NFL Player News

Barkley rushed 12 times for 39 yards and caught three of six targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 26-25 loss to the Rams.

Barkley was held in check on the ground, posting his second-lowest rushing yardage total of the season. He could have had a bigger game as a pass catcher; Tyrod Taylor threw behind a wide open Barkley on what would have been a go-ahead two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, and Barkley had a drop with plenty of green grass in front of him on New York's final drive, which ended in a missed field goal. Barkley needs 84 rushing yards in Week 18 against the Eagles to reach 1,000 for the fourth time in six NFL seasons.

Elliott carried the ball 14 times for 39 yards and a touchdown and caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Bills.

For the third straight game, the veteran running back was held below 40 rushing yards and 3.0 yards per carry while starting in place of Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), but Elliott did score his first rushing TD since Week 7, which also came against Buffalo. The trade-off was a lack of production through the air. Elliott had posted a 21-126-2 line on 25 targets as a receiver in those three games, but Sunday it was second-year back Kevin Harris who made a bigger impact as a pass-catcher. Stevenson won't return this season, so Elliott should again get solid touch volume in Week 18 against the Jets, a team he posted a season-high 80 rushing yards against in their first meeting back in September.

Coach Kyle Shanahan relayed after Sunday's 27-10 win over the Commanders that McCaffrey may be dealing with a calf strain, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

On the plus side, Shanahan noted that McCaffrey's calf issue doesn't appear serious. Prior to exiting Sunday's contest, McCaffrey had carried 14 times for 64 yards and caught four of his five targets for 27 yards. McCaffrey's status will need to be monitored in the coming days, but the fact that the 49ers have clinched the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC figures to factor into their plans for the star running back in Week 18.

Williams rushed 20 times for 87 yards and three touchdowns while catching both of his targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Giants.

Williams opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then scored again from two yards out in the third before adding a 28-yard touchdown in the fourth. He's up to 12 rushing touchdowns in 12 games, and Williams has exceeded 100 scrimmage yards in each of his last seven appearances. The Rams can clinch a playoff spot if things break right for them in the remaining Week 17 games, but if Los Angeles still has something to play for Week 18, Williams would be a near-automatic start against a 49ers team that has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Edwards-Helaire (illness) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Though Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported Saturday that Edwards-Helaire was on track to play Sunday, the fourth-year running back ultimately didn't show enough improvement in his recovery from the illness that kept him from practicing Thursday and Friday to give it a go for Week 17. With Edwards-Helaire sidelined, the Chiefs are left with La'Mical Perine and Keaontay Ingram as their depth options behind lead back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), whose practice time had also been limited this week while he was in concussion protocol. Pacheco could nonetheless be tasked with handling a workhorse role out of the backfield Sunday given the lack of snaps Perine and Ingram have seen with Kansas City this season.

McCaffrey exited Sunday's game against the Commanders with a right calf injury and is questionable to return.

Prior to sustaining his calf injury, McCaffrey had carried 14 times for 64 yards and caught four of his five targets for 27 yards. If the star tailback is sidelined for the rest of Week 17, Elijah Mitchell would likely finish the contest as the 49ers' lead option on the ground.

Kamara has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with an ankle injury, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Kamara carried 10 times for 45 yards and caught two passes for four yards in the first two quarters of the game but remained in the locker room at halftime to get the ankle injury checked out. The Saints initially listed Kamara as questionable to return shortly after the third quarter started, only for him to be ruled out for the rest of the game shortly thereafter. New Orleans will likely turn to Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill as its primary rushers for the rest of the day.

Pacheco (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.

Pacheco managed just one limited practice this week while he was tending to a shoulder injury in addition to being included in concussion protocol, but he cleared the five-step protocol Saturday to erase any lingering concern about his availability for the Week 17 contest. Despite his light activity in practice this week, Pacheco could be tasked with handling a heavy workload Sunday, given the lack of established depth behind him. Passing-down specialist Jerick McKinnon (groin) was placed on injured reserve last week, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is a surprise inactive Sunday, which leaves recent roster additions La'Mical Perine and Keaontay Ingram as the lone reserve backs behind Pacheco.

Walker (shoulder/illness) is listed as active Sunday against the Steelers.

Walker followed the same practice routine this week as he did during Week 16 prep -- back-to-back DNPs followed by a limited session -- before the Seahawks termed him questionable for the upcoming game. However, coach Pete Carroll provided less clarity about Walker's upcoming availability this time around, calling him a game-time decision Friday, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. The tide turned for the better following an ensuing report from Adam Schefter of ESPN that Walker was expected to suit up Sunday, and that has come to fruition. It remains to be seen if Walker will be able to handle his normal workload, but while playing through the shoulder injury last Sunday at Tennessee, he turned 58 percent of snaps into 17 touches for 56 yards from scrimmage, while reserve RB Zach Charbonnet took three touches for minus-4 yards on the other 42 percent of plays.

Evans (coach's decision) is inactive ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The rookie running back out of Ole Miss is a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week, seemingly falling down Los Angeles' depth chart. Royce Freeman and Ronnie Rivers will assume the Rams' reserve RB duties, and Evans' next opportunity to suit up will come in Week 18 against the 49ers.