NFL Player News
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James Conner RB | ARI
Cardinals' James Conner: Three carries to open preseason
Conner rushed three times for 11 yards in the Cardinals' 20-17 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday night.
Conner logged one- and three-yard gains on two of Arizona's first four plays from scrimmage, and he added his most productive run of the night, seven yards, on his final touch of the game later in the drive. The veteran back, who's coming off the first two 1,000-yard seasons of his career, is already on record as saying he expects backfield mate Trey Benson to see a significant boost in workload in 2025, but Conner should still enjoy a solid complementary role at minimum, given his all-around reliability and his versatility.
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Trey Sermon RB | PIT
Steelers' Trey Sermon: Scores touchdown in preseason win
Sermon rushed three times for seven yards while securing all four of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's 31-25 preseason win over the Jaguars.
While Sermon didn't make much of an impact on the ground during Saturday's preseason opener, he tied for the team lead in targets and receptions while also reaching the end zone in the third quarter. The 2021 third-rounder signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in May and is competing with Kenneth Gainwell, Evan Hull and Lew Nichols for a spot on the 53-man roster behind Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson.
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Isiah Pacheco RB | KC
Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Logs one carry in preseason loss
Pacheco rushed once for eight yards in the Chiefs' 20-17 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Saturday night.
Pacheco got the Chiefs' first touch of the night and made good use of it, but that would be the extent of his action in the preseason opener. The third-year back gave way to Kareem Hunt on Kansas City's second possession, but a heavier workload could certainly be on tap during the Chiefs' second preseason matchup Friday night on the road against the Seahawks.
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J.K. Dobbins RB | DEN
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins: One touch in preseason opener
Dobbins did not log a rush attempt and brought in his only target for four yards in the Broncos' 30-9 preseason win over the 49ers on Saturday night.
Dobbins' only touch of the night came on Denver's first possession, one play after his first target of the night fell incomplete but was wiped off the books by an illegal use of hands penalty against San Francisco. Dobbins was the only one of the top four backs on Denver's depth chart not to log a carry -- RJ Harvey, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin combined for 18 rush attempts -- but the veteran is almost certain to open the campaign in a prominent role and could certainly see more action in Denver's second preseason contest next Saturday night at home against the Cardinals.
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Jarquez Hunter RB | LAR
Rams' Jarquez Hunter: Gets 11 carries in preseason win
Hunter rushed 11 times for 41 yards and wasn't targeted in Saturday's 31-21 preseason win over the Cowboys. He also had a 21-yard kickoff return.
Hunter returned the opening kickoff but didn't get his first touch on offense until the Rams' second drive. Both that possession and the first one were capped by Blake Corum touchdown runs, as Corum took advantage of the team sitting starter Kyren Williams. Hunter continued to play into the second half, and it looks like the rookie fourth-round pick is sitting firmly in third on the running depth chart behind Williams and Corum heading into the Rams' second preseason game against the Chargers on Aug. 16.
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Bhayshul Tuten RB | JAC
Jaguars' Bhayshul Tuten: Third in RB rotation
Tuten rushed the ball six times for 24 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 31-25 preseason loss to the Steelers.
Tuten tied for the team lead in carries but served as the third back. Travis Etienne worked exclusively with the starting skill-position unit, with Tank Bigsby following him. That left Tuten to work primarily late in the second quarter and much of the second half. He did find the end zone from eight yards away early in the fourth quarter, but his role come the regular season is in question.
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Tank Bigsby RB | PHI
Jaguars' Tank Bigsby: Plays behind Etienne
Bigsby rushed the ball six times for 24 yards in Saturday's 31-25 preseason loss to the Steelers. He did not catch his only target.
Bigsby had fine production on his limited opportunity, but his usage was the far bigger story. All of Jacksonville's starting skill-position players were on the field for the first drive, and Bigsby did not see any snaps on that possession. While that usage isn't guaranteed to continue into the regular season, it doesn't appear that Bigsby is challenging Travis Etienne for the lead role out of the backfield at this point.
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Kene Nwangwu RB | NYJ
Jets' Kene Nwangwu: Calf injury not major
Nwangwu (calf) sustained an injury during Saturday's 30-10 preseason win over the Packers but is not believed to be dealing with anything major, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Nwangwu was involved Saturday, rushing five times for 10 yards while racking up 35 yards on his only kick return. The 2021 fourth-round pick is competing for a reserve backfield role as well as duties in the return game. It's encouraging that Nwangwu's injury doesn't appear serious, but it remains to be seen if he'll be cleared in time to next play in the preseason on Saturday, Aug. 16 versus the Giants.
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Ameer Abdullah RB | IND
49ers' Ameer Abdullah: Doesn't return Saturday
Abdullah was forced out of Saturday's 30-9 preseason loss to the Broncos due to a rib injury.
Abdullah was initially listed as questionable to return but never retook the field, though given that Saturday's affair was only a preseason clash, the 49ers may have simply taken a cautious approach. The 32-year-old veteran inked with San Francisco in late July, and his next opportunity to take the field this preseason will come Saturday, Aug. 16 versus the Raiders.
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Isaiah Davis RB | NYJ
Jets' Isaiah Davis: Managing ankle injury
Davis has an injured ankle that is expected to be minor, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Davis played in Saturday's preseason opener against the Packers and rushed six times for 14 yards while adding one catch on his only target for 11 yards. The second-year running back picked up an ankle injury sometime during the contest, but coach Aaron Glenn's comments suggest he's not dealing with anything serious. Davis is slated to work as New York's No. 3 RB behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen during the upcoming campaign.