NFL Player News

Benson had eight carries for 21 yards during Saturday's 16-14 preseason defeat to the Saints.

With the Cardinals sitting their starting offense outside of rookie WR Marvin Harrison, Benson, a 2024 third-rounder, got the call on the team's first snap from scrimmage and ended up pacing Arizona in rushes. The trend may continue in the team's final two exhibitions because No. 1 QB Kyler Murray isn't expected to play until Week 1, meaning top RB James Conner could be destined for a similar outcome. If so, Benson should have plenty of chances to establish himself on the depth chart, especially with fellow back Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury at the moment.

Edwards-Helaire rushed twice for no gain and wasn't targeted in the Chiefs' 26-13 preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday night.

The fifth-year pro was the second back to log a carry after Isiah Pacheco helmed the ground attack on the Chiefs' opening drive. The backfield pecking order Saturday mirrors the one Kansas City is expected to start the regular season with, one where Edwards-Helaire logged a modest 87 touches in across 15 regular-season games in 2023.

Charbonnet rushed twice for six yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Seahawks' 16-3 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday night.

Charbonnet drew the start due to Kenneth Walker sitting out and was featured on the opening possession, logging a one-yard gain on the Seahawks' first play from scrimmage before drawing a target and recording a five-yard run on consecutive plays later in the drive. Charbonnet appears set to fill a complementary role alongside Walker once again to open the season, one that afforded him 141 touches across 454 snaps from scrimmage over 16 regular-season games in his rookie 2023 campaign.

Chandler had seven carries for 33 yards in Saturday's preseason win over Las Vegas.

Chandler started due to Aaron Jones sitting out of the game and looked sharp on several runs, including a 16-yard gain. He's locked in as the backup to Jones and could get significant touches if the Vikings try to manage Jones' workload to keep him healthy.

Schrader rushed five times for six yards while catching his lone target for three yards in Saturday's preseason loss to Tennessee.

Schrader was the first back brought off the bench behind elevated starter Jordan Mason on a night where the starting offense was rested and multiple running backs remained sidelined with injuries. The undrafted Missouri product didn't do much with his opportunity, but he does offer some upside with a proven college career that seemingly had him fall through the cracks during the NFL Draft. Schrader will definitely be buried on the depth chart if he sticks on San Francisco's roster, but he could prove useful should he land in a situation with a path to touches as a rookie.

Brown rushed five times for 10 yards and brought in his only target for no gain in the Bengals' 17-14 preseason loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday night. He also returned one kickoff for 26 yards.

With Zack Moss (illness) sidelined, Brown got the starting nod and saw a hefty workload on the opening possession. Brown logged three straight carries starting with the second play from scrimmage, with his game-long run of six yards coming on the final touch in that sequence. The second-year back added a five-yard gain later in the drive. He's projected to handle what will presumably be a markedly larger volume of touches than the 58 he logged across 12 regular-season games as a rookie while sharing the backfield with the departed Joe Mixon.

Spears rushed three times for two yards and a touchdown and caught his only target for two yards in Saturday's 17-13 preseason win over the Titans.

Tony Pollard was the first back deployed in Saturday's exhibition, but Spears had his touches mixed in with the first-unit offense. The 23-year-old didn't do much with his four touches in comparison to co-starter Pollard (6-46-0), but he was able to cash in a short touchdown run behind a revamped offensive line. Both backs should continue to get plenty of run this preseason as they jockey for position atop Tennessee's depth chart.

Vidal, who participated in warmups, was held out of the team's 16-3 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday, Daniel Popper of The Athleticreports.

It's not clear why the coaching staff decided to have Vidal and 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey (lower body) participate in pre-game warmups but then not have either player in uniform during the game. Given the Chargers' offensive struggles, particularly on the ground (50 yards on 15 designed carries), it's entirely possible Vidal will see substantial playing time in the coming weeks, but it's also worth noting Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins were also held out of the preseason opener despite zero health concerns to date.

Pacheco rushed two times for 16 yards and brought in his only target for nine yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday night.

The Chiefs' top back was out there with the rest of the healthy members of team's first-team offense for the opening possession, and Pacheco made good use of his opportunities. The third-year pro's efficiency with his three touches is right on brand for the explosive Pacheco, who's set to once again lead Kansas City's backfield in 2024 and perhaps improve on the 1,179 total scrimmage yards he recorded across 14 regular-season games a year ago.

Patterson carried the ball seven times for 38 yards and also caught one of his two targets for four yards in Saturday's 16-3 preseason loss to the Seahawks.

Patterson started the game at running back due to Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins both being healthy inactives and continued to see time until early in the third quarter. Los Angeles' offense as a whole struggled to move the ball, especially in the first 30 minutes of the game, as Patterson's long of 16 yards came near the end of the first half with Seattle playing a prevent defense of sorts, content to let the Chargers effectively run out the clock. Neither Elijah Dotson (three carries, seven yards) nor Isaiah Spiller (five carries, five yards) did much with their limited opportunities on the ground, and it's worth noting intriguing rookie Kimani Vidal also was held out of the exhibition, which appeared to be a coach's decision.