NFL Player News

Mitchell remains the clear No. 2 running back for San Francisco, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Lombardi notes that the Niners have a history of trading backup running backs (Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson) when they're happy with their depth at the position. That could be an option this summer, though it's not necessarily likely, with Mitchell in the final year of his contract and a pair of rookies (fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo, UDFA Cody Schrader) getting work at minicamp. The 49ers also have returning veteran Jordan Mason, but he's mostly played special teams and has never managed to move above Mitchell on the depth chart when Mitchell's been healthy. The long-term plan probably entails Guerendo taking over as the No. 2 RB behind Christian McCaffrey, but Mitchell looks on track to handle the role again this season.

Vikings DT Harrison Phillips said Thursday that he'd "buy stock in Chandler if I could," Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

It sounds like Chandler made a strong impression at spring practices, perhaps increasing his chances to have a key role off the bench behind new starting running back Aaron Jones. Chandler mostly played special teams throughout the first half of last season, but he eventually became the No. 2 running back and later started the final four weeks, averaging 11.8 carries for 52.4 yards (4.5 YPC) and 2.0 catches for 14.5 yards over the final eight games of the season (with three TDs). That makes him a clear favorite for the No. 2 RB job ahead of Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride, though it isn't clear how many snaps and touches the role will entail. Jones' history of injuries -- namely five MCL sprains since entering the NFL -- suggests Chandler has a good chance to make starts this season if the Vikings don't add a more experienced backup before Week 1.

Williams (foot) is participating in on-field workouts Thursday.

Williams missed most of OTAs due to a foot injury, but he's returned to the field for the final day of voluntary activities and appears to be handling on-field drills without limitations. Coach Sean McVay continuously downplayed the severity of Williams' injury, and it looks like the starting running back will indeed be ready to go for the start of mandatory minicamp June 10. The Rams could still opt to cap Williams' workload at practice if there are any concerns about his recovery, but it looks like he could be in position to handle the majority of first-team reps during minicamp, with rookie third-round pick Blake Corum, Boston Scott, Ronnie Rivers and Zach Evans working behind him.

The Chiefs waived Hall on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Kansas City has decided to part ways with Hall after signing him to a reserve/future contract back in January. The 23-year-old running back out of Georgia Tech has yet to make his NFL debut, but he spent time with the Giants', Cardinals', and Browns' practice squads during his lone season in the league.

Knight (shoulder) has been a limited participant in Lions' OTAs, Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reports.

Knight sustained a torn labrum and missed the Lions' final 12 games in 2023, but he's been cleared for seven-on-seven and light team work as of last week. The 23-year-old running back has also been ramping up his workload in hopes of returning for Detroit's mandatory minicamp. Once Knight is back at full health, he's expected to compete for a depth spot in the Lions' backfield ahead of the 2024 season.

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.