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James Cook III RB | BUF
Bills' James Cook: Sits out preseason finale
Cook didn't play during Buffalo's exhibition win over Pittsburgh on Thursday.
The Bills rested most of their projected regular-season starters, so Cook's absence was expected. The star running back finished the preseason slate having appeared in one game, logging 21 yards on five carries. Cook now will look ahead to Week 1, when he's slated to lead Buffalo's backfield against a tough Texans defense on Sunday, Sept. 13. Ray Davis is expected to work as his top backup.
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Kimani Vidal RB | LAC
Chargers' Kimani Vidal: Tallies six snaps in preseason finale
Vidal totaled six offensive snaps in Thursday's exhibition loss to the Rams, recording nine yards on three carries.
Top RB Omarion Hampton started for the Chargers and played two series. Vidal followed and rushed for five yards on his first carry before losing a yard on the next play. He was on the field for a few more snaps during the Chargers' next series before calling it a day. Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) didn't play in the contest, and it's unclear what precise issue he's dealing with it or how long he'll be sidelined. There's been no indication to this point that Mitchell is in danger of missing Week 1 of the regular season, but if that were to change, Vidal would be slated for an increased role behind Hampton.
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Devin Singletary RB | NYG
Giants' Devin Singletary: Not playing in preseason finale
Singletary isn't in uniform ahead of Friday's preseason contest against the Jets, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports.
The same can be said for No. 1 RB Cam Skattebo, while position mates Tyrone Tracy and Najee Harris are candidates to get some run in the Giants' exhibition finale. The rest would seem to indicate Singletary's roster spot is secure, but it's not exactly clear how things will shake out behind Cam Skattebo with Harris in the mix.
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Keaton Mitchell RB | LAC
Chargers' Keaton Mitchell: Doesn't play Thursday
Mitchell (undisclosed) did not play in Thursday's 20-18 preseason loss to the Rams.
Mitchell experienced a setback for an unspecified injury in practice earlier in the week, so his absence from Thursday's preseason finale was likely a precautionary move. The nature and severity of Mitchell's injury is not clear, but there's been no indication that he's in danger of missing the Chargers' Week 1 clash against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13. The fourth-year pro inked a two-year contract with the Chargers in March after spending the first three years of his NFL career with the Ravens. He's expected to work in rotation with Kimani Vidal behind starting running back Omarion Hampton.
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Omarion Hampton RB | LAC
Chargers' Omarion Hampton: Four snaps in preseason finale
Hampton played four snaps on offense and didn't show up in the box score otherwise during the Chargers' 20-18 preseason loss to the Rams on Thursday.
Hampton was on the field for the Chargers' first two offensive drives but did get a touch in Thursday's preseason finale. The 2025 first-rounder was limited to nine regular-season games in his rookie campaign due mostly to a fractured left ankle but still finished with 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns while adding 32 catches (on 35 targets) for 192 yards and a score. Hampton is the lead back for the Chargers, but Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) both figure to see a fair amount of work in the scheme of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
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Greg Desrosiers Jr. RB | LAC
Chargers' Greg Desrosiers: Scores touchdown in preseason finale
Desrosiers turned nine carries into 118 yards and a touchdown while logging one catch (on two targets) for eight yards during the Chargers' 20-18 loss to the Rams in Thursday's preseason game. He added one kickoff return for 29 yards.
Desrosiers saw most of his playing time in the second half. He made an immediate impact in the running game with carries of 15 and 14 yards in the third quarter before adding a 33-yard rush and a 34-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth frame. Desrosiers was responsible for four of the Chargers' 10 longest plays in Thursday's game and will finish the preseason with 23 carries for 166 yards (7.2 YPC) and a touchdown over three games. He probably won't make the team's 53-man roster by the end of training camp, but Desrosiers may have shown enough to stick around in Los Angeles as a member of the Chargers' practice squad.
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Rachaad White RB | WAS
Commanders' Rachaad White: Won't play Friday
White (hamstring) isn't suited up for Friday's preseason game in Baltimore.
White has been tending to a hamstring injury since Aug. 19 that will keep him sidelined for the Commanders' final two exhibitions. He was able to mix into individual drills as recently as Monday, though, so he's making progress in his recovery. White will join No. 1 RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) on the sideline Friday.
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB | WAS
Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Sitting out Friday's preseason game
Croskey-Merritt (lower body) won't suit up for Friday's preseason game at Baltimore.
On Aug. 20, Croskey-Merritt pulled up at the end of a catch and run in practice due to a lower-body injury, which now will keep him out of the Commanders' final two exhibitions. He focused on rehab work on the side this week, with the intent to return to practice at some point next week. Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) also aren't in uniform Friday, meaning rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry and Craig Reynolds are the team's available RBs for preseason Week 3.
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Ashton Jeanty RB | LV
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty: Being counted on for opener
Jeanty's ankle injury is being monitored in advance of Week 1, but per head coach Klint Kubiak, the Raiders are "counting on him" to be available, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official website reports.
The extent of the injury Jeanty sustained at Sunday's practice session has not been revealed, but Kubiak's comments provide reason to believe the Raiders will have their top running back available for the season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 13. Jeanty will have over two weeks to rest and recover before the campaign gets underway. Should he encounter any hiccups, Mike Washington remains next in line in the Las Vegas backfield.
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Ray Davis RB | BUF
Bills' Ray Davis: Tough night in final exhibition contest
Davis didn't receive a touch on offense but gained 11 yards on two punt returns while losing a fumble in Thursday's 28-27 preseason win over the Steelers.
His muffed punt return at the Buffalo 12-yard line in the first quarter led directly to Pittsburgh's first TD of the game on the very next play. It was a tough way for Davis to end his preseason, but the third-year RB has never returned a punt in his NFL career. Davis' spot as the No. 2 back behind James Cook seems fairly secure however, after he averaged 4.7 yards on 58 carries over 17 regular-season games last year.