NFL Player News
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Ben VanSumeren RB | PHI
Eagles' Ben VanSumeren: Returns to practice Monday
VanSumeren (ankle) returned to practice Monday, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
VanSumeren didn't practice the previous Friday due to an ankle injury but is back in there Monday. He is transitioning to fullback after playing primarily on special teams and at linebacker in his previous two seasons with the Eagles.
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James Cook RB | BUF
Bills' James Cook: Not practicing Monday
Cook is present for Monday's practice but not in uniform as he seeks a new contract, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
He reported for June minicamp and the start of training camp before switching things up Sunday and seemingly moving to a "hold in" approach -- whereby he shows up to practice and meetings but doesn't do on-field work. When reporters asked him Sunday why he wasn't practicing, Cook simply said "business," a one-word answer that was also his response to the beat writers' other questions. In any case, his absence from practice frees up more first-team reps for Ray Davis and Ty Johnson.
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James Conner RB | ARI
Cardinals' James Conner: Expects Benson to take more snaps
Conner said Saturday that he expects Trey Benson to get a lot of playing time this season, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon also has relayed high expectations for Benson, who averaged 5.3 touches and 10.5 snaps in 13 games last season before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve in December. Conner, meanwhile, averaged 41.1 snaps and 18.5 touches through Week 16, ranking ninth among RBs in PPR points until a knee injury ruined his final two weeks. Both running backs are healthy now, with the 22-year-old apparently set to take more work from the 30-year-old, although Benson can also capture some of what went to Michael Carter (46 touches) and Emari Demercado (40) last season. For Conner, it probably makes sense to limit fantasy expectations to the RB2 range, rather than the RB1/2 borderline where he's typically resided when healthy for the Cardinals (four straight seasons in the range of 15.5 to 17.2 PPR points per game).
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Troy Hairston II RB | CLE
Troy Hairston: Cut by Cleveland
Hairston was waived by the Browns on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hairston will now be available to be claimed by the rest of the league, but if he goes unclaimed, he'll likely remain in Cleveland. The fullback was rumored to be in line to serve as the Browns' starting fullback in 2025, if the team carried one, but that plan may have dissolved.
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Deion Hankins RB | CHI
Bears' Deion Hankins: Sidelined with head injury
Hankins (concussion) has been placed in concussion protocol, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Hankins is now at risk of missing the team's preseason opener against the Dolphins on Aug. 8. The running back will have to clear concussion protocol before he can return to practice, and it's unclear when exactly he suffered the injury.
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Bhayshul Tuten RB | JAC
Jaguars' Bhayshul Tuten: Logs full practice Sunday
Tuten (hamstring) was a full participant in Sunday's training camp practice, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
Tuten has been limited by a hamstring injury, but he was able to participate in team drills during Sunday's practice. The rookie fourth-rounder has been working to carve out a role for himself in the Jaguars' backfield but will be limited to backup duties while Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby work with the first-team offense. Saturday's preseason opener against the Steelers will give Tuten a good opportunity to showcase his abilities.
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Salvon Ahmed RB | IND
Colts' Salvon Ahmed: Hospitalized with leg injury
Ahmed suffered a "severe" lower right leg injury during practice Sunday and was taken to a hospital for X-rays, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Ahmed was hurt when he was taken down on a hip-drop tackle just short of the end zone. The veteran running back had his leg placed in an air cast and was carted off the field before being transported to a hospital. Ahmed was trying to earn his way onto the Colts' 53-man roster as a depth RB, but his status for the 2025 season is now in doubt given the details of the injury.
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Montrell Johnson Jr. RB | ARI
Eagles' Montrell Johnson: Working through hamstring injury
Johnson did not participate in Sunday's training camp practice due to a hamstring injury, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Reps in practice are important for players like Johnson, who is competing for a backfield depth spot on the Eagles' 53-man roster after signing as an undrafted free agent in late April. He'll focus on recovering from his injury in order to be available for the Eagles' preseason opener against the Bengals on Thursday.
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Marcus Major RB | BAL
Ravens' Marcus Major: In concussion protocol
Head coach John Harbaugh said Saturday that Major is dealing with a concussion, Jonas Shaffer of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
It's unclear when Major suffered the concussion, but he will not be allowed to participate in preseason games until he clears the league's five-step protocol. The undrafted rookie out of Minnesota is battling for a depth spot on the Ravens' 53-man roster, and his absence from practices and preseason games will hurt his chances, especially with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill both expected to miss preseason play. To bolster their backfield depth, the Ravens signed D'Ernest Johnson to a contract on Saturday.
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James Cook RB | BUF
Bills' James Cook: No practice for 'business' reasons
Cook didn't practice Sunday and said that the reason was "business" when asked after the session, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Cook is seeking a contract extension, but he reported for training camp and had previously been participating in practice. The star running back worked out on an exercise bike Sunday but didn't take part in team drills, per Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo. Cook's explanation for his lack of participation may suggest that he's planning to "hold in," meaning he could show up to practice but not actually take part while he remains without an extension. When Cook was asked Sunday if he'd return to practice Monday, his one-word answer was again "business."