesday's practice, making the statuses of both backs worth tracking as Sunday's game against the Broncos approaches. For now, the healthy running backs on the Raiders' active roster are Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube. White carried five times for nine yards across 21 snaps in this past Sunday's 34-19 loss to the Dolphins before exiting with the quad injury.

Mattison (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Fellow running back Zamir White (quadricep) was also sidelined Wednesday, after both players were forced out of this past Sunday's loss to the Dolphins. Mattison's status warrants tracking as this Sunday's game against the Broncos approaches, but for the time being, the healthy running backs on the Raiders' active roster are Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube. Chris Collier and/or Sincere McCormick could be elevated from the practice squad to provide additional depth out of the backfield if one or both of Mattison and White aren't available Sunday.

The Packers placed Lloyd (ankle/hamstring/appendix) on the non-football illness list Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Green Bay designated Lloyd for return from injured reserve last Wednesday, opening a 21-day window in which to get him back on the active roster for the first time since he sprained his ankle Week 2 against the Colts. Only two days later, though, he felt pain in his side and then was diagnosed with appendicitis. The Packers activated him from IR on Monday with the anticipation that they would place him on a different reserve list in the near future, which now has come to pass. This move allows the team to get the rookie third-round pick back later this season once he completes his recovery, but in the meantime Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks will continue to earn the backfield reps that don't go to starter Josh Jacobs on game days.

Spears (concussion) wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Spears' absence isn't surprising, with head coach Brian Callahan having noted prior to the session that the running back is working through the NFL's concussion protocol, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site. Spears now has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, but if he's out this weekend, Julius Chestnut and Joshua Kelley would be in line to work behind top back Tony Pollard.

Brooks (knee) practiced fully Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Brooks was a full practice participant during the entirety of preparations prior to the Panthers' last game Nov. 10 against the Giants in Munich, but Carolina ultimately included him on its inactive list for Week 10. Following the team's Week 11 bye, Brooks remains without restrictions in practice, and head coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of the Associated Press on Wednesday that he has "high hopes" for the running back making his NFL debut Sunday against the Chiefs. Brooks likely will take a back seat to Chuba Hubbard initially, but the rookie second-round pick should have some involvement on offense as a change-of-pace option behind the starter.