NFL Player News

Dowdle has a spot on the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Dowdle has been with the Cowboys since first signing as an undrafted rookie in 2020, and he spent all of last season on injured reserve after fracturing his hip in August. He's healthy this year and seems to have won the No. 3 running back job, though it's often a fluid position with teams scouring the waiver wire for alternatives.

Ebner (ankle) is one of three running backs on Chicago's initial 53-man roster, Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com reports.

It's an excellent sign for the rookie sixth-round pick, both in terms of his standing with the team and his recent ankle injury. Ebner doesn't figure to have much of a role on offense early in the season behind David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, but the ankle won't necessarily be a limiting factor.

The Steelers are waiving McFarland, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The 2020 fourth-round pick didn't play much his first two seasons and now seems to have fallen behind both Benny Snell and Jaylen Warren. It's possible McFarland sticks around on Pittsburgh's practice squad if he isn't claimed on waivers.

Pierce faces less competition for playing time with the Texans set to release Marlon Mack, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Pierce ran for 49 yards in the preseason opener, was rested for the second game and then played with the starters in the third and final exhibition, taking six carries for 37 yards and a TD. Mack wasn't bad this preseason, but he'd fallen behind Pierce for early down work and doesn't have much experience playing special teams or handling passing downs. While coach Lovie Smith has declined to name a starter, Pierce is an overwhelming favorite to lead the team in carries Week 1 at Indianapolis, with Rex Burkhead then expected to get most of the third-down and hurry-up snaps.

The Texans are releasing Mack, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

Mack seemingly entered camp with a shot at the starting job but fell behind rookie fourth-round pick Dameon Pierce, who is headed for the lead role Week 1 against Indianapolis. The 26-year-old Mack has only 32 carries and five catches since running for over 1,000 yards in 2019.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that the Commanders don't have a timetable for Robinson's recovery from the wounds he sustained during an attempted robbery Sunday in Washington, D.C., John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Robinson was shot twice in his lower extremities during the incident, undergoing surgery and eventually getting released from the hospital Monday. Rivera noted that Robinson didn't suffer any structural damage, and the running back also met with team doctors at the Commanders' facilities Tuesday.

The Patriots will waive Taylor on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

In addition to Taylor, fellow running back Kevin Harris will be waived, which suggests that Ty Montgomery's ankle issue may not be a long-term concern. As for Taylor, he'll likely be a practice-squad candidate or an option to rejoin the Patriots' post-cutdown roster, assuming he clears waivers.

The Browns waived Kelly on Tuesday, Anthony Poisal of the team's official site reports.

Kelly appeared in four games with the Browns last season, and he handled a notable workload in the preseason, but he never had a clear path to earning a spot in Cleveland's exceptionally deep running back room. However, the team could make it a priority to stash Kelly on the practice squad if no other team offers him an active roster spot.

Koback was waived by the Vikings on Tuesday, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

Koback was signed by the Vikings in May after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he failed to make their final roster. The running back will likely return to the Vikings' practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Patriots will waive Harris on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Though the 2022 sixth-round pick isn't in line to be included on the Patriots' initial 53-man roster, Harris is a candidate to land on the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.