NFL Player News

Blue (shoulder) rushed 15 times for 75 yards in the Cowboys' 34-13 preseason win over the Cardinals on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 26 yards.

Blue shook off the shoulder issue that had led to a pair of absences and limited participation in the last three practices prior to Saturday's game, leading the Cowboys in rush attempts and rushing yards on the night. Blue has seen 25 total touches over the first two preseason games as head coach Brian Schottenheimer gives the second-year back a long look in the competition for the No. 2 running back role. While Blue's performance Saturday was certainly impressive, fellow backs Malik Davis and Phil Mafah also had some standout plays, and the competition therefore may remain unsettled until the conclusion of Friday's home preseason finale against the Saints.

Davis rushed five times for 29 yards and brought in his only target for an eight-yard touchdown in the Cowboys' 34-13 preseason win over the Cardinals on Saturday. He also committed a fumble but recovered and ran back one kickoff for 31 yards.

The fourth-year pro was the first Cowboys running back to log a touch and gained 25 of his rushing yards on the opening possession. Davis then capped off a short-field second possession following an interception with his eight-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Joe Milton. Davis' competition for the No. 2 role behind Javonte Williams -- Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah -- both had impressive moments as well Saturday, so the pecking order and roster status of the trio is likely to be decided during Friday's home preseason matchup against the Saints.

Johnson rushed seven times for 25 yards and a touchdown and brought in one of two targets for 10 yards in the Chiefs' 16-15 preseason loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday. He also returned two kickoffs for 51 yards.

The rookie fifth-round pick was the third Chiefs running back to get a touch behind veterans Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado. The highlight of Johnson's night came late in the third quarter, when he recorded a one-yard touchdown run after getting the ball to the Buccaneers' three-yard line two plays earlier with a four-yard rush. Johnson was outgained on the ground by his primary competition for a depth role behind Walker and Demercado -- Brashard Smith, who had 37 rushing yards. Both hopefuls are likely to see extended playing time again in Friday's home preseason finale against the Seahawks.

Gainwell rushed once for no gain in the Buccaneers' 16-15 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday.

Both Gainwell and Bucky Irving logged their touches for the night on the opening possession. Gainwell wasn't targeted Saturday during his brief time in the game, but the veteran pass-catching back is ticketed to play a major role in that capacity come the regular season, albeit while likely taking only a modest amount of rushing touches from Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. Gainwell will likely next see the field in a Week 1 road matchup against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Irving rushed three times for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-15 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday.

Irving was one of the healthy Buccaneers offensive starters to suit up Saturday, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson appeared intent on making sure the third-year back got his work in during his brief time in the game. Irving handled the ball in each of Tampa Bay's first three plays from scrimmage, with 12 of his 14 rushing yards coming on his first pair of touches. Following an injury-plagued 2025 season that saw him miss seven regular-season games, Irving is healthy ahead of the 2026 campaign and projected to handle a significant workload as both a runner and receiver following the replacement of free-agent departure Rachaad White with Kenny Gainwell, who's likely to vulture fewer rushing touches than the latter used to.

Walker rushed twice for four yards in the Chiefs' 16-15 preseason loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday.

After getting on the field for just one snap in the preseason opener against the Rams, Walker once again started Saturday but did log his first pair of touches as a member of the Chiefs. The 2025 Super Bowl champion is ticketed for a clear lead-back role this coming season, and Walker therefore is likeliest to next take the field in a Week 1 home matchup against the Broncos on Monday night, Sept. 14.

Claiborne turned eight carries into 18 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards during the Vikings' 13-3 loss to the Ravens on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 21 yards.

The rookie sixth-rounder was listed as the starter while veterans Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason observed Saturday's game from the sidelines. Claiborne's longest carry of the night went for nine yards, but he combined for only nine yards over his other seven rushes. Through two preseason games, the Wake Forest product has turned 20 carries into 52 yards (2.6 YPC) while adding 71 yards on three kickoff returns. Jones and Mason both figure to see the bulk of the Vikings' workload out of the backfield this season, so most of Claiborne's playing time may come on special teams as a returner on kickoffs.

Neal sustained a hamstring injury during the Saints' 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Neal appeared to pick up the injury following a four-yard carry during the first quarter of Saturday's contest. The 2025 sixth-rounder will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury, but it puts him in jeopardy of missing the Saints' preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday. With Alvin Kamara (knee) and Audric Estime (ankle) also dealing with injuries, Kendre Miller figures to pick up the bulk of rotational backfield snaps behind Travis Etienne, with Ty Chandler and CJ Donaldson in the mix for reps.

Miller turned six carries into 22 yards and did not haul in his lone target during the Saints' 34-0 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 29 yards.

Travis Etienne joined Alvin Kamara (knee) and Audric Estime (ankle) on the sidelines for Saturday's contest, with Miller being named the starting running back. Miller led all Saints running backs in rushing yards, though the only carry he had that went for 10-plus yards late in the first quarter was nullified by a holding penalty. Devin Neal left Saturday's contest due to a hamstring injury, and coupled with Estime's ankle issue, that puts Miller in a good position to secure his spot on the Saints' 53-man roster as the team's RB3 behind Etienne and Kamara. The Saints wrap up the preseason Friday on the road against the Cowboys.

Hunter turned 12 carries into 68 yards and a touchdown while failing to haul in his lone target during the Rams' 34-0 preseason win over the Saints on Saturday.

Hunter was listed as the Rams' starting running back Saturday while Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers were all sidelined. Hunter was effective as a rusher, with five of his 12 rushing attempts going for eight yards or more, and his last carry late in the fourth quarter resulted in a 12-yard touchdown. The 2025 fourth-rounder is up to 103 yards and one score on 21 carries through two preseason games, but he's far from a guarantee to crack the Rams' 53-man roster by the end of training camp, with Rivers being his main competition. Hunter's last opportunity for an in-game audition takes place Thursday in the Rams' preseason finale against the Chargers.