NFL Player News
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Velus Jones Jr. RB | SEA
Seahawks' Velus Jones: Back to practice squad
Jones reverted to the Seahawks' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Jones played 16 snaps (11 on offense, five on special teams) during the Seahawks' 41-6 win over the 49ers during Saturday's NFC divisional-round game. He logged six carries for 10 yards, all of which came late in the fourth quarter in garbage time. Jones could have an elevated role in the Seahawks' offense for the NFC Championship Game against the Rams this Sunday after Zach Charbonnet likely tore his ACL against San Francisco, though George Holani (hamstring) could be activated from injured reserve this week to provide depth in the backfield.
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D'Ernest Johnson RB | NE
D'Ernest Johnson: Reverts to practice squad
Johnson reverted to the Patriots' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Johnson was limited to five snaps on special teams during the Patriots' 28-16 win over the Texans during Sunday's AFC divisional-round game, and in the process he returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson handled all the backfield touches against Houston, but Johnson would likely be elevated to the Patriots' active roster for this Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Broncos if Terrell Jennings (concussion) is unable to play.
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Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet: Extent of knee injury still TBD
Coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that the Seahawks are "pretty sure" Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Saturday's 41-6 divisional-round win against the 49ers, but the team hasn't determined the full extent of the injury, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
At the very least, Charbonnet will miss the rest of the postseason due to the knee injury, and Macdonald relayed to Adam Schefter of ESPN earlier Monday that it's "a significant knee injury, unfortunately. ... He's going to need surgery, so he's got a long road to come back." Once its severity becomes evident, a more precise timetable for Charbonnet's recovery should be more clear, but he appears poised to miss a good portion of the 2026 campaign. Kenneth Walker is set to lead the team's backfield in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams and potentially beyond that point, while practice-squad members Velus Jones and Cam Akers are candidates to be brought up to the active roster, and George Holani (hamstring) also could be activated from IR.
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J.K. Dobbins RB | DEN
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins: Has practice window opened
The Broncos designated Dobbins (foot) to return from injured reserve Monday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Dobbins suffered a foot injury Week 10 against the Raiders that required surgery and a stint on IR, from which he missed the final seven games of the regular season and also Saturday's divisional-round win against the Bills. On Nov. 26, coach Sean Payton told Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post that Dobbins may be able to return later in the campaign, and now that his 21-day practice window has opened, he has a chance to return for either or both of the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots or Super Bowl LX if Denver advances that far. The team will submit its next practice report Wednesday, at which point his base line activity level will become known in advance of the first contest. If Dobbins isn't able to return this weekend, a combination of RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie will continue to man the Broncos backfield.
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Frank Gore Jr. RB | BUF
Bills' Frank Gore: Signs reserve/future deal with Bills
Buffalo signed Gore to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Gore has yet to log a regular-season NFL snap, but he got into both of Buffalo's postseason games this year, tallying four snaps on offense and 10 on special teams while recording one catch for six yards. The Southern Miss product will remain with the organization and will get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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Cam Akers RB | SEA
Seahawks' Cam Akers: Could get opportunity vs. Rams
Akers may be elevated to the active roster for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams as a result of Zach Charbonnet being lost for the remainder of the postseason due to a torn ACL, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker took on the vast majority of the work out of Seattle's backfield during the regular season, joining forces in a near-even offensive snap split. However, Walker figures to now log more of a workhorse role with Charbonnet out of the picture. George Holani (hamstring) remains on IR, so backup duties behind Walker seem likely to fall to Akers and/or Velus Jones. Jones was elevated for Saturday's win over San Francisco and could get the first crack at backing up Walker, though Jones produced just 10 yards on six carries in that contest and has recorded a grand total of just seven carries for 43 yards over the past two regular seasons. Akers, meanwhile, hasn't logged a carry since Week 3 (when he was still with the Vikings), but he has much more experience than Jones and has seven career postseason games (including five starts) under his belt, over which he's posted a 118-432-2 rushing line and 11-127-0 receiving line.
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Velus Jones Jr. RB | SEA
Seahawks' Velus Jones: May be headed for larger role
Jones could take on an elevated role in Seattle's backfield after Zach Charbonnet suffered an ACL tear in Saturday's divisional-round win over San Francisco, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Charbonnet's postseason is over due to the injury, leaving Kenneth Walker alone atop the Seahawks' RB pecking order. The duo of Walker and Charbonnet consistently shared the backfield in a near-even split during the regular season, but chances are Walker will be tasked with taking a higher percentage of handoffs with Charbonnet out of the picture. Nonetheless, there's now an opportunity for another RB to make an impact as Walker's backup, and Jones certainly figures to be in the mix. He was elevated ahead of Saturday's victory and served as the team's third RB against the 49ers, carrying six times for 10 yards. It was just the second time this season that Jones logged any carries during a contest, but the only other healthy running back currently on Seattle's roster or practice squad is Cam Akers.
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J.K. Dobbins RB | DEN
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins: Practice window to open
The Broncos are expected to designate Dobbins (foot) for return from IR in preparation for the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots on Sunday, Luca Evans of The Denver Post reports.
Dobbins may not officially take the practice field until Wednesday, but it appears the veteran running back has a legitimate chance to be cleared for a return to action in time for Sunday's playoff matchup. He was spotted working on a side field last Wednesday, which was his first on-field work of any kind since he suffered a left Lisfranc injury Week 10. Of course, Dobbins may have to prove he's capable of handling full practice reps before being cleared to return to the lineup. If Dobbins does manage to get back on the field in time to face New England, he'll rejoin RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie in a rushing attack that figures to be increasingly featured with Bo Nix (ankle) having suffered a season-ending injury in the divisional round, leaving Jarrett Stidham to start this weekend.
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Brian Robinson Jr. RB | SF
49ers' Brian Robinson: Role marginalized in playoffs
Robinson had three carries for four yards and one reception for three yards in Saturday's 41-6 playoff loss to the Seahawks.
Robinson was able to get involved in the offensive game plan in the divisional round after garnering no touches across seven offensive snaps (12 percent) in San Francisco's wild-card win over the Eagles. The power back was traded to the 49ers last August and offered a true change of pace to Christian McCaffrey's electric running style. Robinson finished the regular season with a 92-400-2 rushing line while appearing in 17 contests behind McCaffrey. The 26-year-old Robinson will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and should have no problem finding work after averaging 4.1 YPC across four seasons as a pro.
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Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Seahawks' Zach Charbonnet: Reportedly recovering from ACL tear
Charbonnet likely suffered a season-ending ACL tear during Saturday's 41-6 NFC divisional-round win over the 49ers, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Charbonnet rushed five times for 20 yards versus San Francisco before being forced out with a knee injury in the second quarter, paving the way for Kenneth Walker to take over as the unquestioned No. 1 backfield option for Seattle and rush 19 times for 116 yards and three scores. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that Charbonnet's injury is significant, will require surgery and leaves him facing "a long road to come back," per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The timing of Charbonnet's injury will not only cause him to miss the remainder of the Seahawk's postseason run but likely the entire offseason and the beginning of the 2026 regular season. He led the team with 12 touchdowns (all rushing) across 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 and finished second on the team with 730 yards on 184 carries behind Walker. Those statistics all represent career-high marks for Charbonnet, and he additionally secured 20 of 24 targets for 144 yards.