NFL Player News
-
J.K. Dobbins RB | DEN
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins: Staying in Denver for two years
Dobbins (foot) is re-signing with the Broncos, Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reports. It will be a two-year contract for Dobbins, per Mike Klis of 9 News Denver.
It's no surprise Dobbins has chosen to return to the Broncos considering he expressed his desire to do so at his end-of-season press conference in January, describing himself as "a Bronco," per Luka Evans of the Denver Post. Dobbins has recovered from the foot injury that kept him out after Week 10 of the 2025 regular season. Prior to that point, Dobbins rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He'll likely return to a backfield split with 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey moving forward.
-
Keaton Mitchell RB | BAL
Keaton Mitchell: Not tendered by Ravens
The Ravens aren't placing a tender on Mitchell, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Mitchell went undrafted back in 2023, which means his original-round tender ($3.52 million) as a restricted free agent wouldn't have entailed any draft compensation. The Ravens opted against it, even though Mitchell averaged 5.1 carries for 30.3 yards (5.9 YPC) over the final 11 games of last season. Derrick Henry will return as Baltimore's lead runner, while passing-down specialist Justice Hill has been mentioned as a potential cap casualty (something that may or may not change with Mitchell becoming a free agent). Meanwhile, Fowler mentions the Giants as a potential suitor for Mitchell.
-
Alvin Kamara RB | NO
Saints' Alvin Kamara: Door shut on lead role in NOLA
Kamara (knee) isn't in line to lead the Saints backfield in 2026, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Travis Etienne agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with New Orleans on Monday.
Kamara has been the Saints' primary backfield option when healthy for each of the past eight seasons, starting 92 of the 110 regular-season games in which he has appeared during that stretch after making only three starts in 16 games as a rookie in 2017. Etienne has a similar three-down skill set and is almost four years younger than Kamara, who will turn 31 in July. Kamara agreed to a restructured contract with the Saints in March but still could be cut prior to the 2026 season. Even if Kamara remains on the roster and fully recovers from the MCL injury that sidelined him after Week 12 of the 2025 season, he would likely have to settle for a complementary role barring an injury to New Orleans' new lead back.
-
Travis Etienne RB | JAC
Saints' Travis Etienne: New lead back for NOLA
Etienne has agreed to terms Monday on a contract with the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Etienne becomes the clear No. 1 option in a New Orleans backfield that also houses incumbents Alvin Kamara (knee), Kendre Miller (ACL), Devin Neal (hamstring) and Audric Estime. The Louisiana native surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in three of the last four seasons as the leader of Jacksonville's rushing attack, and his combination of speed and three-down skills project as an ideal fit for Saints head coach Kellen Moore's offensive scheme. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Etienne's contract is a four-year, $52 million deal, a commitment that signals he likely will be utilized in a similar workhorse role to the one he attained down the stretch of his tenure with the Jaguars.
-
Tyler Allgeier RB | ATL
Cardinals' Tyler Allgeier: Finds home with Cardinals
Allgeier agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.25 million contract with Arizona on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Allgeier moves on from Atlanta after four seasons to join a Cardinals backfield that also houses veteran James Conner (foot) and 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson (knee), providing new head coach Mike LaFleur with the resources to deploy what may be a run-heavy offense in the wake of the looming departure of quarterback Kyler Murray (foot). Given that both Conner and Benson are coming off injury-riddled 2025 campaigns and Allgeier has suited up for all 17 regular-season games in three consecutive years, he could be the most suited to handle a larger share of the carries in Arizona, should LaFleur want to deploy something close to an every-down No. 1 backfield option reminiscent of his time as the Rams' offensive coordinator. Full clarity regarding the Cardinals' backfield rotation may not arrive until later in the offseason, however.
-
Bucky Irving RB | TB
Buccaneers' Bucky Irving: Team adds Gainwell to backfield
Irving could face increased competition for touches, as NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports Monday that Kenneth Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers.
Irving missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries in 2025, and he ceded touches to Sean Tucker and Rachaad White after returning. While Irving ultimately led the Buccaneers with 173 rushing attempts, he scored only one rushing touchdown compared to White's four on 132 carries and Tucker's seven on 86 carries. White and Tucker are both free agents, but the addition of Gainwell suggests Irving could be ticketed for less of a workhorse role in 2026, as Gainwell racked up 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns on 114 carries and 85 targets in the 2025 regular season with the Steelers.
-
Kenneth Gainwell RB | PIT
Buccaneers' Kenneth Gainwell: Headed to Tampa Bay
Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers on Monday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Gainwell's contract reportedly includes $10 million in guarantees, positioning him as the clear No. 2 backfield option alongside Bucky Irving and foreshadowing the departure of Rachaad White from Tampa Bay in free agency and potentially also Sean Tucker. After the versatility and efficiency Gainwell demonstrated during his career year with the Steelers in 2025 in which he emerged as one of the most productive pass-catching backs in the NFL with a 73-486-3 line on 85 targets, he projects as an ideal complement to Irving's physical, bruising rushing style. Gainwell also logged 537 yards and five touchdowns on 147 carries (4.7 YPC) across his 17 regular-season appearances in 2025. Especially in fantasy formats that feature PPR scoring, Gainwell's landing spot is one with a solid floor and the potential for increased touchdown upside.
-
Kenneth Walker III RB | SEA
Chiefs' Kenneth Walker: Headed to Kansas City
Walker is set to sign with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
On the heels of his MVP effort in Super Bowl LX, Walker is slated to move on to Kansas City, where he'll immediately slot in as the Chiefs' top backfield option. Meanwhile, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, who paced the team's group of RBs in 2025, are headed to free agency, so who will work behind Walker this coming season remains to be seen. With star QB Patrick Mahomes bouncing back from a major knee injury that he sustained in mid-December, Walker figures to be a focal point of Kansas City's offense out of the gate in 2026. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Walker is getting a three-year deal from the Chiefs worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million fully guaranteed.
-
James Conner RB | ARI
Cardinals' James Conner: Alters contract with Arizona
The Cardinals and Conner (foot) agreed to a restructured contract Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The details of the revisions are not yet public, but the move ensures that Conner will be in Arizona for the 2026 season. The veteran running back was limited to just three regular-season games in 2025 before suffering a foot injury in September that required season-ending surgery. Assuming he's healthy for the start of next season, Conner should operate as the Cardinals' RB1 while Trey Benson (knee) serves as the top backup option in the backfield.
-
Jaret Patterson RB | LAC
Chargers' Jaret Patterson: Tendered by Bolts
The Chargers assigned Patterson a one-year exclusive rights free-agent tender Friday.
Patterson signed to the Chargers' practice squad in mid-October before joining the active roster in late November due to an ankle injury to Omarion Hampton. Patterson tallied eight or more carries in four of six regular-season games and finished with 41 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown along with three catches (on four targets) for eight yards. The Buffalo product will compete for a spot on the Chargers' 53-man roster for the 2026 season.