NFL Player News

San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Wednesday that McCaffrey (back) is trending in the right direction to play Saturday against the Seahawks, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

McCaffrey could not practice Tuesday due to back stiffness, leaving him two more opportunities to retake the practice field in advance of Saturday night's showdown against Seattle, the winner of which will clinch the NFC West title and the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC. The 49ers may in part simply be taking a cautious approach to McCaffrey's health due to both his importance as the focal engine of the team's offense and the fact that he's handled 20-plus touches in five consecutive games. McCaffrey previously played through this back injury early December, but he hadn't been listed on San Francisco's injury reports in Week 16 and Week 17.

Ouzts went without a target or carry while playing 14 of the Seahawks' 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

Ouzts was a healthy inactive for the Seahawks' Week 15 win over the Colts, but he's otherwise suited up for every contest since Seattle's Week 8 bye. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Alabama continues to work ahead of Brady Russell on offense as Seattle's top fullback, but he's been deployed almost exclusively as a blocker when he's on the field. Ouzts has yet to carry the ball and hasn't been targeted on any of the 29 routes he's ran across 182 total snaps on offense this season.

Russell played all 19 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

For the second week in a row, the Seahawks kept two fullbacks active in Russell and Robbie Ouzts, but only the latter player saw action on offense (14 snaps). Russell has suited up for all 16 of the Seahawks' games to date but hasn't logged a carry or target while playing 54 total snaps on offense. He's been a core member of Seattle's special-teams units, where he's tallied 14 tackles (10 solo).

Kallerup went without a target while playing seven of the Seahawks' 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

The undrafted rookie tight end out of Minnesota has now suited up in nine consecutive games for the Seahawks, but he's been targeted just once during that stretch and has yet to notch his first NFL reception.

Kupp recorded a six-yard reception on three targets in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers.

Kupp continued to start for Seattle and played 58 of the team's 66 snaps on offense (88 percent), but he was once again an afterthought in a low-volume Seahawks passing offense. Top wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba remained the focal point of the offensive attack, commanding targets on 12 of quarterback Sam Darnold's 27 throws. Meanwhile, no other pass catcher drew more than three targets. The 32-year-old has generally enjoyed a healthy first season in Seattle while suiting up in 15 of the Seahawks' first 16 games, but he's scored just two touchdowns and has topped 50 receiving yards on just three occasions.

James played just two snaps -- both on special teams -- in Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears.

After he was inactive for each of the 49ers' first 14 games, James suited up in Week 16 as the 49ers' No. 3 running back over Isaac Guerendo. The rookie fifth-round pick out of Oregon played just three snaps on offense in the 21-point win over the Colts, and with Sunday's contest proving to be more competitive, James disappeared from the game plan entirely. James could once again get the nod over Guerendo in Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Seahawks, but with the NFC West title on the line, expect Christian McCaffrey (back) and Brian Robinson to handle all of the available snaps at running back.

Moore carried once for 10 yards and brought back two punts for 11 yards and four kickoffs for 92 yards in Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears.

Moore played just four of the 49ers' 72 snaps on offense in the win, but he made his mark during his time on the field. His 10-yard carry early in the second quarter was good for a first down, extending a drive that culminated in Brock Purdy's three-yard rushing touchdown. Moore also made a splash on special teams, with his 92 kickoff return yards marking his fourth-best total of the season. He'll continue to serve as the 49ers' top return man in Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Seahawks.

Duvernay failed to haul in his lone target while playing 11 of 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 42-38 loss to the 49ers. He also returned a kickoff for 29 yards.

The two-time Pro Bowl return man will continue to offer most of his value to the Bears on special teams, but he was needed to take on more reps than usual as a depth receiver in Week 17 since Rome Odunze (foot) and Olamide Zaccheaus (illness) were inactive for the contest. While Zaccheaus should be back for Week 18 against the Lions, Odunze is more uncertain to play, and the Bears could be down another receiver in Luther Burden, who sustained a quadriceps injury in the loss to San Francisco. If the Bears are without both Odunze and Burden in Week 18, Duvernay could once again be called upon to serve as the team's No. 4 wideout behind DJ Moore, Zaccheaus and Jahdae Walker.

Homer played all 18 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 42-38 loss to the 49ers.

Homer suited up as the Bears' No. 3 running back but, as per usual, he didn't receive any reps on offense behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai and continued to offer most of his utility on Chicago's coverage units. For the season, Homer has played just six total snaps on offense and has carried once for minus-two yards over his nine appearances.

Washington went without a target while playing five of the Dolphins' 55 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Buccaneers.

Suiting up for the first time since Week 11 after he had been inactive for Miami's previous four games, Washington was unable to carve out on a role on offense. He ranked a distant fifth in playing time among the Dolphins' five active receivers, trailing Cedrick Wilson (38 snaps), Malik Washington (35), Theo Wease (15) and Jaylen Waddle (14).