Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon says RB James Conner is "getting ready to go, and he's excited to get back when he can get back and play," according to Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com. This week will mark Conner's fourth game on IR, so it sounds like he should be ready to return for a Week 10 home date with the Falcons. We'll obviously have to watch reports on his expected role coming off the knee injury. But you can bet Arizona will be looking to get him back to workhorse use as soon as possible. Neither Emari Demercado nor any other Arizona reserve RB has done anything to challenge the status of a healthy Conner. It's worth noting that Conner would face the eighth-toughest remaining RB schedule if he does return in Week 10, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. The biggest potential trouble spots look like a Week 14 bye (duh) and a Week 17 visit to Philadelphia.

Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) did not practice on Wednesday. We don't have any details on the injury -- or whether he's in danger of missing Sunday's game vs. the Browns. With RB James Conner still on IR, Demercado's absence would leave Arizona's backfield to RBs Keontay Ingram and Damien Williams. We'll update Demercado's status again tomorrow.

The Falcons released RB Damien Williams. He's been out since going down with a rib injury in the season opener. Williams is “100% healthy and well rested," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. We'll see where Williams lands next, but he's obviously a big long shot for any 2022 fantasy value.

The Falcons are placing RB Cordarrelle Patterson on IR with a designation to return. According to multiple reports, Patterson had a "procedure" Monday morning. We're assuming it addressed the left knee that had him questionable entering Sunday and limited his touches against Cleveland. Patterson will miss at least the next 4 games, leaving the backfield to rookie Tyler Allgeier, Caleb Huntley and Avery Williams. Damien Williams figures to be in the mix as well if he makes it back from his IR stint for a rib injury. There's no exciting option in this group, but we'd bet on Allgeier as the most productive. A Week 5 meeting with Tampa Bay likely won't prove as favorable as it looked to Chiefs RBs on Sunday night.

The Falcons placed RB Damien Williams on IR with his rib injury. He's out for at least the next 4 games and can be dropped from fantasy rosters. Rookie RB Tyler Allgeier now has a nice opportunity to carve out a role behind RB Cordarrelle Patterson.

Falcons Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson racked up 22-120-1 on the ground in Sunday's narrow loss to the Saints, adding 3-16 receiving on 5 targets. Damien Williams' rib injury certainly didn't hurt. Rookie Tyler Allgeier was a healthy scratch, and Avery Williams claimed the only 2 other RB carries (beyond the 2 for Damien Williams). Atlanta would probably like to limit Patterson's touches more than that going forward -- especially on the ground. But the team might not have a choice until someone else in the backfield steps up.

Falcons RB Damien Williams left Sunday’s game with a rib injury. With Tyler Allgeier inactive, the Falcons are down to Cordarrelle Patterson and Avery Williams at RB.

Bears RB Damien Williams is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the 49ers after suffering a 1st-half knee injury. Stay tuned for an update.

Bears RB David Montgomery is expected to miss 4-5 weeks with a sprained knee, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports. Chicago has a Week 10 bye, so it's possible that we don't see Montgomery again until Week 11. He was looking like a high-end RB2 before going down, so we'd try to keep him stashed on fantasy benches. Damien Williams is set to take over as Chicago's lead back, assuming his quad injury doesn't keep him out. Rookie Khalil Herbert is now #2 on the depth chart. Remember, too, that RB Tarik Cohen (ACL) is eligible to come off the PUP list in Week 7.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Bears RB Damien Williams suffered only a bruise to his quad late in Sunday's game and "should be OK." Williams would be taking over the backfield lead if David Montgomery is out with his knee injury. Rapoport adds that Montgomery "may miss some time," but we're still waiting on an official diagnosis.

Bears HC Matt Nagy said RB Damien Williams hurt his quad in Sunday's win over the Lions. We didn't notice the injury, but RB Khalil Herbert handled Chicago's final 3 carries of the game. We should learn more about Williams and RB David Montgomery on Monday.

The "initial belief based on early tests" is that Bears RB David Montgomery's knee injury is not major, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Montgomery hyperextended the knee and is set for an MRI on Monday. We should get a more concrete diagnosis then. Damien Williams will step in as Chicago's lead back if Montgomery misses time.

The Chiefs list RB Spencer Ware (shoulder, hamstring) as doubtful for Thursday night's game against the Chargers after he missed practice all week. Ware was able to play through the injuries last week, but it doesn't look like he'll be able to tomorrow. His absence would leave Damien Williams as Kansas City's lead back. Charcandrick West and Darrell Williams also figure to mix in, but Damien projects for 12-15 touches. That makes him a RB2 option.