NFL Player News

Blackshear is a part of the Panthers' initial 53-man roster following roster cuts Tuesday, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.

Blackshear joins Miles Sanders (groin) and Chuba Hubbard as the running backs to make the team, while Carolina moved on from Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples. In three preseason appearances, Blackshear turned 12 carries into 42 yards and one touchdown while hauling in all three targets for six yards and returning one kickoff for 29 yards. There's an expectation that Sanders will be healthy for Week 1, so Blackshear may have to bide his time on special teams while waiting for an opportunity on offense behind Sanders and Hubbard.

Merriweather was waived by the Saints on Tuesday, Brooke Kirchofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Merriweather was working to make the team as an undrafted free agent out of UMass, but he was ultimately unable to make a move up the team's backfield depth chart.

The Browns waived Felton on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

A 2021 sixth-round pick, Felton appeared in 24 games during his first two seasons in Cleveland. He flashed as a pass-catching option and return man as a rookie but failed to deliver any substantial production in Year 2. If Felton clears waivers, the Browns would presumably like to sign him to a practice-squad deal.

Haskins (undisclosed) has been moved from IR to the commissioner exempt list, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Haskins' placement on the list stems from an arrest this summer on charges of aggravated assault. While he is on the list, Haskins, who had previously been on IR due to an undisclosed injury, cannot practice or attend games.

Hall was waived by the Browns on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old linked up with Cleveland after going undrafted this past year. Throughout his five-year collegiate career, Hall tallied 2,160 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns while also accumulating 2,581 return yards. The Georgia Tech product's best chance to make the Browns' roster was as a return man, but the team determined he ultimately didn't do enough.

The Rams released Freeman on Tuesday.

Freeman finished the preseason with 13 carries for 46 rushing yards, adding four receptions for 10 yards. However, the 2018 third-round pick didn't do enough to land a spot on the Rams' initial 53-man roster. Freeman could garner some attention in free agency, but he hasn't been productive since his time in Denver (2018-2020).

The Colts moved Taylor (ankle) to the reserve/PUP list on Tuesday, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.

Now that the move is official, Taylor -- who had been on the active/PUP list and was also seeking a trade -- will be forced to miss the first four games of the coming season. Following the Colts' roster moves Tuesday, Zack Moss (arm), Deon Jackson, and Evan Hull are the team's current running back options as Week 1 approaches.

With no trade having occurred Tuesday, Taylor (ankle) is now expected to remain on the PUP list ahead of Week 1, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Assuming that's the case, the running back -- who has been on the active/PUP list through training camp -- wouldn't be eligible to play during the first four weeks of the coming NFL season. In that context, the Colts' top running back options ahead of Week 1 are Zack Moss (arm), Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull.

The Jaguars waived Conner on Tuesday, Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL 92.5 FM Jacksonville reports.

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Conner appeared in eight games as a rookie, totaling 12 rushing attempts for 42 yards and a score. However, the Ole Miss product dropped down the depth chart after the Jaguars added Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson this offseason. Conner could return to Jacksonville via a practice-squad deal if he goes unclaimed through waivers.

Las Vegas is slated to release Williams on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Williams' release comes shortly after Josh Jacob officially returned to team facilities and signed for the 2023 season. The 31-year-old will now need to search for a depth role elsewhere. Williams' versatility should help his odds of latching on at the end of a different roster, but he hasn't suited up for significant NFL action since 2021, as he played just one game with the Falcons last season.