NFL Player News

Williams (back) does not have an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Steelers, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Williams opened the week with back-to-back limited practices before ending with a full session Friday, which puts him on track to play Sunday. The second-year safety has played every single defensive snap in three of six regular-season games, and he has accumulated 39 tackles (17 solo), two pass defenses (one interception) and one fumble recovery on the year.

Jones will start Sunday's game at Houston after coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Brock Purdy (toe), Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jones gets his sixth start in the past seven contests in place of Purdy, who is still bothered by a turf toe injury. Jones has averaged 280.8 yards per game on 67.0 percent passing while tossing six touchdowns versus four interceptions. Jones will have RB Christian McCaffrey, WRs Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne and TE George Kittle as his primary targets for Week 8.

Carter (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bengals, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Carter has cleared the concussion protocol after missing last Sunday's loss to the Panthers. Carter has started all four games in which he's played this season, logging 13 tackles (nine solo) and a pair of pass breakups.

Pearsall (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Houston, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Pearsall hasn't practiced since September and will now miss a fourth straight game. Meanwhile, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Brandon Aiyuk (ACL) may return to practice next week, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. For now, Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne are the team's starting wide receivers.

Smith (knee) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Broncos, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Smith has avoided an injury tag for Week 8 after logging a full practice Friday. He has been working through a lingering knee issue since training camp, but the injury has not sidelined the 2022 first-rounder this season.

Purdy (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Houston, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Mac Jones took the first-team reps in practice again and will make at least one more start. For his part, Purdy worked on a limited basis Wednesday through Friday, as he did last week, with coach Kyle Shanahan noting that the QB has been progressing, albeit slowly. Purdy's next chance to see game action will arrive Nov. 2 against the Giants.

McManus (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game at Pittsburgh.

After missing the past two games, McManus returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant. He said afterward that he was pleased with both his leg strength and accuracy, but there's still some doubt about his Sunday availability after he failed to upgrade to full practice participation Friday.

Watson (back) upgraded to a full practice Friday.

Watson was limited Thursday but should be ready to roll Monday night against Washington. Watson has started all seven games this season, recording 30 tackles (18 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four pass breakups, including one interception, on 96 percent of the defensive snaps.

Wicks (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Wicks exited in the second half of last Sunday's win at Arizona due to a calf injury, and coach Matt LaFleur told Zach Kruse of USA Today on Wednesday that the third-year wide receiver wasn't in line to practice this week. Wicks indeed didn't mix into drills Wednesday through Friday and thus will miss his first game of the season. The Packers have two other question marks in the receiving corps, with Christian Watson (knee) awaiting activation from the reserve/PUP list and Matthew Golden (hip) added to the injury report Friday as limited. Green Bay's current healthy options at the position are Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Savion Williams.

Watson (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game at Pittsburgh, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Watson still hasn't logged a full practice, remaining limited Wednesday through Friday this week. The Packers will need to activate him from the reserve/PUP list Saturday in order to have Watson available Sunday night. Should that happen, Watson likely will start off in a part-time role, even if fellow speedster Matthew Golden (questionable - hip) is limited or absent.