NFL Player News

Mitchell (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.

After six straight missed practices, Mitchell's return is a positive step for his Week 1 outlook against the Cardinals. When healthy, Mitchell is expected to serve in a sort-of lightning role to Omarion Hampton's thunder out of the backfield. Mitchell may not be immediately usable in fantasy leagues as a starter, but he's one of the higher-upside bench stashes to see what his role is under new OC Mike McDaniel, who personally campaigned for Mitchell's signing in Los Angeles.

Monangai (knee) returned to practice Monday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

It marked Monangai's first practice action since he hyperextended his knee Aug. 16. It's unclear if Monangai will be able to play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Panthers, but he's obviously nearing 100 percent. D'Andre Swift (abdomen) was also back at practice Monday after dealing with cramps last week.

Swift (abdomen) returned to practice Monday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Swift left practice last Thursday with abdominal cramps, but his ability to mix into drills after a weekend off generally is a good sign ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Panthers. In addition to Swift, Kyle Monangai (knee) returned to practice Monday for the first time since hyperextending his knee Aug. 16. Swift is a locked-in fantasy RB2 to open the 2026 campaign, while Monangai makes for an ideal bench stash in Chicago's elite offense. Roschon Johnson will bring up the rear of the depth chart as the Bears' RB3.

Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Tucker (undisclosed) will likely be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Tucker did not practice Monday, and the exact nature of his injury isn't known, though the Bucs will be required to provide more clarity with Wednesday's first official injury report of the season. If Tucker is unable to go against Cincinnati, Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell should handle most, if not all, of the backfield snaps.

Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that neither Vaki nor Jacob Saylors is viewed as the Lions' strict RB2, and Detroit will use a committee approach behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.

Isiah Pacheco was signed over the offseason to serve as the Lions' RB2 behind Gibbs, but he injured his back and is opening the regular season on injured reserve. Pacheco remains without a firm timetable for return, so it's Vaki and Saylors who will see elevated roles on game days. The inexperienced duo has combined for nine career regular-season carries. Gibbs is expected to have a heavy 2026 workload due to David Montgomery being out of town and now with the Texans.

Henderson (ankle) was not spotted at the portion of Monday's practice open to the media, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com.

Henderson was listed as a non-participant on Sunday's injury report, and it appears likely he will receive the same designation a day later. Henderson has not been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener just yet, but his chances of suiting up are seemingly growing slimmer.

Brooks (general soreness) was spotted working out of to the side during Monday's practice, Mike Kaye of ESPN.com reports.

Kaye notes that Brooks was spotted doing some running, so he wasn't completely limited to rehab work. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Panthers head coach Dave Canales expressed optimism last week that Brooks would be ready to play in Sunday's season opener versus the Bears, and the running back's lack of involvement in Monday's practice isn't believed to have changed the Panthers' stance. Brooks missed the entire 2025 campaign after tearing the ACL in his right knee for the second time in his career in December 2024, but he was fully cleared in the spring and saw action in two preseason games.

McCaffrey (undisclosed) wasn't participating in drills in the early portion of the 49ers' practice early Monday in Australia, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Though McCaffrey wasn't on the field for the open portion of practice, it's possible that he fit in some work behind the scenes. San Francisco will post its first injury report of 2026 later Monday, when the extent of McCaffrey's practice participation will be revealed as the 49ers gear up for their season opener against the Rams on Thursday.

Wilson (hamstring) practiced fully Sunday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Wilson has been a distant third on the RB depth chart behind first-round rookie Jadarian Price and George Holani since the offseason program, and a hamstring injury that was first reported after preseason Week 1 didn't allow Wilson to make any headway for backfield reps to begin the campaign. Now that his health isn't a question, it remains to be seen if Wilson will be a part of the running game during Wednesday's Week 1 matchup with the Patriots.

Henderson (ankle) officially didn't practice Sunday, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Henderson suffered a minor right ankle injury Aug. 24 and hasn't been able to practice since then. After Sunday's absence, he'll have two more chances to mix into drills before the Patriots potentially make a ruling on his status for Week 1 when they post Tuesday's injury report. If Henderson isn't able to suit up for Wednesday's season opener at Seattle, Rhamondre Stevenson would be in line to handle the bulk of the backfield reps for New England, with Corey Kiner and practice-squad members Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins the potential candidates for complementary work, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.