NFL Player News

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Monday that he expects both Pacheco (hand/shoulder) and wideout Kadarius Toney (knee) to be available for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Lions, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports. "Organizationally, we feel pretty good those guys will be ready to play, barring no setbacks,'' Veach said.

Pacheco, who underwent offseason surgeries on his hand and shoulder, has been a limited practice participant during training camp and hasn't be cleared for contact to date. Once he's fully up to speed, Pacheco will likely work as the Chiefs' lead back, but holdovers Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire also are candidates to mix into the backfield rotation.

McCrary has signed with Green Bay, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

McCrary bounced around several practice squads during his rookie campaign in 2022. He subsequently signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns following the season, but he was ultimatey waived Aug. 4. After clearing waivers, he has found a new opportuinty in Green Bay.

Ford left practice early Monday due to a hamstring injury, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegramreports.

Ford is currently expected to hold down the No. 2 running back role behind starter Nick Chubb. However, his injury could derail those plans if he has to miss any kind of extended time. Selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ford mainly worked as a return man last season, but with the departures of Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson, the 23-year-old is in line for a significant increase in opportunities in 2023. Ford now will focus on making a return to the field as soon as possible.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said he hopes Ingram (abdomen) will be back at practice "pretty soon," Howard Balzer of GoPHNX.com reports.

Ingram has been rehabbing on a side field to start training camp, but it sounds like his abdominal issue is minor. If available, Ingram figures to operate as the Cardinals' No. 1 running back during the preseason, as it's unlikely veteran James Conner sees many snaps until the regular season. Ingram is competing for the top backup spot with Corey Clement, Ty'Son Williams, Marlon Mack and Emari Demercado.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Jones (groin/suspension) will miss some time at practice, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jones, who was recently suspended two games for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, will also now miss time in training camp due to a groin injury. If Jones' health concern impacts his availability for preseason action, beginning with Saturday's upcoming match against the Jaguars, it could give Malik Davis an easier path to securing the No. 2 role behind Tony Pollard.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub announced this past Saturday that Prince will be Kansas City's starting kick returner in Sunday's preseason opener against the Saints, Ed Easton Jr. of USA Today reports.

Prince's ability to contribute on special teams should help bolster the undrafted rookie's chances of making Kansas City's 53-man roster, and he'll have a chance to showcase his skills in the return game Sunday. The running back out of Tulsa has received some reps with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense in practice, and Prince will likely get some opportunities on offense against New Orleans as well.

Vaughn has impressed the coaching staff so far in camp both as a runner and a receiver, Saad Yousef of The Athletic reports.

While the diminutive running back's pass-catching skills were apparent in college, it wasn't clear how the rest of his game might translate to the NFL. Through early padded practices, Vaughn has shown an ability to use his 5-foot-6 stature to his advantage by hiding behind blockers before exploding into space. The big test will be how he's able to hold up in pass protection, but if he shows he isn't a total liability, the 2023 sixth-round pick could carve out a consistent role in the offense behind lead back Tony Pollard. Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and Ronald Jones (suspension) are the other options for backup RB snaps in Dallas.

Neither Chandler nor Kene Nwangwu has a a clear lead on the backup running back role to Alexander Mattison as both have questions about their abilities in pass protection, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Lewis goes as far to speculate that the Vikings could sign a veteran running back late in training camp for the backup role. It's still early in the competition, as each player's showing in preseason games could change the equation. However, neither looks like a lock for the backup role at the moment, and it also doesn't sound like there will be a committee approach at the position as Mattison is the clear lead back.

Running backs coach Stump Mitchell suggested Chubb will play third downs this season, while head coach Kevin Stefanski said he isn't sure who will handle the role, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

The Browns need to take Chubb off the field at least occasionally, and it makes sense to do it when the odds of a run play are lowest. On the other hand, their backfield offers minimal NFL experience behind him now that Kareem Hunt is gone, so Chubb may end up being the only one trusted to pass block and know all of his assignments. Jerome Ford is on track for the second spot on the depth chart, following a rookie season in which he got eight carries and nary a target. The Browns also have 2020 sixth-round Demetric Felton, who played some WR in college and could be the choice if the Browns decide to prioritize receiving skills over blocking and size. It sounds like Chubb's position coach expects him to handle at least a portion of the snaps in clear passing situations, which might be enough to elevate him to the elite tier of running backs for fantasy football. The 27-year-old has arguably been the most effective runner in the league since he was drafted -- five straight seasons with at least 996 yards, eight TDs and 5.0 YPC -- and he's also been reasonably efficient with his limited targets, catching 119 of 158 (75.3 percent) with 11 career drops, 8.3 YPR and 6.3 YPT.

Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday that McIntosh is dealing with a left knee sprain that could keep him out a couple of weeks, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Although McIntosh is dealing with an injury, Carroll said the team got "very good news" regarding his diagnosis. McIntosh was selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but his knee issue could limit his opportunities to compete for a role in the offense, especially now that Kenneth Walker (groin) and Zach Charbonnet (shoulder) have returned to practice.