NFL Player News

Evans carried the ball seven times for 15 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Falcons in preseason action. He added two receptions for 20 yards.

Evans was the first Bengals running back on the field with Joe Mixon (personal) and Trayveon Williams (ankle) sidelined. He ended up splitting carries with rookie Chase Brown for most of the first half and wasn't particularly impressive rushing the ball. However, Evans continued to make an impact as a pass catcher -- his likeliest role once the regular season begins. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his role in the offense, but for now, he appears to have the upper hand to be Mixon's primary backup come Week 1.

Allgeier carried the ball once for -1 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Bengals in preseason action.

Allgeier was the first back on the field and carried the ball for seven yards on the opening play from scrimmage, though the gain was ultimately washed out due to a holding penalty. He touched the ball only one additional time, which resulted in a loss. Bijan Robinson led the backfield Friday and will do the same when the Falcons kick off the regular season against the Panthers.

Brown carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards and caught his only target for seven yards in Friday's preseason loss to the Giants.

With Miles Sanders (groin) unavailable, Chuba Hubbard got the start in the backfield but left early in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Brown was the second Carolina running back to see action on offense, and his 33 scrimmage yards just out-paced Raheem Blackshear's 31 rushing yards, although the latter scored a touchdown in the second half. Should the injuries to Sanders and Hubbard linger into the regular season, it's not yet clear whether Blackshear or Brown would assume lead duties.

Blackshear carried the ball eight times for 31 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason loss to the Giants.

The second-year running back led the Panthers in rushing yards and scored the team's only TD on the ground. Blackshear's fantasy appeal could be on the rise, as Miles Sanders (groin) once again wasn't in the lineup and Chuba Hubbard (ankle) didn't return after getting injured on the first play of the second quarter. However, it was Spencer Brown (10 carries for 26 yards, one catch for seven yards) who took over for Hubbard, while Blackshear didn't see his first touch on offense until late in the third quarter. Should the injuries to Sanders and Hubbard linger into the regular season, it's not yet clear whether Blackshear or Brown would assume lead duties.

Robinson carried the ball four times for 20 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie with the Bengals in preseason action. He also recorded one catch for six yards.

The Falcons' first-team offense played only one series, though it lasted 20 plays and 9:51 of game time. Robinson played on that drive and entered the game after Tyler Allgeier took the first carry of the game. He gained 12 yards with his first carry and was largely unremarkable otherwise, though he did manage to haul in his only target. Robinson may not take the field again until a Week 1 matchup against the Panthers, when he'll almost certainly lead Atlanta's backfield.

Coach Frank Reich said Hubbard sustained an ankle injury during Friday's 21-19 preseason loss at the Giants, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

For a second consecutive contest, Hubbard started for the hobbled Miles Sanders (groin), turning his eight carries into 30 yards. Now that the Panthers' top two running backs are injured, the team is left with Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples as its healthy running backs. While Sanders likely will be sidelined until Week 1, it remains to be seen if Hubbard will be able to play in the preseason final on Friday, Aug. 25 versus the Lions.

Brightwell is not in uniform for Friday's exhibition matchup with the Panthers due to an undisclosed issue, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.

Brightwell is competing with Jashaun Corbin, James Robinson and Eric Gray for the team's No. 3 running back role behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida. It is unclear what specific issue he is dealing with, but the Giants have one more preseason game left, so he will have more time to make an impression going forward.

Mixon didn't make the trip for Friday's preseason game against the Falcons after attending to personal matters in Cincinnati, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Along with Mixon, fellow RB Trayveon Williams (ankle) also didn't make the trip, which sets the stage for Chris Evans and rookie Chase Brown to log the bulk of the team's carries as they did in last week's preseason opener against the Packers. Mixon's last chance to see exhibition action ahead of Week 1 will arrive Aug. 26 against the Commanders.

The Texans signed Rountree on Friday.

Rountree, who logged 13 carries for 19 yards in four games with the Chargers last season, will give the Texans some added backfield depth behind Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. The 2021 sixth-rounder is now in a position to compete with Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale and Gerrid Doaks for slotting behind Houston's top duo.

Dobbins participated in team drills at Friday's practice, his first time doing so in training camp, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Dobbins ended his "hold-in" earlier this week and started practicing Monday following his activation from the PUP list. He'd been limited to individual work up until Friday. With 23 days until the Ravens' Week 1 opener, Dobbins will have plenty of time to get his legs underneath him in preparation to serve as the team's lead back.