NFL Player News
-
Julius Chestnut RB | TEN
Titans' Julius Chestnut: Starts with Pollard resting
Chestnut started Friday's preseason win over Atlanta, rushing four times for 16 yards while catching his only target for seven receiving yards.
Chestnut got the nod with the first-team offense with Tony Pollard (rest) and Tyjae Spears (ankle) missing Friday's exhibition. The 24-year-old Chestnut was slated to begin the season as the Titans' No. 3 tailback, but the high-ankle sprain Spears suffered last week could push Chestnut up the depth chart. Pollard is healthy and still the clear No. 1 option in Tennessee, so Chestnut's fantasy value wouldn't see a huge boost if he were to start the regular season as the primary backup.
-
Joe Mixon RB | HOU
Texans' Joe Mixon: No lock for Week 1
Mixon (foot/ankle) isn't a lock to be ready for the Texans' Week 1 road matchup with the Rams on Sunday, Sept. 7, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Mixon missed the offseason program and then kicked off training camp on the active/non-football injury list due to foot and ankle issues, the former of which is the primary reason for his continued absence, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. In his debut campaign with Houston in 2024, Mixon racked up 281 touches for 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns in 14 regular-season games, marking the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season and third with double-digit TDs of his eight-year career. As long as Mixon is sidelined, veterans Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale and rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks will be the options out of the Texans backfield.
-
Darrynton Evans RB | BUF
Bills' Darrynton Evans: Dealing with hamstring issue
Evans is tending to a hamstring injury, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
Evans presumably picked up the issue during a training camp practice, and now his availability for Sunday's preseason contest at Chicago is in question. If he can't play in that game, it could mean more snaps for Frank Gore.
-
Dameon Pierce RB | KC
Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not expected to play Saturday
Pierce, who got a rest day during Thursday's joint practice with the Panthers, is expected to be held out of Saturday's preseason game against Carolina, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pierce has recently split first-team reps with Nick Chubb when not receiving a rest day, but the Texans appear to be taking a cautious approach to his workload, given that a quad injury kept him on the active/PUP list until Aug. 4. With Joe Mixon (foot) still on the active/non-football injury list and not set to be re-evaluated until closer to the start of the regular season, Pierce is competing with Chubb and rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks for a potentially significant Week 1 opportunity.
-
Nick Chubb RB | HOU
Texans' Nick Chubb: Expected to play Saturday
Chubb (concussion), who handled the bulk of first-team reps during joint practices with the Panthers on Thursday, is expected to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against Carolina, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Chubb, who has now fully cleared the concussion protocol, has handled the bulk of first-team reps throughout training camp with Joe Mixon (lower leg) still on the active/non-football injury list. He's split those reps with Dameon Pierce, who was held out of Thursday's joint practice and appears on track to get a rest day Saturday. Chubb made a handful of explosive plays at practice Thursday, an encouraging development given that he's coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. A strong showing versus Carolina would boost Chubb's standing in Houston's backfield, wherein he, Pierce, and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks are all working to make their case for the Week 1 starting gig in the event that Mixon isn't ready to go.
-
Jaydon Blue RB | DAL
Cowboys' Jaydon Blue: Still not practicing
Blue is no longer using a walking boot, but he has yet to participate in practice since suffering a bone bruise in his heel last week, Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com reports.
Without practice reps, it's unlikely the rookie running back with suit up for Saturday's preseason game with the Ravens, although the Cowboys won't make a determination on his status until doing pregame testing on his foot. Blue was making a good impression early in training camp, but until he gets back on the field it will be difficult for him to present a serious challenge to Javonte Williams' spot at the top of the depth chart.
-
Quinshon Judkins RB | CLE
Browns' Quinshon Judkins: Charges not filed
Prosecutors have declined to file a formal misdemeanor battery charge against Judkins stemming from a July 12 incident in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
As a result of the incident, Judkins was arrested on a domestic violence and battery charge, but Andy Slater of FoxSports640 notes that prosecutors have declined to move forward with the case. Judkins, who the Browns selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, remains unsigned ahead of Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles, with NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy noting Thursday that the league has "been following developments in the matter which remains under review."
-
Jaylen Warren RB | PIT
Steelers' Jaylen Warren: Not on track to play Saturday
Coach Mike Tomlin noted Thursday that the same players (with the possible exception of LB Nick Herbig) who sat out last weekend's game against the Jaguars -- a group that included Warren -- are not in line to see action in this Saturday's game against the Buccaneers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com and Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site report.
Along with Warren, that's a group that includes QB Aaron Rodgers, WRs DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin (abdomen) and TEs Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith (knee). Meanwhile, rookie RB Kaleb Johnson is on track to see snaps Saturday, as he did versus Jacksonville, per Pryor. As the regular season approaches, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic suggests that Warren likely will get the first chance to be the Steelers' lead back early on, but Johnson should remain in the mix, nonetheless, with Kenneth Gainwell on hand as well.
-
Khalil Herbert RB | NYJ
Colts' Khalil Herbert: Remains sidelined Thursday
Herbert (undisclosed) isn't practicing Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Herbert hasn't practiced since playing in last Thursday's preseason opener against the Ravens, in which he rushed seven times for 29 yards and a touchdown. He's competing with Tyler Goodson and DJ Giddens for a depth role behind Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis' backfield.
-
Israel Abanikanda RB | DAL
Packers' Israel Abanikanda: Back from hamstring injury
Abanikanda (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
Abanikanda's back after missing practice Tuesday and Wednesday. He's one of seven running backs currently with the team, but Abanikanda's unlikely to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, though a practice-squad spot is a more realistic possibility.