NFL Player News
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Trevor Etienne RB | CAR
Panthers' Trevor Etienne: Totals 70 all-purpose yards in loss
Etienne rushed seven times for 18 yards, brought in his only target for seven yards and ran back two kickoffs for 45 yards in the Panthers' 20-3 preseason loss to the Texans on Saturday afternoon.
The rookie was the third back in behind Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, and although he managed just modest gains on the ground, he offered reasonable production with his touches as a receiver and returner. Etienne appears to be in line to open the regular season in the same slotting in the backfield pecking order that was featured Saturday, while also potentially seeing time as a returner on occasion.
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Ollie Gordon II RB | MIA
Dolphins' Ollie Gordon: Best RB again in preseason win
Gordon rushed 10 times for 50 yards during Miami's 24-17 preseason win over Detroit on Saturday.
Gordon has looked like the Dolphins' best running back in two consecutive preseason matchups, with his performance Saturday having been vastly superior to Jaylen Wright's four carries for three yards. Head coach Mike McDaniel said Saturday that De'Von Achane (lower body) has a soft-tissue injury, and though he said the starting running back's issue isn't serious, that should provide a window for Gordon and Wright to handle the bulk of first-team reps for the immediate future, as well as potentially start the team's preseason finale against Jacksonville next Saturday. The Dolphins recently placed Alexander Mattison (neck) on season-ending IR due to an injury sustained in the exhibition opener, paving an easier path for one of Gordon or Wright to secure the No. 2 backfield role.
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Jaylen Wright RB | MIA
Dolphins' Jaylen Wright: Rough showing in preseason win
Wright rushed four times for three yards during Miami's 24-17 preseason win over the Lions on Saturday.
Wright also fumbled once, though it was recovered by the Dolphins' offense. While Wright struggled to get anything going Saturday, rookie Ollie Gordon impressed with 10 carries for 50 yards, with a long scamper of 19 yards. With Alexander Mattison (neck) done for the year, Wright is competing for a potentially significant role behind starter De'Von Achane (lower body), but unless he can close out the preseason strong during Miami's preseason finale against the Jaguars on Sat., Aug. 23, he could lose tangible ground to Gordon. With Achane now managing a lower body soft-tissue injury, both Wright and Gordon figure to benefit from increased first-team reps at practice next week.
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Jaydon Blue RB | DAL
Cowboys' Jaydon Blue: Another absence Saturday
Blue (heel) isn't expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Blue suffered a bone bruise in his heel Aug. 7 and has been sidelined in the meantime. With absences in both of the Cowboys' exhibitions to date, the rookie fifth-round pick will have just one more chance for game action ahead of Week 1 this coming Friday against the Falcons. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders will continue to handle first-team reps for as long as Blue is sidelined.
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Woody Marks RB | HOU
Texans' Woody Marks: Team-high rushing yardage in win
Marks rushed seven times for 40 yards and brought in his only target for no gain in the Texans' 20-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Marks entered the game after starter Nick Chubb and finished as the team leader in rushing yards on the afternoon. The rookie fourth-round pick started off hot by gaining 19 rushing yards on his first two carries, and he put together a strong effort overall in his quest to solidify a meaningful spot in the backfield pecking order come the regular season. Joe Mixon (ankle/foot) remains on the active/non-football injury list with no definitive return timeline, so Marks could certainly be looking at a No. 3 spot at minimum to open the 2025 campaign.
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Pierre Strong Jr. RB | GB
Browns' Pierre Strong: Racks up yardage Saturday
Strong carried the ball 13 times for 89 yards and caught four of five targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles.
The veteran back got the start with Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson being held out of the game, and Strong took advantage of the opportunity. Most of his production came on a 54-yard carry on the first play of the fourth quarter, after which he gave way to Ahmani Marshall. Despite the big performance, Strong's best path to a spot on the 53-man roster will come via his special-teams contributions, and he'll presumably get bumped down the RB depth chart further once 2025 second-round pick Quinshon Judkins finally gets signed.
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Kene Nwangwu RB | NYJ
Jets' Kene Nwangwu: Poised to play Saturday
Nwangwu (calf) is in line to play against the Giants in Saturday's preseason game, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Nwangwu has been nursing a calf injury that he suffered in the Jets' preseason opener against the Packers, but he's progressed enough in his recovery to play Saturday. With Isaiah Davis (ankle) ruled out, Nwangwu is in line to see the bulk of the backfield carries Saturday, assuming that Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are limited to the first couple of offensive series.
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Isaiah Davis RB | NYJ
Jets' Isaiah Davis: Unlikely to play vs. Giants
Davis (ankle) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Davis has been working through a minor ankle injury, and the 2024 fifth-rounder will be held out of Saturday's exhibition contest to avoid aggravating the issue. If Kene Nwangwu (calf) is also ruled out, Donovan Edwards and Lawrance Toafili would be in line to manage the bulk of backfield carries, assuming Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are limited to the first couple of offensive series. Davis will aim to return to practice next week and be available for the Jets' preseason finale against the Eagles on Friday.
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Patrick Taylor RB | SF
49ers' Patrick Taylor: Won't return vs. Las Vegas
Taylor (shoulder) has been ruled out for the rest of Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Taylor suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and will leave Saturday's game with four carries for minus-six yards. He'll undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury, leaving his status for the 49ers' preseason finale against the Raiders on Saturday, Aug. 23 up in the air. With Taylor and Corey Kiner (leg) both suffering injuries, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Jeff Wilson will handle backfield duties for the 49ers for the rest of Saturday's exhibition contest against Las Vegas.
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Khalil Herbert RB | NYJ
Colts' Khalil Herbert: Doesn't play vs. Green Bay
Herbert (undisclosed) did not play in the Colts' 23-19 preseason loss to the Packers on Saturday.
Herbert has been sidelined for the past week due to an undisclosed injury, which prevented him from suiting up in Saturday's exhibition contest. The severity and nature of the injury are not clear, but Herbert's practice participation this upcoming week will be an indication of his chances of playing in the Colts' preseason finale against the Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 23. He's battling against DJ Giddens and Tyler Goodson for backup duties behind Jonathan Taylor in the backfield.