NFL Player News

The Panthers activated Etienne (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday.

Etienne remains listed as questionable for Sunday's date with the Eagles, but he appears to be positioned to make his 2026 debut after missing the first four games of the season ahead of Carolina's Week 5 bye. With AJ Dillon (ankle) ruled out and Jonathon Brooks (abdomen) on injured reserve, Etienne would provide needed backfield depth behind Chuba Hubbard.

The Bears elevated Scott from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons.

With Kyle Monangai (toe) still sidelined for Chicago, Scott will join the 53-man roster for the second straight week. He logged just nine snaps on special teams last Sunday against the Packers.

Black was excused from Saturday's practice to address a personal matter but does not have an injury designation for Monday's Week 6 matchup against Washington, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Since Black wasn't given an injury designation, his absence from practice Saturday isn't expected to impact his availability Monday. The rookie should thus continue to work as the 49ers' No.2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey. That role hasn't yielded much fruit for Black of late, however, as he's totaled fewer than 20 yards in each of his past three contests.

Ekeler (chest) does not carry an injury designation into Monday's game against the 49ers.

Ekeler was limited in all practice all week due to a chest injury, but he's done enough to fade an injury tag for Monday Night Football. With Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) already ruled out, Ekeler and Rachaad White are both expected to lead the Commanders' backfield for Week 6 against a 49ers defense that has given up only three rushing touchdowns across five regular-season games.

White (shoulder) doesn't have a designation for Monday's game at San Francisco.

Despite ending Week 6 prep with back-to-back limited practices due to a shoulder injury, White will be available to the Commanders backfield Monday along with Austin Ekeler (chest). With Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) ruled out, White and Ekeler are the candidates to lead Washington's backfield this week. On the season, White had 39 touches for 171 yards from scrimmage and one receiving TD in four appearances.

Croskey-Merritt (groin) has been ruled out for Monday night's game against the 49ers, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.

Croskey-Merritt was unable to practice all week due to a groin injury, and he's not been officially ruled out for Monday night's game. The statuses of Rachaad White (shoulder) and Austin Ekeler (chest) will be known once the Commanders announce their injury designations on Saturday's practice report. Washington is on a bye for Week 7, so Croskey-Merritt will have more time to recover from his injury before the Commanders' Week 8 tilt against the Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Jones turned four carries into 20 yards and caught his only target for minus-one yard during Thursday's 17-14 overtime loss to the Broncos.

Jones played a total of 26 snaps (nine on offense, 17 on special teams) during Thursday's loss and operated as the clear RB3 behind Emanuel Wilson and George Holani. Jones was effective in the run game on limited carries, but he could lose his spot on the 53-man roster if Zach Charbonnet (knee) is activated from the reserve/PUP list ahead of the Seahawks' Week 7 home tilt against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Croskey-Merritt (groin) wasn't at Saturday's practice and will not likely be available for Monday night's game against the 49ers, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.

Croskey-Merritt will end up missing all three Week 6 practices while recovering from a groin injury, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him ruled out by the Commanders once the team submits its injury designations following Saturday's session. Rachaad White (shoulder) and Austin Ekeler (chest) are also both working through injuries, so the Commanders may have to dip into their practice squad and elevate one or both of Craig Reynolds or Devin Neal for Monday night's contest.

McNichols (quadriceps) was a full participant in Friday's practice.

McNichols has opened Week 6 prep with back-to-back full practices, which indicates that the veteran running back is in the final stages of his recovery from a quad injury that caused him to open the regular season on injured reserve. He would need to be activated from IR in order to be eligible to play against the 49ers on Monday. McNichols' return could be a crucial one for the Commanders, whose backfield is dealing with injuries to Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin), Rachaad White (shoulder) and Austin Ekeler (chest).

Pierce will be the Eagles' starting running back against the Panthers on Sunday due to the absences of both Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and Will Shipley (foot, IR).

Shipley was placed on injured reserve Friday, and Barkley will miss a second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury that he sustained against the Rams in Week 4. As such, Pierce will be the lead back for Sunday's contest while Carson Steele operates as the backup. Pierce turned 11 carries into 14 yards and added two catches (on five targets) for minus-two yards in a Week 5 loss to the Jaguars. That game in London was the fifth-year pro's debut with the Eagles this season, and with another week of practice under his belt, Pierce will have the chance to produce against a Panthers defense that allows 156.5 rushing yards per game, which is second-most in the NFL only behind the Cowboys (168.4).