NFL Player News

McKinnon (sports hernia) hasn't been practicing this week, with Kansas City coach Andy Reid saying Tuesday that the running back is unlikely to play in the Super Bowl, NFL.coms Kevin Patra reports.

The team designated the 31-year-old running back to return from injured reserve Saturday, creating some hope that he'd be available against the 49ers this coming Sunday. That now sounds like a long shot. The snaps that went to McKinnon earlier this season have been divided between Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire in recent weeks.

Ibrahim's practice-squad contract with the Lions expired Monday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Ibrahim was placed on the Lions' practice squad injured list in October due to a hip issue. He appeared in one game for Detroit during the 2023 campaign, logging six snaps on special teams.

Murray finished the season with 79 carries for 300 yards and two touchdowns plus 17 catches (on 22 targets) for 119 yards in 16 regular-season games.

Murray saw some run as the No. 2 back for a good stretch of the season, and it led to some nice results, with him peaking on a 6-68-1 line in Week 12. After the team's bye in Week 13, however, Murray saw only nine carries the entire remainder of the season. While he suited up in the playoffs, he didn't see a single carry. Ty Johnson clearly passed Murray in the pecking order for the stretch run. Murray turned 34 last month, and while he still ran with some power and proved to be a nice veteran asset for the Bills as an complement to James Cook, he probably doesn't have much more football left in his fine career.

McKinnon (sports hernia/pelvis) was designated to return from injured reserve Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

McKinnon appeared to be unlikely to play at any point during Kansas City's playoff run after he was placed on IR on Dec. 24 before undergoing sports hernia surgery and another procedure to repair a fractured pelvis, but he's seemingly made quicker progress than anticipated. The veteran running back was helped by the fact that the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl, and if McKinnon can resume practicing during the upcoming week without any discomfort, he could have an outside chance at being available for the Feb. 11 matchup with the 49ers. Even if McKinnon demonstrates enough progress and is added back to the 53-man roster ahead of the Super Bowl, he would likely be in store for little more than a light backup role behind Isiah Pacheco, who has handled a three-down workload thus far in the postseason. Rather than Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be more at risk of losing snaps if McKinnon is activated for the Super Bowl.

Demercado tallied 284 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries and hauled in 21 of 30 targets for 119 yards in 14 regular-season games in 2023.

The undrafted rookie had a moment in the spotlight from Weeks 5-8, a span in which he earned two starts in place of an injured James Conner and netted 228 yards from scrimmage and one TD on 52 touches. Otherwise, Conner dominated the Cardinals backfield, and midseason waiver-wire pickup Michael Carter even surpassed Demercado on the RB depth chart over the final six outings of the season. All of Conner, Carter and Demercado will be back in 2024, so Demercado again won't be higher than No. 2 or 3 at the position as the roster currently stands.

Carter compiled 30 carries for 187 yards and 24 catches (on 31 targets) for 101 yards and one touchdown in 15 games between the Jets and Cardinals during the 2023 season.

After racking up 338 touches in 30 contests for the Jets to begin his career, the 2021 sixth-round pick took a back seat to Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook in New York to kick off this past campaign. Carter subsequently was cut loose by the Jets after Week 10 and promptly was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. From that point on, he was the Arizona running back called on most behind starter James Conner, averaging a healthy 6.8 yards on 22 rushes. Carter has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so he and Emari Demercado likely will serve as the team's top reserve RBs in 2024.

Pacheco (toe/ankle) was limited at Friday's practice but doesn't have an injury designation after the first week of prep for Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers.

Prior to the AFC Championship Game this past Sunday, Pacheco managed just one capped session due to toe and ankle injuries but eventually was deemed active for that contest, earning 28 touches for 82 yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD in a 17-10 win at Baltimore. He remained on the Chiefs' practice report this week, being listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimate before ending it with back-to-back limited sessions. Pacheco has one more week to get ready for this year's Super Bowl, so even if he has restrictions on his on-field work next week, he appears set to serve as Kansas City's primary option on the ground on Sunday, Feb. 11.

Dillon (thumb/neck) tallied 178 carries for 613 yards and two touchdowns while adding 22 receptions for 223 yards over 15 games in the 2023 season.

Dillon saw action in Green Bay's first 14 games of the season, but a pair of injuries prevented him from playing in two of the team's last four regular-season games as well as both of its postseason contests. Dillon will be a free agent this offseason, and the Packers could try to bring him back. However, after Dillon averaged 5.3 YPC as a rookie, that number dipped each of the last three seasons and bottomed out at 3.4 in 2023; consequently, the team could well opt to go in a different direction.

Pierce finished the 2023 campaign with 145 carries for 416 yards and two touchdowns along with 13 receptions (17 targets) for 101 receiving yards over 14 regular-season games.

A promising rookie in 2022, Pierce lost the starting job to Devin Singletary and fell to third on the depth chart by the season's end. Including the two postseason games, Pierce had 19 carries for 34 yards over the Texans' final seven contests. He suffered a midseason ankle injury, but the main reason for his downfall was an inability to adjust to a running scheme installed under the new coaching regime. Pierce enters the offseason as the only running back under contract, but the Texans are expected to add competition. That could be re-signing Singletary or adding another high-profile back in free agency or the draft.

Pacheco (toe/ankle) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.

He was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated report but then managed to take part in Kansas City's first actual practice ahead of the Super Bowl. Pacheco handled 80 percent snap share and 28 touches in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, leaving little doubt he'll be ready for a matchup with the 49ers next Sunday.