NFL Player News

Mixon (foot/ankle) is expected to face an extended absence and will be re-evaluated closer to the beginning of the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mixon is currently on the active/non-football injury list due to an ankle injury, but Rapaport added that it's a foot injury that will cause him to miss serious time. It's unclear if these two injuries are related. Regardless, this could be a significant loss for the Texans, as Mixon posted the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season of his career through 14 regular-season games last year. Nick Chubb will likely take a significant portion of the first-team reps moving forward while rookie Woody Marks rotates in because Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) is on the PUP list. Mixon could still get healthy by Week 1, but he will be re-evaluated closer to the beginning of the season to determine a timetable for his return.

The Packers claimed Abanikanda off waivers Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Abanikanda quickly found a new home after being waived by the 49ers on Thursday. The 2023 fifth-rounder spent the entire 2024 campaign on the Jets' practice squad, but he'll now have an opportunity to earn a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster. Chris Brooks, Amar Johnson (undisclosed) and Jalen White are Abanikanda's primary competitors for the fourth RB spot on the depth chart behind Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson.

Coach Jonathan Gannon believes Benson "is going to take a step" in his second season as a pro, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

There's no question about James Conner's standing as the top option out of the Cardinals backfield, as the eight-year veteran is coming off a career-best 1,508 yards from scrimmage during the 2024 season. The team invested a third-round pick in Benson two springs ago, but he managed only 69 touches for 350 total yards and one rushing TD in 13 regular-season games as a rookie. He wasn't known for his receiving ability in college, so Benson may need an injury to Conner to make a significant impact in the upcoming campaign.

Ford (undisclosed) worked out with the athletic training staff Friday and is getting closer to practicing, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has been consistently optimistic that Ford's absence at the start of training camp won't last long. With rookie second-round pick Quinshon Judkins unsigned and facing legal problems, the Browns are left with only fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson, Pierre Strong and UDFA Ahmani Marshall as the available running backs for the opening days of training camp. Ford likely will be the leader of the group once he's ready to return from his unspecified injury.

Johnson was the second running back in with the first-team offense at Thursday's practice, after Jaylen Warren, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

It's just one practice, but nonetheless a good sign that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is preparing Johnson to replace Najee Harris. The Steelers don't have Cordarrelle Patterson (undisclosed) available at the start of training camp, leaving free-agent signings Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon as the veterans for competing for backup roles. The Steelers hope Johnson will end up pushing Warren for more first-team snaps, rather than struggling during camp and worrying about Gainwell/Patterson/Sermon nipping at his heels.

Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said Wednesday that he expects Brown to be "a household name" by the end of the season, Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports reports.

Pitcher even compared Brown to Austin Ekeler, highlighting Brown's receiving skills and versatility. After not playing much as a rookie, the 2023 fifth-round pick became one of the highest-volume backs in the league by the second half of last season, logging at least 50 snaps and 15 touches in each of his last eight games. He averaged 18.9 carries for 78.9 yards and 4.8 catches for 37.4 yards over that eight-game stretch, with three rushing TDs and three receiving scores. The Bengals probably want to reduce Brown's workload at least a little bit, but that partially depends on how things come along with their backups, namely Zack Moss (NFI-neck), Samaje Perine and rookie Tahj Brooks.

Brooks is making a strong impression with his pass-catching skills in practices, WLWT's Jaron May reports.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor and OC Dan Pitcher both praised Brooks for his pass-catching ability during the offseason program. It now seems to be carrying over to training camp, where Brooks caught three passes in the first set of full-team drills Friday. The rookie sixth-round pick is expected to compete with Zack Moss (neck) and Samaje Perine for the second and third spots on the depth chart behind returning starter Chase Brown. The praise for Brooks' pass catching is perhaps unexpected, as he had just 548 receiving yards and two TDs in five seasons at Texas Tech, compared to 4,557 yards and 45 scores on the ground. The Bengals curiously list him at 5-foot-10, 230 pounds, which is 16 pounds above his weight from the 2025 Combine (where he ran a 4.52 40).

Despite reporting for training camp this week and practicing fully with the team, Cook said Thursday that he still wants a contract extension, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

"We have talks," Cook said. "I mean, I deserve what I want, I need, and it's going to eventually happen." Cook, however, realizes the extension he desires may not come from Buffalo. "I mean, however it happens, it's going to get done," Cook continued. "Wherever it happens at." Cook has said he wants "$15 million" per year on a new deal. The two sides continue to have conversations, but nothing appears imminent. Cook may be forced to play out the final year of his rookie contract and deal with the contractual side of things again next offseason, where the Bills would have the option to use the franchise tag on him.

GM Andrew Berry acknowledged Thursday that the Browns may not see Judkins on the field at training camp for a while, the Associated Press reports.

Judkins, whom the Browns took in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, remains unsigned after he was arrested July 12 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on a charge of battery and domestic violence. In reference to the rookie running back's status as training camp proceeds, Berry noted Thursday, "In terms of those decisions, signing, being at camp and everything like that, it's honestly probably too early to make any type of determination. So as we gather information, we'll have a better view on that," while adding "sometimes the information comes a little bit more slowly, but we're still in probably the information-gathering stage with him."

Patterson (undisclosed) did not participate in individual or team drills during the Steelers' first training camp practice Thursday, Jacob Punturi of SI.com reports.

Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Patterson is considered day-to-day, though the specifics of the injury were not shared. Patterson is entering his second season with the Steelers, and the veteran figures to resume his role as a versatile playmaker in the offense. He finished the 2024 regular season with 32 carries for 135 yards and 12 catches (on 14 targets) for 80 yards and one touchdown across 13 games.