NFL Player News

The 49ers waived Sermon on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

With Sermon having been let go a day after Tuesday's wave of roster cutdowns, Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason are left to compete for depth slotting behind Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) in the 49ers' backfield. Sermon, a 2021 third-round draft choice, was often a healthy inactive during his lone season in San Francisco, appearing in nine contests while logging 41 carries for 167 yards and one touchdown to go with three catches for 26 yards.

Drake signed with the Ravens on Wednesday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Released by the Raiders last week, Drake met with the Ravens on Tuesday and apparently passed a physical. He could get touches Week 1, as J.K. Dobbins (knee) is uncertain to play, and the Ravens otherwise have only Mike Davis and Justice Hill on their 53-man roster at running back. Davis would likely be the starter if Dobbins isn't ready for Baltimore's season opener against the Jets.

The Bengals waived Williams on Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Williams made the initial 53-man roster, but he was let go Wednesday to make room for a trio of waiver claims. The 2019 sixth-round pick appeared in 26 games over three years with the Bengals, totaling 47 touches for 242 yards.

The Seahawks signed Thompson to their practice squad Wednesday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Thompson was solid during limited preseason action but didn't make the Seahawks' initial 53-man roster. However, he'll get a chance to work his way back to NFL game action via the practice squad.

The Chargers waived Rountree on Wednesday.

Rountree finds himself as the odd man out after the acquisition of Sony Michel, who will likely step into a sizable backup role behind Austin Ekeler. As a rookie last season, Rountree appeared in 12 games and rushed 36 times for 87 yards and a score. He was competing for backup slotting heading into Week 1 but struggled to make an impact during limited work in the preseason.

Sanders (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.

Out for the past two and a half weeks, Sanders missed another practice 11 days before Philadelphia's season opener in Detroit. If Sanders can't play Week 1, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell are next up for touches, but it's currently unclear which of the two would get more work.

The Packers signed Taylor to their practice squad Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

With Kylin Hill (knee) sidelined, Taylor and Tyler Goodson competed during training camp for the No. 3 spot behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Taylor did his best to earn the job, rushing 18 times for 71 yards while catching three passes for 17 yards across three exhibition contests. However, the Packers opted to keep just two running backs on their initial 53-man roster, with the understanding that Amari Rodgers or Randall Cobb could handle emergency RB duties if Jones or Dillon went down with an injury. Regardless, Taylor and Goodson are both candidates to be elevated on a weekly basis now that they are members of the practice squad.

The Packers signed Goodson to their practice squad Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

With Kylin Hill (knee) sidelined, Goodson and Patrick Taylor dueled during the preseason for the No. 3 spot behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Goodson did his best to earn the gig, totaling 29 rushes for 107 yards and one score across three exhibition contests. However, neither Goodson nor Taylor ultimately made the initial 53-man roster as the Packers opted to only keep two running backs, with the understanding that Amari Rodgers or Randall Cobb could handle emergency RB duties if Jones or Dillon went down with an injury. Regardless, Goodson and Taylor are both candidates to be elevated on a weekly basis now that they are members of the practice squad.

The Commanders signed Patterson to their practice squad Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Patterson had a solid preseason, rushing 16 times for 63 yards while catching five passes for 47 yards, but he failed to make the initial 53-man roster. With Brian Robinson (lower body) out for the foreseeable future, it's possible Patterson sees an elevation as early as Week 1.

Mason was included on the 49ers' initial 53-man roster Tuesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Barring any changes to the roster heading into the Sept. 11 season opener at Chicago, Mason will be one of five running backs for the 49ers. The undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech earned his spot by leading the 49ers in rushing this preseason, averaging 4.9 yards per carry while totaling 94 yards on the ground. He won't get much run early in the season due to the depth San Francisco carries at the position. That said, Elijah Mitchell (knee) -- who is expected to be ready by Week 1 -- comes into the season banged up, and there's no guarantee that either Trey Sermon or Tyrion Davis-Price will hold their spots above Mason on the depth chart.