NFL Player News

The Rams activated Williams (foot) from the active/PUP list Monday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

This would seem to put the rookie ahead of schedule, with coach Sean McVay previously having said that Williams was expected to return to practice around the Rams' third preseason game. They haven't even played their first, and while he'll likely be eased into drills before actually practicing, this at least gives Williams a better shot to be ready for the preseason finale and/or Week 1. Earning a role is another matter altogether for the fifth-round pick, with the broken foot suffered in OTAs robbing him of most of his chances to make an impression. Williams thus seems most likely to start off at the bottom of the depth chart, or possibly even the practice squad once the regular season begins.

Mostert and Chase Edmonds both are listed with the first-string offense on Miami's initial preseason depth chart, after coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday that "competition is fierce" among the team's running backs, Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports reports.

Edmonds got the biggest contract of the trio, but it's no secret that fellow offseason acquisitions Mostert and Sony Michel also are in the mix for key roles. Edmonds is the best pass catcher of the bunch, while Mostert is by far the fastest and Michel perhaps most adept working between the tackles. There's even some chance of a contribution from Myles Gaskin, the team's lead back for much of 2020 and 2021 under a different coaching staff. Mostert should have an advantage when it comes to scheme familiarity and terminology, considering McDaniel was the 49ers' run game coordinator from 2017 to 2020 and their offensive coordinator in 2021. Mostert was in San Francisco from late 2016 through 2021, though he missed nearly as many games as he played, including all but the season opener last year. He was cleared for the start of training camp after a lengthy rehab from a knee injury, and he recently shed his no-contact jersey, per Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald.

Dobbins (knee) has passed his physical and has been removed from the active/PUP list, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site reports.

Per the report, Dobbins, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last year on Aug. 28, figures to be eased into action by the Ravens, likely starting with individual drills. When he's 100 percent, Dobbins profiles as the team's lead back, while Gus Edwards is a candidate to be next in line for backfield touches when he returns from a knee injury of his own. In the meantime, Mike Davis, Justice Hill, Corey Clement, Tyler Badie and Nate McCrary also are on hand to compete for depth chart slotting.

Coach Josh McDaniels has refuted speculation that the Raiders are looking to trade Jacobs, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Jacobs, whose fifth-year contract option was turned down by the franchise this spring, logged seven touches in this past Thursday's preseason opener, an outcome that McDaniels downplayed, noting that the Raiders are using the preseason to get their running backs acclimated to game action, while building chemistry behind the team's offensive line. Also in the mix for touches in Las Vegas' backfield behind Jacobs -- who is listed atop the team's posted depth chart -- are Zamir White, Kenyan Drake, Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday that the Dolphins' running back competition remains "fierce" and declined to name Edmonds, or any other player, the starter yet, David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

McDaniel said he doesn't "want to limit an opportunity by having a preconceived notion," noting that a player like Raheem Mostert having familiarity with the scheme may not provide an advantage in the training camp competition. On the other hand, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports that McDaniel lauded Edmond's "cerebral approach," one which he called "unique" among Miami's backfield. "He knows every receiver assignment and he's understanding of the blocking schemes and all that," McDaniel said. "But more so, he has a combination of feel to apply abstract coaching points." Those comments speak to Edmond's three-down versatility, which, when combined with the fact that he signed a two-year, $12.1 million contract with the Dolphins, still appears to make him the favorite to lead what could be a multi-headed rushing attack.

Pacheco has caught the eye of coach Andy Reid during training camp, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports. "He's got a little juice," Reid noted Wednesday of Pacheco, while adding Saturday, "The things you're guaranteed of are that he's going to run hard. Will he have to learn the different schemes and how they work against certain defenses and at times be patient? He'll learn that. But he's going to run hard."

The report also notes that Pacheco, who the Chiefs took in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, has demonstrated some reliability as a receiver out of the backfield. Though Clyde Edwards-Helaire continues to profile as the team's top backfield option, per Charles Goldman of The USA Today, Pacheco, who has logged reps with both the first- and second-team offenses, appears to be pushing for a complementary role, with Ronald Jones, Jerick McKinnon and Derrick Gore also vying for depth chart slotting. In any case, Pacheco is a player worth monitoring in the preseason, where Taylor suggests that the 5-foot-10, 216-pound Rutgers product can make his case to secure Kansas City's primary kickoff return job as well factor in in the team's offense as an all-around back.

Robinson (Achilles) is handling reps with the Jaguars' first-team offense at Monday's practice, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Robinson, who remains in the process of recovering from a left Achilles tear, is taking first-team reps for the first time all training camp, albeit without any defenders on the field. He still hasn't stepped in for full-team drills, but that could be coming within the next few weeks. Robinson didn't play in the Hall of Fame game last week and doesn't figure to play in Jacksonville's exhibition with Cleveland on Friday.

Dobbins (knee) will undergo an evaluation Monday to determine if he can be activated from the active/PUP list, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

As Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun previously reported, Dobbins has been in a hurry to resume practicing but has remained on the PUP list through the first two weeks of training camp. However, he could return as soon as Monday if his checkup goes as planned. Dobbins still profiles as the Ravens' lead running back once he's ready with Mike Davis, Justice Hill and Corey Clement currently the top healthy options and Gus Edwards (knee) still behind on his rehab. Dobbins, a 2020 second-round pick, ran 134 times for 805 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns as a rookie and was set for an expanded role last year before tearing his ACL during a preseason contest.

Taylor (groin) returned to practice Sunday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Taylor missed multiple practices -- including the team's Family Night -- due to a groin injury, but he appears to be on the mend and may return to full practices over the next week. With Kylin Hill (knee) expected to start the 2022 season on the PUP list, the undrafted running back out of Memphis is the favorite to win the backup role behind AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones, though he'll have to prove he's healthy during the Packers' upcoming preseason contests.

Jones and AJ Dillon split the first-team reps during Green Bay's Family Night event Friday, according to Justis Mosqueda of acmepackingcompany.com.

It is anticipated that Jones and Dillon will fairly evenly share the work in the Packers backfield during the season ahead, and Friday's snap distribution did nothing to change that, as Dillon got 15 first-team reps to Jones' 14. That pattern caps the upside a bit for both players, but that does not mean they can't be fantasy assets. Both Jones and Dillon racked up more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season, and the running backs figure to be featured plenty on a roster lacking proven options at the pass-catching spots.