NFL Player News

With Chris Rodriguez recovering from a foot procedure, Tuten and LeQuint Allen took the majority of the Jaguars' running back reps during OTAs and at Tuesday's mandatory minicamp session, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reports.

According to coach Liam Coen, Rodriguez "will be full go come training camp" after hurting his left foot at the beginning of the team's offseason conditioning program. Once he's back on the field, the free-agent addition is set to compete with Tuten and Allen for slotting in a backfield that no longer includes Travis Etienne. As a rookie last season, Tuten gained 307 yards and five TDs on 83 carries while adding 10 catches for 79 yards and a pair of receiving TDs in 15 regular-season contests. The 2025 fourth-rounder has an opportunity to carve a larger role this season, but Coen previously referred to the situation as "truly wide open," per John Shipley of SI.com, and at this stage there's no clear favorite for the top job.

Skattebo (ankle) is participating in team drills at Tuesday's practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

After doing individual work at Monday's minicamp practice, Skattebo graduated to 11-on-11 work Tuesday, suggesting he's at or near 100 percent health coming off ankle surgery. Already seen doing standing back flips this offseason, Skattebo seems ready to roll for the start of training camp next month. He's expected to have a leg up on Tyrone Tracy for the top job in the Giants' backfield under new coach John Harbaugh and OC Matt Nagy.

Rodriguez, who underwent a procedure on his left foot following an injury he sustained earlier in the Jaguars' offseason program, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.

Per the report, Rodriguez, who has not participated in any of the team's OTAs, will miss this week's mandatory minicamp, which runs June 9-11. However, the running back has been able to rehab his foot injury at the Jaguars' facility and isn't expected to have any restrictions on his workload at the start of training camp. Once healthy, Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen are in line to compete for slotting in a Jacksonville backfield that bid adieu to Travis Etienne -- who recorded 260 carries in 17 regular-season games in 2025 -- this offseason via free agency.

Skattebo (ankle) took part in running and agility drills at the first day of mandatory minicamp Monday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Skattebo, who said in mid-May that he expects to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, is roughly eight months removed from the dislocated right ankle that limited him to eight games as a rookie. While it doesn't yet appear that the 2025 fourth-round pick has been cleared for full team drills, it's encouraging to see him demonstrate lateral quickness in on-field individual drills. The Giants may be targeting training camp in July as the next major step forward in Skattebo's recovery.

Rodriguez (undisclosed) hasn't been participating in the Jaguars' OTAs, Sports Illustrated's John Shipley reports.

With Travis Etienne -- who logged 260 carries in 17 regular-season games in 2025 -- having joined the Saints in free agency, Bhayshul Tuten, Rodriguez and LeQuint Allen appear poised to pace the Jaguars ground game this coming season. At this stage, it's unclear how the team's RB touches will be divided in 2026, but added context in that regard should arrive once Rodriguez returns to the field. A committee approach is a plausible scenario, with Tuten -- who has reportedly looked sharp in OTAs -- and Rodriguez both candidates to see enough work make to a fantasy impact in the absence of Etienne, while Allen figures to primarily contribute in passing situations. In any case, this job battle, which coach Liam Coen has called "wide open," will be one to closely monitor ahead of Week 1, with Rodriguez's next chance to practice slated to arrive during Jacksonville's upcoming mandatory minicamp, June 9-11.

Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Thursday that Wright "has some speed" and looks comfortable this offseason, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

It sounds like Wright is off to a good start under the new coaching staff, competing with Ollie Gordon, Donovan Edwards and others for backup backfield roles behind De'Von Achane. One of the bunch could see a decent number of carries, as the Dolphins presumably won't want the sub-200-pound Achane butting heads between the tackles repeatedly. Wright was billed as a big-play threat rather than a power runner when the Dolphins took him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he does have decent size (5-foot-10, 208 pounds) to go with his 4.38 speed (2024 Combine).

Etienne appears to be behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks on Carolina's depth chart, competing for a backup role while contributing on special teams, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.

A 2025 fourth-round pick, Etienne took just 23 touches on offense during his rookie season, getting far more work on special teams -- 20 punt returns for 163 yards, 31 kick returns for 733 yards while playing in all 17 regular-season games. He was one of the least effective return specialists in the league, so he'll need to compete for the kick and punt return jobs this summer. Perhaps there's also a competition for the No. 2 RB role behind Hubbard, though fantasy ADPs and early beat-writer reports both peg Brooks as a strong favorite. Behind Hubbard, Brooks and Etienne, the Panthers have veteran journeyman AJ Dillon and UDFAs Anthony Tyus and Miles Davis.

Conner (foot) has mostly been limited to side work with trainers during OTA practices, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Coming off a season-ending foot and ankle injury in Week 3 last year, Conner accepted a pay cut this March, shortly before Arizona signed RB Tyler Allgeier. The Cardinals later drafted RB Jeremiyah Love, potentially leaving Conner as the No. 3 back after a half-decade stint as the team's starter. Trade rumors shouldn't be ignored, but Conner's presence at voluntary workouts is a clear sign he hasn't shut the door on Arizona.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Gibbs will be the team's "bellcow" in 2026, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.

"We're gonna hang our hat on him," said Campbell, whose assumption of play-calling duties last November coincided with a decline in David Montgomery's role. Gibbs' rushing efficiency also declined, though not until the final month, and he averaged 5.3 catches per game with Campbell calling plays. The Lions then traded Montgomery to Houston this offseason, with Isiah Pacheco coming in as a much cheaper depth option on a one-year, $1.8 million contract. Campbell is expected to call plays again, despite hiring an offensive coordinator (Drew Petzing) with plenty of experience in that regard.

Kamara said Wednesday that he hasn't been asked to take a pay cut, Matthew Paras of The Advocate reports. "I haven't had any conversations in regard to that, so I don't know," Kamara said. "I think there's a time and a place for everything. If that conversation comes up, then I'll have an answer for you when it comes up."

Kamara typically skips the voluntary offseason program, and he seemed to be doing the same this year until he arrived Wednesday during the second week of OTA practices. It sounds like he now plans to stick around for a few more voluntary sessions before mandatory minicamp June 16-17. Kamara's NFL future nonetheless remains uncertain, with a complicated contract situation after repeated extensions and restructures in New Orleans. A trade or release could help the Saints' cap sheet for 2027, which the team ultimately might consider more valuable than whatever Kamara can provide off the bench behind new lead back Travis Etienne. The Saints seemingly want to give Kamara a chance this summer to prove that he can still be a useful player, albeit in a lesser role after Etienne signed a four-year contract with $24 million guaranteed at signing. It appears Kamara has recovered from the MCL sprain and ankle injury that cut his 2025 campaign short.