NFL Player News

Spears is among the four running backs that made the Titans' initial 53-man roster.

Based on preseason usage, Spears is firmly entrenched as the team's top alternative to Tony Pollard in the backfield. Spears produced 536 scrimmage yards in 2024 and 547 scrimmage yards in 2025 while filling such a role. His 838-yard rookie season in 2023 came prior to Pollard's arrival in Tennessee. Rookie fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton didn't show anything during preseason action that would indicate he's an immediate threat to Spears' role, while Julius Chestnut is likely ticketed for a role on special teams.

Mitchell (undisclosed) remained a non-participant in Thursday's practice, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.

With Mitchell now having missed six straight practices, his status for Week 1 against the Cardinals is starting to come into question. If he's unable to go against Arizona, Kimani Vidal would settle in as the likely RB2 behind Omarion Hampton. Mitchell will need to get back on the field in some capacity next week if he's going to have a chance to suit up for the regular-season opener.

Pollard is set to lead a group of four running backs that made the Titans' initial 53-man roster.

Tennessee also kept Tyjae Spears, rookie fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton and Julius Chestnut on the 53-man roster. The decision to roster four running backs, coupled with second-year QB Cam Ward's struggles in the preseason, could indicate a desire to implement a run-heavy approach from new OC Brian Daboll. Pollard has topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in five consecutive regular seasons, the last two of which came with the Titans, and he sits atop the RB depth chart heading into the regular season, with Spears poised to reprise his change-of-pace role.

Gainwell is one of three running backs on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster, along with Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker (undisclosed), the latter of whom didn't practice Wednesday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season. He's likely to fill a change-of-pace role while playing primarily in passing situations, much like Rachaad White did for the past couple seasons in a Buccaneers backfield that's expected to be led by Irving as long as the latter stays healthy. Tucker could be a thorn in the side of both Gainwell and Irving from a fantasy perspective if Tucker reprises his red-zone role from 2025, which helped him punch in a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.

Irving is set to lead a Buccaneers backfield that also includes Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker (undisclosed), the latter of whom didn't practice Wednesday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

Irving figures to get most of the rushing opportunities in Tampa Bay's backfield, though Gainwell is likely to play in passing situations after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season and subsequently signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March. Tucker was used frequently in the red zone last season, leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns. Irving saw his rushing touchdown total dip to one in 10 games during his injury-plagued 2025 campaign after scoring eight regular-season rushing touchdowns as a rookie. Despite the competition for touches, Irving maintains the highest ceiling in Tampa Bay's backfield given his success in 2024.

Kamara (knee) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Kamara was diagnosed with a sprained MCL a little over two weeks ago and was given a return timetable of "at least one month," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, so it's not at all surprising to see the veteran running back still sidelined. The Saints will begin official Week 1 prep next week, and it would be somewhat shocking to see Kamara practice and be available for the season opener against the Lions. With Kendre Miller (undisclosed) also missing practice time, Audric Estime could be the backup to Travis Etienne against Detroit.

Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are slated to have regular roles in the Steelers offense during the 2026 season, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Despite Warren being the top incumbent running back in Pittsburgh, Graziano believes that Dowdle is a better bet to handle early downs out of the backfield, not only due to his experience working with new coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas but because of his combined 471 carries over the last two seasons. Both campaigns resulted in more than 1,000 yards on the ground for Dowdle, while Warren has topped out at 958 rushing yards (2025) in his four-year career. Warren does have the advantage in pass-catching chops, with 139 receptions over the last three years. As a result, both players are in line for weekly usage for the Steelers.

Warren and Rico Dowdle are expected to have regular roles in the Steelers offense during the 2026 season, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

With Kenny Gainwell moving on to the Buccaneers in free agency, Warren is the top incumbent running back in Pittsburgh, but Dowdle has taken Gainwell's place. Dowdle's previous experience with new coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas could dampen Warren's early-down role somewhat, but according to Graziano, Warren should take on the bulk of the pass-catching work out of Pittsburgh's backfield, as evidenced by his 139 catches in 48 regular-season games over the last three campaigns. Overall, Warren handled a career-high 251 touches in 2025, while Dowdle is coming off back-to-back seasons with 274 (with the Cowboys) and 275 (in Carolina), so both should be busy on a weekly basis this fall.

Coach Mike LaFleur said Thursday that Love (ankle) is "progressing," Howard Balzer of Cards Wire reports.

It seems to be the only thing LaFleur is willing to say about his rookie running back's recovery at this point, as the coach has made it his daily ritual to say Love is merely progressing while offering little else in the form of insight. Love has 10 days to try and get ready for Arizona's Week 1 opener against the Chargers. He's going to need to practice in some fashion next week to have a chance to play Sunday, Sept. 13, and even then Love is still likely to split carries with Tyler Allgeier versus Los Angeles.

Skattebo admitted Thursday in an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams" that he briefly considered retirement after sustaining a severe right ankle injury in an Oct. 26 loss to the Eagles. "I would say probably a month in [to the rehab process] I was kind of like, 'Do I really want to do this?'" Skattebo said. "But I got to go back and play."

Skattebo told Kay Adams that coming out of college, he had determined that if he ever suffered a major injury, he would step away from football. However, after dislocating his right ankle just eight games into his rookie season, Skattebo determined that he still had too much good football left in him to justify an early retirement. Skattebo underwent surgery a day after suffering the injury and has bounced back well, as the Giants cleared him to take part in drills during June minicamp and made him available with no restrictions to begin training camp. After carrying four times for 19 yards in the Giants' preseason opener, Skattebo didn't play in either of the final two exhibitions, but he was held out merely as precaution. Skattebo is still likely to have his workload scaled back to some degree to begin the 2026 campaign after averaging 19.5 touches per game from Weeks 2 through 7 last season, but he'll head into the Sept. 13 opener versus the Cowboys as the Giants' clear lead option out of the backfield.