NFL Player News

Kamara, who skipped the final day of minicamp back in June, is present for training camp Tuesday, Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras of NOLA.com report.

Kamara skipped the final day of June's mandatory minicamp due to apparent dissatisfaction with his current contract, but he won't risk incurring fines by skipping training camp. The veteran running back, who turns 29 this Thursday, is effectively heading into the final year of his contract, as there's little conceivable scenario wherein the Saints take on the $29 million cap hit he's due in 2025. Kamara has now put together three straight seasons with a 4.0 or worse YPC mark, but he's kept his fantasy value afloat via work in the receiving game, having tallied 75 receptions through just 13 games last year. He again projects for a high-usage role in 2024, with Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams behind him on the depth chart.

Edwards-Helaire was the third running back up during the run period of Tuesday's practice for Kansas City, behind starter Isiah Pacheco and 2023 UDFA Deneric Prince, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

The AFC West powerhouse no longer has Jerick McKinnon on the roster and settled for undrafted rookies as their backfield additions this offseason, but that doesn't mean Edwards-Helaire is a lock for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Even if he does reprise that role, as many expect, CEH could end up limited to passing-down situations while another back serves as Pacheco's backup on early downs and in short-yardage situations. Kansas City re-signed Edwards-Helaire in March on a one-year, $1.7 million contract that includes $1.325 guaranteed -- considerably less than the average annual value on his rookie contract after the team selected him 32nd overall in the 2020 Draft.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday that Lloyd (hip) will probably miss a few days of practice but shouldn't be absent long, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Lloyd is dealing with a hip injury to begin training camp, but it sounds like the issue is only minor. The 2024 third-round pick appears well positioned to carve out a role behind Josh Jacobs early in his career, but he'll need to get back on the field and establish himself above AJ Dillon on the depth chart. Lloyd's explosiveness and versatility give him a clear path to a significant role, but he also brings ball-security concerns from his time at USC (11 fumbles on 325 touches).

Prince was the second Kansas City running back to take a carry during Tuesday's run period, behind only Isiah Pacheco, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.

Prince spent most of 2023 on the team's practice squad after going undrafted in the spring, with his two regular-season appearances yielding 15 snaps on special teams. He has another shot to earn a backup role, as the defending Super Bowl champions didn't do much to reinforce their backfield behind Pacheco this offseason, merely re-signing Clyde Edwards-Helaire and bringing in more undrafted rookies. Prince probably isn't ahead of Edwards-Helaire on the depth chart but might be viewed as a better fit for early downs and/or short-yardage situations if Pacheco were to miss time with an injury.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday that Dillon has arrived at camp in the best shape he's ever seen him, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

The 247-pound back has always relied on power more than speed and agility, but even by that standard he looked sluggish last season en route to 3.4 yards per carry across 178 totes. Dillon's YPC mark has dropped with each passing year since the Packers took him late in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he failed to put up fantasy-worthy numbers last season even when Aaron Jones was inactive. Jones is now gone, replaced by Josh Jacobs and third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd, but the latter is absent from early training camp practices due to a hip injury. There are perhaps still obstacles ahead, namely Lloyd, but it sounds like Dillon is off to a strong start in his quest to maintain the No. 2 spot on Green Bay's backfield depth chart. Dillon re-signed with the Packers in March on a one-year, $2.74 million contract.

Ford's preseason and regular-season roles will depend on the health statuses of his injured teammates, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

With Nick Chubb (knee) still recovering from knee surgery during the offseason, Ford handled first-team reps in spring workouts, and he likely heads into training camp as the lead back. The Browns could apply injury designations to Chubb and Nyheim Hines (knee) at the beginning of camp, which would cement Ford in the top spot for now. He could keep the job into the regular season if Chubb winds up on the reserve-PUP list, which would require him to miss at least the first four games of the schedule. Ford's role should sort itself out over the coming weeks.

Watson is expected to be recover from a slight leg muscle tweak that landed him on the Broncos' active/non-football injury list, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.

Watson's placement on the NFI list is seemingly a procedural matter heading into training camp. A quick recovery would be in the undrafted rookie's best interest, as he is attempting to earn a depth role in Denver's backfield. Thus, the more time on the field the better.

Spiller is slated to compete with rookie sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal for the No. 3 running back job behind Gus Edwards (undisclosed) and J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) during training camp, Alexander Insdorf of BoltBeat.com reports.

Spiller, a 2022 fourth-round pick, is averaging just 2.5 YPC on 55 rush attempts across two seasons in the NFL, so he'll likely need to take a big step forward this offseason in order to earn a notable backfield role. Neither of Edwards nor Dobbins are a lock to stay healthy and play a full 17-game slate this season, though the former did accomplish that in 2023 with Baltimore, making the Chargers' third running back spot a position that could eventually hold fantasy value. Plus, new offensive coordinator Greg Roman figures to install a run-heavy scheme, and potentially one that could suit Spiller's elusiveness. However, Vidal boasts similar bulk and notably superior speed to Spiller.

The Vikings placed McBride (undisclosed) on their active/non-football injury list Monday.

The nature and severity of McBride's injury is currently unknown, but he'll now begin Minnesota's training camp on the NFI list. McBride, a 2023 seventh-round pick out of UAB, is still eligible to practice or play at any point in the preseason, but this injury could jeopardize the 23-year-old's chances at making the Vikings' 53-man roster.

Lloyd isn't practicing Monday due to a hip injury, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

It's a suboptimal start to training camp for a rookie hoping to push AJ Dillon for backup work behind Josh Jacobs. While his 220-pound frame and 4.46 speed hint at lead-back potential, Lloyd could be brought along more slowly than a typical third-round pick after fumbling 11 times on 325 touches during his college career.