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Kaytron Allen RB | MIA
Commanders' Kaytron Allen: Sees heavy workload in win
Allen rushed 23 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and brought in one of two targets for one yard in the Commanders' 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday.
The rookie sixth-round pick improved his rushing numbers over the prior season in each of his last three years at Penn State, and Allen is now trying to nail down the No. 3 job in a veteran running back room. Going by the amount of playing time he saw Friday, it's clear the coaching staff is intrigued with his potential. Allen's first chance to build on his game-high rushing yardage total and one-yard touchdown run comes in a road preseason matchup against the Lions on Saturday, Aug. 22.
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Jonah Coleman RB | DEN
Broncos' Jonah Coleman: Four carries in first taste of NFL
Coleman rushed four times for 24 yards in Friday's 27-7 preseason win over the Falcons.
Coleman was the second running back into the game for Denver after RJ Harvey while veteran J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed) sat out Friday's preseason opener. Denver's rookie fourth-round pick is likely to begin his career as third on the team's running back depth chart behind Dobbins and Harvey, though Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlin and Cody Schrader will try to work their way into the conversation during the preseason, which will continue for the Broncos next Friday against the Packers.
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Braelon Allen RB | NYJ
Jets' Braelon Allen: Breaks off 31-yard TD run
Allen rushed four times for 44 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 24-16 preseason loss to the Buccaneers.
Allen entered on the second drive after Breece Hall played the team's first possession. The 2024 fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin recorded rushes of eight and four yards before breaking free for a 31-yard touchdown run. Allen had been set to compete with Isaiah Davis (knee) for opportunities behind Hall, but Davis is week-to-week due to a knee injury, so Allen is expected to open the regular season as the team's No. 2 running back. Having bulked up to 250 pounds, Allen has the frame to take on short-yardage work, but he'll need to earn it by converting when such opportunities present themselves.
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Sean Tucker RB | TB
Buccaneers' Sean Tucker: Garners 23 total yards in preseason win
Tucker rushed four times for 12 yards and brought in both targets for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-16 preseason win over the Jets on Friday.
Neither Bucky Irving nor Kenny Gainwell were active Friday, leaving Tucker as the starting running back. The fourth-year pro gained four yards on his first carry during Tampa Bay's three-and-out opening possession, and he ended up playing on the Buccaneers' first three drives. Tucker recorded a career-high 320 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over 17 regular-season games in 2025, and he projects to remain in a No. 3 running back role and potentially serve as a primary kickoff returner once again in 2026.
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De'Von Achane RB | MIA
Dolphins' De'Von Achane: Gets in end zone in preseason opener
Achane rushed seven times for 39 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in the Dolphins' 20-7 preseason loss to the Commanders on Friday.
The Pro Bowl running back looked in midseason form during his brief time in the game, which consisted of the Dolphins' marathon 93-yard opening drive. Achane scooted for 19 yards on his first two carries, and before his final two runs of the night, he didn't net a gain of fewer than five yards. His final rush attempt resulted in a one-yard touchdown and capped off the 14-play possession, and Friday may prove to be Achane's longest stint of playing time this preseason ahead of what's expected to be a high-volume 2026 campaign as Miami's unquestioned No. 1 back.
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Brian Robinson Jr. RB | ATL
Falcons' Brian Robinson: Gets preseason start Friday
Robinson rushed twice for six yards in Friday's 27-7 preseason loss to the Broncos.
Robinson played the game's first two drives with most of Atlanta's starters while Bijan Robinson got the night off. Bijan will get the lion's share of carries come the regular season as long as he's available, but Brian seems to have a secure hold on the second spot on the depth chart, ahead of Tyler Goodson, Nathan Carter, Trey Sermon and Cash Jones.
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James Conner RB | ARI
Cardinals' James Conner: Doesn't play vs. Las Vegas
Conner (foot) did not play in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders.
It's not much of a surprise, considering Conner is still working his way back from foot and ankle surgery that he underwent in late September. Neither Conner nor Trey Benson played in Thursday's exhibition contest, though No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love (ankle) saw a fair amount of work against the Raiders, turning 14 touches into 72 yards, while Tyler Allgeier added four carries for 19 yards. Conner, Love and Allgeier figure to all be in the mix for backfield snaps, though who's listed as RB1 by the start of the regular season is up in the air.
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Rico Dowdle RB | PIT
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Idle for preseason opener
Dowdle did not play in Thursday's 28-9 preseason win over the Packers, Chris Harlan of Triblive.com reports.
Neither Dowdle nor Jaylen Warren suited up for Thursday's game, which saw Lew Nichols and rookie seventh-rounder Eli Heidenreich handle the bulk of the carries. Warren is listed as the Steelers' RB1 on the first unofficial depth chart that was released Aug. 5, but head coach Mike McCarthy wants to balance the workload between Warren and Dowdle, per Brian Batko of the team's official site. Dowdle has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons, but he saw his usage dip over the last few weeks of the 2025 season while with the Panthers.
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Robbie Ouzts RB | SEA
Seahawks' Robbie Ouzts: Not facing career-threatening issue
Ouzts' neck injury is likely not a career-threatening issue, Corbin K. Smith of SI.com reports.
The Seahawks feel that placing Ouzts on season-ending injured reserve will help the fullback's career long-term. Neck injuries are notoriously tricky, and the organization does not want to make any mistakes that might cost the 23-year-old his career or his health after football. The team will re-evaluate the 2025 fifth-rounder's playing potential during the 2027 offseason.
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Jaylen Warren RB | PIT
Steelers' Jaylen Warren: Doesn't play Thursday
Warren did not play in the Steelers' 28-9 preseason win over the Packers on Thursday, Chris Harlan of Triblive.com reports.
Both Warren and Rico Dowdle observed Thursday's game from the sidelines while depth backfield options Lew Nichols and Eli Heidenreich combined for 19 of the Steelers' 28 carries. Warren is listed ahead of Dowdle on the Steelers' first unofficial depth chart that was released Aug. 5, but the duo could see similar workloads in a balanced backfield, per Brian Batko of the team's official site.