NFL Player News

Cook and other starters likely will play about a quarter in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Sean McDermott didn't mention Cook by name, but the running back will likely be out there if Josh Allen is. McDermott confirmed that Allen is scheduled to start, leading an offense in which the top skill-position weapons figure to be Cook, TE Dalton Kincaid and WRs Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. A relative lack of experience in the pass-catching corps could lead to the running backs being more emphasized, but there's some chance that benefits rookie Ray Davis and/or Ty Johnson rather than giving Cook a big uptick from last year's regular-season totals of 634 snaps (54.5 percent), 237 carries and 44 receptions.

Demercado was spotted donning a brace on his right shoulder after Wednesday's practice, Howard Balzer of GoPHNX.com reports.

So far during training camp, Demercado has been getting regular reps with the Cardinals' first-team offense, subbing in for No. 1 back James Conner in such situations. Behind those two, Michael Carter has handled most of the work with the second team, followed by rookie third-rounder Trey Benson. There's still plenty of time for the pecking order to change ahead of Week 1, and perhaps Demercado's current health concern causes him to tumble down the depth chart. It's unclear if he'll be able to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Saints, and if Demercado doesn't, Carter, Benson and the rest of Arizona's reserve running backs should have elevated opportunities to contribute.

Henry isn't slated to see any preseason action, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

The Ravens have nothing to gain by exposing their lead back to injury during exhibition play, so he won't be back on the field for a game until Week 1 against the Chiefs. In the meantime, Rasheen Ali, Owen Wright and Chris Collier should have opportunities to make cases for depth slotting behind Henry and Justice Hill.

Jackson signed a contract with the Jets on Wednesday.

Jackson bounced between the Colts, Browns and Giants last season, seeing action in four regular-season games. The Duke product managed to net only 16 yards on 14 carries, but he did have a little better success in 2022, when he averaged 3.5 YPC on 68 attempts. The 25-year-old will compete with rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, as well as with second-year pro Israel Abanikanda, for a spot behind Breece Hall at running back.

Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Pacheco and the starting offense will play during Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, J.P. Shadrick of the Jaguars' official site reports.

Reid indicated that the starters will play roughly a quarter Saturday, though Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com notes that in the past, star players such as Pacheco, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have been limited to a single series, while other starters have stayed in the exhibition opener for longer stretches. Pacheco is the clear No. 1 option in Kansas City's backfield, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Deneric Prince backing him up, so the Chiefs are unlikely to expose Pacheco to a heavy workload this early in the preseason. Expectations are high for Pacheco as he looks to build upon his career-best 2023 campaign, which included 205 carries for 935 yards (4.6 YPC) and seven scores in 14 regular-season appearances, plus a 44-244-2 receiving line.

The 49ers signed Vaughn on Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

The 2020 third-round pick out of Vanderbilt spent the first four seasons of his career in Tampa Bay and has now agreed to terms with San Francisco. Vaughn is expected to add depth to a 49ers running back room dealing with injuries to Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring).

Edwards-Helaire (illness) is practicing Wednesday, Harold R. Kuntz of Fox 4 Kansas city reports.

Edwards-Helaire recently revealed via social media that he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, which is seemingly at least part of the reason he's been in and out of practice this summer. Of course, it's possible he also dealt with an illness unrelated to PTSD. Either way, Edwards-Helaire seems to have participated in more practices than he's missed, and there's not much concern about his knowledge of the Chiefs offense in his fifth season under head coach Andy Reid. He's competing with Deneric Prince for the No. 2 role out of the backfield behind locked-in starter Isiah Pacheco.

Robinson and Ekeler both are listed as starters on Washington's initial preseason depth chart.

The two are expected to form a timeshare, with Robinson likely getting more carries and Ekeler more targets, though offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday that Robinson is "a power back who has great hands." Kingsbury also said that he doesn't think Ekeler's 2023 struggles with the Chargers were due to physical decline, noting that the 29-year-old "hasn't lost a step" and is "as fast and as strong as I've seen him." Additional hints about the workload split between the two backs likely won't come to fruition until Week 1, at which point fantasy managers will want to pay close attention to the division of snaps, carries, targets and routes.

Ekeler and Brian Robinson both are listed as starters on Washington's initial preseason depth chart.

The Commanders list 12 starters on offense, with three wideouts, two running backs and a tight end. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury suggested Tuesday that Ekeler and Robinson both will have significant roles, referring to the duo as a "1-2 punch" and noting that he doesn't think Ekeler's down season in 2023 was due to physical decline.

Goodson is listed as the third running back on Indianapolis' first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.

Trey Sermon has had a strong camp and looks secure as the top backup to Jonathan Taylor. However, it's not clear how Indianapolis will use its running backs on passing downs. Goodson or Evan Hull could win a role as the team's third-down back.