NFL Player News

The Jets waived Stepp (undisclosed) from IR with an injury settlement Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Stepp reverted to IR with an undisclosed issue Thursday and reached an injury settlement one day later. He'll thus be eligible to join a new organization upon returning to health. The 24-year-old initially latched on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent May 13.

Goodson, Trey Sermon and Evan Hull got first-team reps at Thursday's practice, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan reports.

Jonathan Taylor missed practice for personal reasons, leaving the Colts with an inexperienced group of running backs. Multiple reports have suggested Sermon and Hull will compete for the second spot on the depth chart, but Goodson's work with the starting offense suggests he's also in the running to earn a bench role. While he weighs less than 200 pounds and has taken just 19 regular-season touches since going undrafted in 2022, it wouldn't be shocking if Goodson challenged Hull for a role as the two-minute/hurry-up back. Goodson ran a 4.42 at the 2022 Combine, after piling up 2,551 rushing yards and 70 receptions in three seasons at Iowa.

Estime underwent a small scope on his knee last week, but he is expected to be ready for training camp, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Estime is expected to rehab his knee, so he will not be present at OTAs or mandatory minicamp in June. At 5-foot-11, 221 pounds, the Broncos' fifth round pick of this year's draft is projected to bring a physical style to the running back room. Assuming his health is back up to par by training camp, he will presumably be competing with the likes of Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson for a depth role behind Javonte Williams in this year's backfield.

Stepp (undisclosed) reverted to the Jets' injured reserve list Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Stepp was waived with an injury designation Wednesday, but he wasn't claimed by another team during the last waiver period, so he'll go back to the injured reserve list. The precise nature of his injury is unclear at this point.

Brightwell (hamstring) was waived by the Giants with an injury designation Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Brightwell ended the 2023 season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but it's unclear if that's the issue he's currently dealing with. He has rushed 41 times for 164 yards and a touchdown and has caught 11 passes for 92 yards through 37 games with the Giants. If the running back clears waivers, he'll revert to IR, where he'd be slated to remain unless he reaches an injury settlement.

The Jets waived/injured Stepp on Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Jets signed Stepp on May 13 as an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky. If the running back clears waivers, he'll revert to injured reserve.

Jacobs (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Jacobs took part in individual drills but then mostly sat out the team period. He did, however, take at least one carry in full-team drills and appears to have made it through the day without any setbacks. The hamstring injury shouldn't have much affect on Jacobs as he prepares to lead a Green Bay backfield that also has AJ Dillon and rookie third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd on hand.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said last week that he would like Bigsby to get more playing time to "take some of the pounding off of Travis [Etienne]," Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports.

Jaguars brass made similar comments last offseason after drafting Bigsby in the third round, but he had just three games all season with more than three carries and none with more than 17 snaps. A pair of lost fumbles on his first 24 touches didn't help, and the Jaguars eventually preferred D'Ernest Johnson as the running back to give Etienne occasional breathers. While Johnson is back with the team in 2024, Bigsby's combination of draft capital, college production (2,903 rushing yards) and size (six-foot, 213 pounds) should allow him another shot to win the No. 2 role. Whether the Jaguars actually end up trusting him enough to take a significant chunk out of Etienne's workload is another question.

McLaughlin (head) has been participating in OTAs, Isaiah J. Downing of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

McLaughlin played all 17 games for the Broncos in 2023 after going undrafted out of Youngstown State last spring, averaging 5.4 yards on 76 carries and 5.2 yards on 31 receptions. He seems to be healthy after suffering a head injury Week 18, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll have a role in Denver's crowded backfield in 2024. The team still has Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine under contract and recently brought in fifth-round pick Audric Estime and undrafted free agent Blake Watson. Listed at 5-foot-7 and 187 pounds, McLaughlin is the smallest of the bunch, though perhaps the quickest.

Perine is competing for a role in Denver's backfield but could end up being a cap casualty if the Broncos are satisfied with their reserve options behind starter Javonte Williams, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

Perine has a non-guaranteed $3 million salary for the second season of his two-year contract. That's a reasonable number for someone who offers good pass protection and reliable hands while also playing special teams, but the Broncos could nonetheless cut or trade Perine if they feel comfortable with Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson or Tyler Badie as a passing-down specialist. None of those other backs can match Perine for size, blocking or experience, but they would probably have an edge over him in terms of speed and quickness. Meanwhile, Williams and fifth-round pick Audric Estime are more likely to get playing time on early downs.