NFL Player News

Blasingame has no competition for the Bears' fullback role, Gene Chamberlain of SI.com reports.

Blasingame is expected to see snaps as a blocker when the Bears use their wide-zone blocking scheme, but he's unlikely to see many rushing attempts. In his three seasons with the Titans, he played 313 snaps while handling three carries for six yards. Unless he has a significant role change, it's unlikely he sees enough work to be a weekly fantasy option in most leagues.

Evans' running style fits the scheme the Bears are putting in place as he competes for a role behind David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, Brendan Sugrue of USA Today reports.

Evans' main competition for the third-string role is this year's sixth-round draft choice Trestan Ebner. However, when the Bears claimed Evans off waivers, they took on the last two years of his rookie deal. Although that's a small financial investment, it could indicate the team is hopeful he'll carve out a role on the roster. For fantasy, he would likely need Montgomery or Herbert to miss time while Evans earns a depth chart spot ahead of Ebner to have weekly fantasy value.

Pierce showed good vision returning kicks and on inside running drills during Saturday's practice, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pierce did a little bit of everything Saturday. He mostly honed his off-ball skills -- pass protection, route running -- and caught several checkdown passes during 11-on-11 drills, making himself available for quarterback Davis Mills. When it came time for special teams drills, Pierce fielded kicks and showed vision with the ball in his hands, a skill that didn't jump out during the combine or from his 4.59 40-yard dash time. "He's a tough guy," Houston head coach Lovie Smith said of Pierce. "You see him working special teams. A little bit of return game to him. Running in between the tackles, he can make you miss when he gets into the open field." The coach then added only so much can be learned when teams are not in pads and defenses are restrained. The real test for Pierce comes Monday, the first day of full pads.

Sanders' role as the Eagles' top running back this season remains safe despite reports that he spent time with the second unit in practice Friday, Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Sanders reportedly spent nearly all of his time in Friday's practice with the second-team offense, but head coach Nick Sirianni cautioned against reading anything into that, stating, "Miles is our guy." The Eagles rotate Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott throughout practice, but if Sanders' first-team reps were down Friday, that was merely a coincidence. Expect Sanders to be treated as the lead back heading into the year.

Pollard may see more snaps and touches in 2022, but Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones indicated Saturday they won't come at the expense of Ezekiel Elliott, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. "[Zeke] has to be the focal point," Jones said. "There is room for Pollard while Zeke is in there."

The implication here is that Dallas will use more two-back sets, particularly on passing downs when Pollard can line up in the slot while Elliott handles pass protection duties. Based on their production over the last three seasons, there's an argument to be made that Pollard should be cutting into Elliott's workload, but the latter did play through a knee injury last year that may have hampered his efficiency, and he has one season remaining on his current contract before the Cowboys could realistically part ways with him. While Pollard's career-high 719 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry in 2021 were impressive, any further gains on his part this year may have to come as a receiver.

Elliott will remain the clear lead back for the Cowboys even if Tony Pollard sees increased touches, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. "[Zeke] has to be the focal point," owner/GM Jerry Jones said Saturday on the NFL Network.

While this isn't a big surprise, it does seem to rule out the possibility of Elliott falling into a timeshare with Pollard, who has been more efficient and explosive with his touches over the last three seasons. In particular, Elliott's skills in pass protection would seem to ensure he'll retain a three-down role, while Pollard has seen reps as a slot receiver early in training camp as the Cowboys try to figure out ways to get the ball into his hands more often. Elliott's 1,289 scrimmage yards last year was the lowest total of his career for a full season, but he did play through a knee injury and a rebound is possible in 2022 if he can stay healthy.

Barkley has been used as a receiver "a lot" during the Giants' first week of camp, Tom Canavan of the Associated Press reports.

New head coach Brian Daboll is working on installing a new offense in New York after the team finished second-to-last in the league in both total yards and scoring last season under Joe Judge. Barkley could benefit greatly from the new system, particularly if his work as a pass catcher is increased. The fifth-year running back hauled in 91 passes for 721 yards during his rookie campaign but hasn't approached those numbers since. The decline can be attributed to numerous factors -- including injuries, poor quarterback play and an unproductive system -- but the fact remains that Barkley is a skilled receiver who is still only 25 years old. Daboll has indicated a desire to maximize Barkley's considerable talent, stating, "So, our job is to figure out ways to use him, whether he did it last year or the year before, two years, in college. When you're developing in a system, you kind of figure out what these guys do best, and you challenge them to do more."

Las Vegas signed Walter on Friday.

Walter gets another chance to make an impression on an NFL team after the Jets waived him back in May. He'll be hard-pressed to make the 53-man roster in a Raiders running back room that already features Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Brandon Bolden and 2022 fourth-round pick Zamir White.

Coach Josh McDaniels doesn't expect a lengthy absence for White, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury, Hondo S. Carpenter of Sports Illustrated reports.

"He's doing everything he can to get back out there as soon as possible," McDaniels said of White, "And the hope would be that it's not too much longer." Drafted in the fourth round out of Georgia in 2022, White will join a crowded Raiders backfield that also includes Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake and Brandon Bolden once the rookie's cleared to practice.

Zach Berman of The Athletic relays that Sanders worked with the Eagles' second-team offense Friday.

That said, Berman notes that he expects Sanders -- who he says "looks healthy and explosive" at practice -- to be the team's lead back this season, adding that "it's atypical to see Sanders with the second unit." On Friday though, it was Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott who ran with the first team. Subsequent practices will reveal whether Sanders moves back to logging top-unit reps in short order, but for now this is a situation to monitor.