NFL Player News

Mafah was waived by the Cowboys on Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

Mafah entered the preseason in an open competition for the second spot on Dallas' running back depth chart behind Javonte Williams, but Malik Davis beat out Mafah and Jaydon Blue in that battle. The Cowboys may try to retain Mafah, whom they drafted in the seventh round last year, on the practice squad if he goes unclaimed.

Whittington has recovered from the ankle injury that has been hampering him since around Aug. 21, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

With David Montgomery and Woody Marks locked into the first two depth chart spots in Houston's backfield, Whittington is competing with Jawhar Jordan, who is nursing a hip injury, for the third-string spot. Whittington recorded 22 carries for 51 yards during preseason action before suffering the ankle injury, while Jordan hasn't been able to get on the field for any exhibition games. Whittington signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent in May after finishing with 829 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 129 carries at Oregon last season.

White was released by the Saints on Sunday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The Saints traded for White in exchange for Deion Jones on Aug. 23 while battling injuries in the backfield, but New Orleans has ultimately deemed the 2022 fourth-round pick of the Raiders unneeded on the 53-man roster. White, who has 736 career rushing yards in 45 regular-season games, will try to find an opportunity elsewhere but may have to settle for a spot on some team's practice squad.

The NFL placed Jacobs (groin) on the Commissioner's Exempt List on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jacobs was officially charged Thursday with two misdemeanors stemming from his May arrest for a domestic incident in Brown County, Wis, with a court appearance scheduled for Nov. 17. For as long as he's on the list, he won't be able to practice or play in games, and there's no word on how long this may be his reality. Aside from Jacobs, the Packers backfield is occupied by MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and newcomer Kaleb Johnson, with Lloyd the likely favorite to handle the largest workload during Jacobs' absence.

The NFL is placing Jacobs on the commissioner exempt list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. He will not be able to play or practice while on the list, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Jacobs was formally charged with battery and criminal damage to property last week, and will have his next hearing date in November. We'll await further details to see when he could be reinstated.

Johnson was released by the Titans on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Johnson lasted just 11 days in Tennessee before being released as part of the team's cut-down to 53 players on the roster. The 30-year-old running back has 103 games of regular-season experience, so Johnson could be called upon by a team later in the season if backfield injuries strike, even if he's unable to find a landing spot immediately.

Pierce was let go by the Eagles on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Pierce failed to make Philadelphia's 53-man roster, but the Eagles would like to add him to their practice squad if he doesn't get a chance on a roster elsewhere. The 2022 fourth-round pick of the Texans has been unable to recapture the magic of his rookie campaign, when Pierce rushed for 939 yards in the regular season. He has only 745 regular-season rushing yards across three subsequent campaigns.

Nixon was waived by the Packers on Sunday, Bill Huber of SI.com reports.

The running back recorded 13 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown during the preseason, but he still found himself behind Josh Jacobs (groin), MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks on the depth chart, and Green Bay also traded for Kaleb Johnson, a 2025 third-round pick of the Steelers, on Sunday. Nonetheless, due to his strong preseason performance, Nixon is a candidate to return to the Packers as a member of their practice squad if he clears waivers.

Strong was cut by the Packers on Sunday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Strong fell out of the Packers' plans when Green Bay traded for Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson on Sunday. The 27-year-old Strong has appeared in 46 regular-season games, split between the Patriots and Browns, though he hasn't dressed for one since the 2024 campaign.

The Steelers are expected to trade Johnson to the Packers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

Johnson thus will get a fresh start in Green Bay after the third-round investment made in him last year didn't pan out in Pittsburgh. Working behind Jaylen Warren and Kenny Gainwell in 2025, Johnson turned 28 carries into just 69 yards (2.5 YPC) and no touchdowns while hauling in one of two targets for nine yards in 10 regular-season appearances as a rookie. Johnson will join a Green Bay backfield led by Josh Jacobs (groin) and backed up by MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks.