NFL Player News

Sanders (groin) said Tuesday he "absolutely" will be available Week 1 versus the Falcons, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Sanders returned to practice in full pads Monday, which provides further confidence in his Week 1 availability. The Panthers have said all along that Sanders, who suffered a groin injury Aug. 10, could be sidelined the remainder of the preseason but would be back for the regular season. As such, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear will likely be left to man the backfield again for Friday's exhibition finale against the Lions, but fantasy managers can expect Sanders will be back on the field for Carolina's season opener.

Cook (shoulder) is not in line to play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Giants, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The same applies to fellow RB Breece Hall, who continues to work his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered last October. With Israel Abanikanda sidelined by a thigh injury, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight and Travis Dye are available to handle carries versus the Giants. Once the regular season begins, Cook -- who is bouncing back from a shoulder issue -- and Hall figure to lead the team's backfield, but how snaps and carries might be distributed between them remains to be seen and could well come down to who gets back to 100 percent more quickly, and who can stay healthy.

The Eagles are leaning toward a committee approach in a backfield that currently includes Gainwell, D'Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott and Trey Sermon, Zach Berman of the The Athletic suggests.

With Miles Sanders, who led the Eagles with 259 carries in 2022, now with the Panthers, it looks like the team is prepared to roll with a combination of backs on a weekly basis. The Eagles' posted depth chart lists the team's RBs together as a group, and unless a starter is identified ahead of Week 1, a game-by-game approach leaning on the hot hand could be in play out of the gate. While Swift profiles a big-play threat who figures to get his share of touches in the passing game and Penny should also contribute on early downs, Gainwell has been been getting steady work this summer and that could continue into the season. If so, the 2021 fifth-rounder has a chance to earn enough work to emerge as a fantasy sleeper relative to his ADP.

Gordon took eight carries for 34 yards and caught one pass for one yard in Monday's preseason loss to Washington.

J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were held out, while Justice Hill got the start and racked up 38 total yards on the opening drive before the Ravens pulled him from the game. Gordon then entered and struggled initially, including being stuffed on a 3rd-and-1, though he had more luck later on against lesser defenders while playing into the third quarter. Undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell was the third back into the game for Baltimore and took his first carry for 31 yards, but shortly thereafter he left with a shoulder injury (one that isn't believed to be serious, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). Gordon and Mitchell appear to be competing for the No. 4 RB spot, which might only equate to a job on the practice squad.

Brown rushed seven times for 19 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Buccaneers' 13-6 preseason win over the Jets on Saturday night.

The former Division II star had logged only two touches in the preseason-opening loss to the Steelers, but his workload got a nice boost as the coaching staff gave both Brown and fellow undrafted rookie Sean Tucker long looks. Brown was in on 13 plays overall -- six fewer than Tucker -- and he finished third behind him and Patrick Laird in rushing yards. The 23-year-old will likely get another extended look during Saturday night's home preseason finale against the Ravens.

Coach John Harbaugh said the shoulder injury Mitchell suffered Monday night against the Commanders isn't serious, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Mitchell left after rushing one time for 31 yards and never returned to the game. It sounds like he avoided a serious injury. Mitchell is in a contested battle for the Ravens' RB4 job behind J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill. Mitchell's special teams contributions and playmaking ability might give him the edge over veteran Melvin Gordon.

Tucker rushed seven times for 37 yards and brought in all three targets for 18 yards in the Buccaneers' 13-6 preseason win over the Jets on Saturday.

Tucker was notably the second back to log a touch after Ke'Shawn Vaughn with Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds getting the night off. The undrafted rookie ultimately logged 19 snaps on offense and was busy with them, setting the pace for Tampa Bay in rushing yards while drawing even for the team lead in receptions. Tucker's three primary competitors for a roster spot -- Vaughn, Ronnie Brown and Patrick Laird -- combined for 31 yards on 20 carries and two catches for 14 yards, so the Syracuse alum certainly appears to have gained some serious ground Saturday.

Demercado turned eight carries into 12 yards and reeled in all three of his targets for 22 yards during Saturday's 38-10 preseason defeat to the Chiefs.

In somewhat of a surprise twist, Demercado was the third Cardinals running back to see action in preseason Week 2 behind James Conner and Keaontay Ingram and ahead of Corey Clement (Ty'Son Williams didn't play). This follows an exhibition debut in which Demercado, an undrafted rookie, had seven touches for 25 yards from scrimmage and punched in the game-winning two-point conversion on Aug. 11 against the Broncos. Still, Arizona continues to list Demercado fourth on the RB depth chart behind Conner, Ingram and Clement, according to Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic. As a result, Demercado's performance in the team's final preseason contest Saturday in Minnesota may go a long way in determining his fate when rosters are pared.

Gibson had four carries for 15 yards and three catches for 10 yards and a touchdown in Monday's preseason matchup with the Ravens.

Brian Robinson was the starter for a second straight week and again worked in a near-50/50 split with Gibson. The Commanders played their starters for the first half and now have kept them on the field for seven drives this preseason, with Robinson getting 13 opportunities (eight carries, five targets) and Gibson seeing 12 (six carries, six targets). There hasn't been a clear split like last year in terms of Robinson taking early downs while Gibson handles passing situations, but it is possible OC Eric Bieniemy switches that up some once the regular season begins Sept. 10 against Arizona.

Mitchell suffered a left shoulder injury during Monday's preseason game at Washington.

At the end of a 31-yard run down the right sideline in the third quarter, Mitchell endured a big hit from a Commanders defender and was tended to by Ravens trainers on the sideline before making his way to the locker room. The extent of the injury isn't known, but Baltimore officially is calling the undrafted rookie running back questionable to return.