NFL Player News

Gibbs has missed spring practices due to a soft tissue injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Lions expect Gibbs to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, though coach Dan Campbell noted that the running back's absence this spring is a missed opportunity for growth. Gibbs nonetheless figures to be a huge part of Detroit's offense this season, with the big question being whether he'll take away some of the work that went to backfield mate David Montgomery last year.

Strong (back) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, Joshua Gunter of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Strong was inactive for Browns' wild-card loss to the Texans in January, but the back issue that prevented him from playing in the postseason looks to be well behind him at this point. After Cleveland added D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines this offseason to a backfield that already includes Nick Chubb (knee) and Jerome Ford, Strong may be on the roster bubble heading into the 2024 season.

Abanikanda appears to have fallen down the Jets' backfield depth chart this offseason, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

The Jets used fourth- and fifth-round picks on Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, respectively, back in April, and both have reportedly stood out in offseason practices and taken reps with the first-team offense in the absence of lead back Breece Hall (lower body). Abanikanda drew some summer hype as a rookie in 2023 but ultimately carried the ball 22 times for just 70 yards (3.2 YPC). A fifth-round pick himself, Abanikanda could be on the roster bubble heading into the 2024 campaign.

Chubb (knee) said Wednesday that he doesn't have a timeline for returning to practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Chubb had surgery Sept. 29 to address an MCL tear and then another procedure Nov. 14 to repair a torn ACL. The left knee injury he suffered Week 2 last season also included damage to his meniscus and medial capsule, further adding to the difficulty of rehabbing the second severe injury to the same knee during his playing career. He previously tore three ligaments in the knee during his time at college in Georgia in 2015, though in that case, his ACL remained intact. Chubb seems unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp and might also miss the start of the regular season, but he anticipates making a full recovery and playing in games at some point in 2024. In the meantime, the Browns have Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong as their top running backs, with Nyheim Hines potentially pitching in as a pass-catching specialist.

Allen has made "a ton of plays as a pass catcher" during OTAs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY.tv.

Breece Hall's absence with a lower-body injury has opened up first-team snaps for Allen and fellow rookie Isaiah Davis. It's a bit surprising to hear that Allen has made waves in the passing game, considering he's a 235-pound back who had 275 receiving yards over three seasons as the lead runner at Wisconsin. Picked in the fourth round this spring, Allen is the youngest player in the draft class and will be 20 years old for the entirety of his rookie season. Allen's youth and lack of major pass-catching experience in college might seem to hint at a slow learning curve, but by all accounts, he and Davis (a fifth-round pick) have been relatively quick studies while competing with 2023 fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda for backup roles. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic believes Allen is "the clear frontrunner" to be the Jets' No. 2 running back.

Davis has been receiving steady snaps with the Jets' starting offense during OTAs, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Breece Hall's minor lower-body injury has opened up opportunities for Davis, a fifth-round pick, as well as rookie fourth-round pick Braelon Allen. Hughes further revealed that Allen has also made a good early impression, with his receiving work in particular being a pleasant surprise after he had only 275 receiving yards in three seasons as the lead back for Wisconsin. The two rookies seem to be competing with 2023 fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda for the second spot on the depth chart, a role that probably won't come with many snaps or touches unless Hall misses time. The Jets also have Tarik Cohen as a potential passing-down specialist, though special teams might offer his more realistic path to a roster spot

Sanders sat out minicamp practice Tuesday with a heel injury, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Obeserver reports.

Coach Dave Canales said Sanders had something "flare up" with his heel, and he's missing practice time this week. Overall, it doesn't sound like a serious issue for Sanders, but he's missing valuable reps with his new coaching staff. The Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft to join Chuba Hubbard in the backfield, so Sanders looks like he's going to head into training camp no higher than third on the running back depth chart. His inability to play special teams would make him a tough player to have active on game days if that's the case.

Haskins (undisclosed) has participated in OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Haskins spent all of 2023 on IR with an unknown injury, but he appears to be healthy and recovered now. The Michigan product will likely be battling Julius Chestnut for No. 3 running back duties behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears leading up to the start of the 2024 campaign.

The 49ers signed McCaffrey to a two-year, $38 million contract extension Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

CMC's existing deal was set to run through 2025, and he's getting an additional $8 million up front before this two-year extension kicks in to keep him under contract through 2027. The $19 million annual average makes McCaffrey the NFL's highest-paid running back, a distinction he'd already held at just over $16 million per year. This further sets him apart from Alvin Kamara ($15 million) and Jonathan Taylor ($14 million) at the top of the position. McCaffrey was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year last season and was third in MVP voting after finishing with 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns across 16 regular-season contests. McCaffrey turns 28 years old later this week.

Hall is working off to the side at Tuesday's practice, with coach Robert Saleh telling reporters the running back is "dealing with some lower half stuff," Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Hall was first spotted with the Jets' rehab group last Wednesday and is now confirmed to be dealing with a minor injury. It doesn't sound like anything that will still be an issue when the Jets start training camp in late July, but it's possible Hall is limited or absent during mandatory minicamp June 11-13. Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda and Tarik Cohen are all candidates to take first-team RB reps while Hall isn't practicing.