NFL Player News

Swift rushed once for three yards and caught his only target for 42 yards in Saturday's 33-6 preseason win over the Bills.

Swift split snaps with Khalil Herbert (nine carries for 31 yards) while Chicago's starters were in the game, but the former Lions and Eagles running back is the more explosive option, and Swift showcased his shiftiness by turning a screen pass into a 42-yard gain on the opening drive. Swift will likely continue to see modest workloads throughout the preseason, including next Saturday's game against the Bengals, to ensure that he's healthy for the regular season.

Davis rushed four times for eight yards and caught all four of his targets for 33 yards in Saturday's 20-17 preseason win over the Commanders. He added a 29-yard kickoff return and two punt returns for six yards.

Davis was the second running back to enter the game for the Jets after fellow rookie Braelon Allen got the start, with Breece Hall resting on the sideline. While Davis didn't do much on the ground, he flashed some decent pass-catching skills and showcased his versatility by contributing on special teams. It's also significant that the 2024 fifth-round draft pick checked into the game before 2023 fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda, who entered in the third quarter and scored a two-yard touchdown in the fourth. Holding off Abanikanda for the third spot on the depth chart is Davis' easiest path to securing a roster spot, and how these two perform in next Saturday's preseason game against the Panthers could help determine the outcome of that competition.

Allen rushed six times for 54 yards and wasn't targeted in Saturday's 20-17 preseason win over Washington.

Allen is the favorite to operate as Breece Hall's top backup in the regular season, and the rookie fourth-round pick got the start Saturday with Hall getting the day off. After a quiet first quarter, Allen came alive in the second quarter with bursts of 16 and 24 yards on the ground. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound running back out of Wisconsin will look to build on this encouraging debut when the Jets continue preseason play next Saturday against the Panthers.

Robinson rushed five times for 20 yards and wasn't targeted in Saturday's 20-17 preseason loss to the Jets.

Robinson and Austin Ekeler (two carries for seven yards) both mixed in on the opening drive, which was the only drive that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels played. Daniels capped that possession with a three-yard touchdown run. Robinson faces increased competition for touches from Ekeler, and Daniels is also a threat to vulture goal-line rushing looks after scoring 21 rushing TDs in his last two years at LSU, but the ceiling for Washington's entire offense is far higher with Daniels at the helm than it was with Sam Howell under center last season. Washington's first-team offense could see more playing time in next Saturday's preseason game against the Dolphins.

Ekeler rushed twice for seven yards and didn't catch his only target in Saturday's 20-17 preseason loss to the Jets.

Ekeler and Brian Robinson got two carries apiece inside the Jets' 10-yard line on the opening drive, but it was quarterback Jayden Daniels who ultimately capped that possession with a three-yard rushing touchdown. Ekeler scored 30 rushing touchdowns over the last three regular seasons as the Chargers' unquestioned top rushing option by the goal line, but he'll have to compete for those valuable looks against Robinson and Daniels in Washington. Both Ekeler and Robinson should continue to mix in with the first-team offense in next Saturday's preseason matchup with the Dolphins.

Mitchell (hamstring) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers have a numbered of injured running backs also not playing Saturday, including Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo, but it doesn't seem as if backup Jordan Mason will see extensive snaps. As a result, Cody Schrader, Matt Breida and Patrick Taylor could see plenty of opportunities.

Johnson (hamstring) wasn't in uniform ahead of Saturday's preseason game against the Bears, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News.

The same applies to WRs Mack Hollins (leg), Chase Claypool (toe) and Justin Shorter (knee). Johnson's next opportunity to see exhibition action will be Aug. 17 against the Steelers. Once he returns to the mix, Johnson will resume competing with Ray Davis for slotting behind top RB James Cook.

Harris carried eight times for 22 yards and a TD and caught one of his three targets for six yards in Thursday's 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers.

In his latest 53-man roster projection, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site predicts that Harris will stick as the team's No. 3 running back to begin the coming season behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Per Lazar, Harris -- a 2022 sixth-rounder -- "won't 'wow' you with elusiveness or pass-catching ability, but he runs hard between the tackles and has displayed better vision working off zone blocks." Also competing for depth slotting in New England's backfield are JaMycal Hasty and Terrell Jennings, and one or both could potentially end up on the practice squad following cut-downs.

Hall is among the Jets' key skill players not slated to see action against the Commanders in Saturday's preseason opener, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The same applies to QB Aaron Rodgers, WRs Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson and Allen Lazard, as well as TEs Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert. In Hall's absence, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Deon Jackson and Xazavian Valladay are available to handle backfield duties against Washington.

Akers carried six times for 17 yards and caught all three targets for 24 yards in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.

Akers followed up an effective Hall of Fame Game and is showing no ill effects of the knee injury that wiped out the second half of the 2023 season. The Texans added him to the roster when they learned Joe Mixon (quadriceps) was dealing with an injury, so his stay on the roster could last as long as it takes Mixon to heal. All of Akers' 15 offensive snaps came during the second half.