NFL Player News

Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Hunt will rotate in with the Chiefs' other running backs during Sunday's game against the Chargers, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Reid added that the team has three reliable healthy running backs in Carson Steele, Samaje Perine and Hunt, so all three are expected to play a role against the Chargers. Steele remains the favorite to handle the majority of reps on early downs after racking up 17 rushing attempts in Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) absence against the Falcons last Sunday. Hunt was added to the 53-man roster Tuesday after joining Kansas City's practice squad last week.

Mixon (ankle) didn't participate in practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

According to Wilson, Mixon is viewed as week-to-week in his recovery from an ankle injury he suffered Week 2. The week-to-week label doesn't bode well for Mixon's chances of being available Sunday against the Jaguars, though Wilson relays the Texans have more optimism that Dameon Pierce (hamstring) will be able to avoid a third straight missed game. Pierce joined Mixon as a spectator for Wednesday's practice, however, leaving Cam Akers to take on running-back reps with the first-team offense.

Robinson could be in store for an expanded role Sunday against the Cardinals with fellow running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) having been ruled out for the Week 4 contest, Ben Standing and Amos Morale III of The Athletic report.

Third-string back Jeremy McNichols took one carry on seven snaps after Ekeler left Monday's 38-33 win over Cincinnati in the third quarter, while Robinson played 25 snaps (76 percent) and handled nine touches during the second half. Already averaging 15.0 carries, 2.7 targets and 87.3 total yards per game, Robinson may get a bit of extra work while McNichols mixes in as the passing-down back instead of Ekeler.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Brooks (knee) is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last November and is approaching his NFL debut, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today reports.

Brooks is on the non-football injury list, so the earliest he could make his NFL debut is Week 5 against the Bears. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks tore his ACL during his final collegiate season at Texas and didn't fully participate in the Panthers' offseason program, so he may need some additional practice time to get up to speed. Once healthy enough to play, the rookie will join a Panthers backfield led by Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

Harris didn't practice Wednesday for rest-related reasons, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Though Harris was spotted wearing a sling around his right arm/elbow in the Steelers' locker room Monday, head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the notion that the running back was nursing an injury when he spoke to the media Tuesday, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. With the Steelers listing Harris' absence Wednesday as being the result of rest, he still appears to be on track to suit up Sunday against the Colts. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren (knee) also sat out the session, with his availability versus Indianapolis looking much more uncertain.

Warren (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Warren had an MRI on Monday, with head coach Mike Tomlin later relaying Tuesday that he's unsure if the running back will play this Sunday against the Colts. In any case, Warren is averaging only 3.9 carries, 1.7 targets and 27.3 total yards per game while sharing backup work with Cordarrelle Patterson, leaving Najee Harris to get most of the work out of the backfield. The switch from Matt Canada to Arthur Smith at offensive coordinator seems to have been a positive development for the Steelers overall but a terrible one for Warren's fantasy value.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday that Ekeler (concussion) won't be available for Sunday's game at Arizona, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Ekeler was removed from Monday's win at Cincinnati due to a concussion, and Quinn revealed Tuesday that the running back also was dealing with a laceration to his ear, per Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site. With his lack of availability already confirmed for Week 4, Ekeler's next chance to suit up will come Oct. 6 against the Browns. In Ekeler's absence, Brian Robinson likely stands to handle a greater share of Washington's backfield, while Jeremy McNichols and practice-squad members Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley will be candidates to fill in behind Robinson.

Kamara won't practice Wednesday due to a rib injury and a hip pointer, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Kamara is nursing a pair of injuries on the heels of handling a massive workload in the Saints' loss to the Eagles this past Sunday, when he carried 26 times for 87 yards in addition to bringing in all three of his targets for 40 yards. He will have two more chances to increase his practice activity ahead of Sunday's divisional matchup against the Falcons. Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims are the Saints' top backfield options behind Kamara, though Taysom Hill (lung) -- who sat out the Week 3 loss -- will also factor into the mix for carries Sunday, if available.

The Broncos signed Badie off the practice squad Wednesday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Badie earned a permanent spot on the roster with an excellent performance in the Broncos' 26-7 win over the Buccaneers this past Sunday, when he carried nine times for 70 yards. That outing coupled with 16 rushing yards in Week 2 were enough to make Badie the team's leading rusher among running backs this season. He'll likely continue to work in a platoon with Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin in Week 4 against the Jets, and likely beyond.

Strong (hamstring) is not slated to practice Wednesday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Strong suffered the injury in Week 2 and has yet to play or practice with the team since. He'll likely need to get on the field Thursday in some form to have a chance to play Sunday against the Raiders. His current injury is compounded by Jerome Ford (knee) also missing practice Wednesday, leaving D'Onta Foreman and Gary Brightwell as the only healthy running backs currently on the Browns' roster.