NFL Player News

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Chubb (knee) is "doing well" and will be evaluated next week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Stefanski essentially sidestepped the question when he was asked if Chubb would be designated to return from injured reserve when first eligible next week. Fantasy managers don't have much information to go on right now, with Chubb more than a year removed from suffering ACL and MCL tears to his left knee but only 10 months out from the second surgery he had on the knee. Fellow Browns running back Jerome Ford has played 66 percent of snaps on offense through three games, averaging 9.7 carries for 48.3 yards and 3.3 catches for 19.3 yards in an offense that's been severely limited by poor play at quarterback and offensive tackle. The situation may be somewhat better by the time Chubb returns, but the combination of subpar team context and his return from a major knee surgery will make it difficult to maintain his accustomed rushing efficiency. Chubb has averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first six NFL seasons.

Ford (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Ford is managing a knee injury to begin the week, but he still has two additional opportunities to practice Thursday and Friday before the Browns potentially give him a designation for Sunday's game against the Raiders. Pierre Strong (hamstring) also didn't practice Wednesday, while Nick Chubb (knee) is ineligible to come off the PUP list until Week 5 at the earliest. D'Onta Foreman and Gary Brightwell as the team's only healthy running backs at the moment.

Irving was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

Irving displayed no sign of being limited by injury in Tampa Bay's 26-7 loss to Denver on Sunday, when he took nine carries for 70 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards while playing 32 percent of the snaps on offense. Rachaad White took more than twice as many snaps (73 percent) but received three fewer carries and one fewer touch than Irving, adding more fuel to speculation that the rookie may eventually take over as Tampa Bay's lead back. It's unclear at this point if Irving's hamstring injury will be a factor in determining the two backs' respective workloads during a Week 4 home game against the Eagles.

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.