NFL Player News

Johnson did not play on offense and returned two kickoffs for 37 yards in Sunday's 22-17 playoff loss to Kansas City.

Johnson was a distant third on the depth chart behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt all season while appearing in all 16 regular-season games and both playoff contests. He had 33 carries for 166 yards while playing 81 snaps. Both Chubb and Hunt are under contract for 2021, so no change is expected for the running back depth chart. Johnson will be the primary kick and punt returner entering 2021 training camp, but teams typically bring in other candidates to challenge for return jobs.

Kamara rushed 18 times for 85 yards and caught three of six targets for 20 yards in Sunday's NFC divisional-round loss to the Buccaneers.

Kamara reached the century mark in combined yards in consecutive playoff performances, but he was unable to hit pay dirt this time around as the Saints ultimately fell to their division rivals. The dual-threat back finished the regular season with a combined 1,688 yards and a whopping 21 total touchdowns, both of which were new career highs. There is no questioning Kamara's talent and status as one of the game's best fantasy performers, but quarterback Drew Brees' retirement decision this upcoming offseason may affect the superstar back. Even with Brees' steep drop-off in arm strength and overall effectiveness in his age-42 season, he still boosted Kamara's value as a receiving threat on short and intermediate routes out of the backfield. In the four games that Brees missed this season, Kamara averaged just 2.5 receptions, 12.8 receiving yards and no touchdowns with backup and potential replacement Taysom Hill. The Saints could go in another direction whenever the first-ballot Hall of Famer decides to hang 'em up for good, but the play style of that quarterback could alter Kamara's usage.

Jones (quadriceps) rushed 13 times for 62 yards and failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 30-20 divisional-round win over the Saints on Sunday.

Eight days after having to sit out the wild-card win against Washington due to a quadriceps contusion suffered in pregame warmups, Jones was back on the field and filling a robust role in the ground attack. However, he worked in tandem with Leonard Fournette, who served as the true lead back with 17 carries and another five touches in the passing game. Nevertheless, Jones was actually the more efficient of the two with 4.8 yards per rush, and given the extreme cold expected at Lambeau Field for next Sunday's NFC Championship Game, the duo could be quite busy once again versus a Packers defense that's been vulnerable to the run.

Chubb rushed 13 times for 69 yards and caught two of five targets for four yards in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round.

Chubb was bottled up in the first half, mustering just 12 yards on five carries and three targets. He finally got going on Cleveland's first touchdown drive in the third quarter, ripping off runs of 23 and 18 yards on consecutive plays to set up a Jarvis Landry touchdown catch. Chubb also converted a 4th-and-1 later in the quarter, reestablishing himself as the leading figure in the Browns' offense. Even with Kareem Hunt -- who scored a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown -- siphoning off a sizable chunk of touches in Cleveland's backfield, Chubb has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the league with consecutive seasons over 1,000 rushing yards and over 5.0 yards per carry.

Williams rushed 13 times for 78 yards and caught all four of his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 22-17 win over the Browns in the AFC divisional round.

Williams worked as the lead back with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) inactive, as Le'Veon Bell had just two carries and two targets. The third-year pro out of LSU made a pair of pivotal second-half plays, taking a toss 12 yards on 4th-and-1 to set up a third-quarter field goal and later gaining five yards on a 3rd-and-4 swing pass to help the Chiefs run out the clock in the fourth. Even if Edwards-Helaire returns for next week's AFC Championship Game against the Bills, Williams has likely earned himself a substantial role in Kansas City's backfield for that contest.

Bellamy finished the season with 11 yards on four carries and a five-yard catch.

Bellamy impressed during training camp but did not record his first touch until Week 16.  Even with Phillip Lindsay dinged up for much of the season, Bellamy had trouble cracking the lineup with a logjam at the position featuring Lindsay, Melvin Gordon and Royce Freeman. With all three either under contract or heading to restricted free agency this offseason, something will have to give to allow Bellamy to break through in 2021.

Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round contest at New Orleans.

In the Buccaneers' wild-card win at Washington, Vaughn received double-digit offensive snaps (12) for the sixth time in 11 appearances this season, which translated to five carries for 21 yards. The elevated snap count coincided with an active Ronald Jones not taking the field due to a quad injury suffered during pregame warmups. With Jones back in the lineup this weekend, Vaughn will be a healthy scratch while Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy join Jones as the Tampa Bay's available running backs.

Murray (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Buccaneers, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

After making just one limited appearance at practice this week, Murray will take a seat as a result of a quad issue. With the veteran running back sidelined, Alvin Kamara likely is in line for a sizable workload, but Dwayne Washington, Ty Montgomery and fullback Michael Burton all are available out of the Saints backfield.

Jones (quadriceps) is listed as active for Sunday's divisional-round game against New Orleans.

Despite being inactive in the wild-card round at Washington, Jones didn't play after tweaking his quadriceps in pregame warmups. He proceeded to log limited sessions Thursday and Friday, setting himself up to return to the field this weekend. It remains to be seen how the backfield reps will be allotted between Jones, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy with Ke'Shawn Vaughn a healthy scratch.

Edwards-Helaire (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Browns, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

As reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN earlier Sunday, Edwards-Helaire isn't ready to return from the left ankle sprain and left hip strain that he suffered Week 15. With the rookie first-rounder out of the lineup, Le'Veon Bell is in line to head the Chiefs backfield in their playoff opener. Behind Bell, Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson are next up for touches at running back.