NFL Player News

Gibbs is among the key players not expected to see action in Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

The report suggests that the majority of the Lions' starters won't play Saturday in a game that will feature Teddy Bridgewater as the team's starting QB. In last Friday's preseason opener against the Giants, Gibbs carried six times for 19 yards and caught his only target for 18 yards while logging 18 snaps on offense.

Barkley didn't play in the Giants' preseason win over the Panthers on Friday.

Most of New York's starters -- including quarterback Daniel Jones -- saw action in the contest, but Barkley was held out. The star running back did take part in pregame warmups and isn't dealing with any sort of injury. He may not log any exhibition action, but Barkley is fully expected to again be the focal point of the Giants' offense once the regular season kicks off.

Brown rushed the ball nine times for 18 yards with a touchdown in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Falcons in preseason action.

Brown was the second back on the field for Cincinnati behind Chris Evans, though he still played late on the team's opening possession. He hasn't found much room to run in his first two games as a pro, tallying only 30 yards on 17 carries. On the bright side, Brown did manage to punch in a goal-line carry from three yards away late in the fourth quarter. Brown appears to be behind Evans on the depth chart at this point in the preseason, though he'll have one more opportunity to impress the team in game action prior to the regular season kicking off.

Evans carried the ball seven times for 15 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Falcons in preseason action. He added two receptions for 20 yards.

Evans was the first Bengals running back on the field with Joe Mixon (personal) and Trayveon Williams (ankle) sidelined. He ended up splitting carries with rookie Chase Brown for most of the first half and wasn't particularly impressive rushing the ball. However, Evans continued to make an impact as a pass catcher -- his likeliest role once the regular season begins. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his role in the offense, but for now, he appears to have the upper hand to be Mixon's primary backup come Week 1.

Allgeier carried the ball once for -1 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie against the Bengals in preseason action.

Allgeier was the first back on the field and carried the ball for seven yards on the opening play from scrimmage, though the gain was ultimately washed out due to a holding penalty. He touched the ball only one additional time, which resulted in a loss. Bijan Robinson led the backfield Friday and will do the same when the Falcons kick off the regular season against the Panthers.

Brown carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards and caught his only target for seven yards in Friday's preseason loss to the Giants.

With Miles Sanders (groin) unavailable, Chuba Hubbard got the start in the backfield but left early in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Brown was the second Carolina running back to see action on offense, and his 33 scrimmage yards just out-paced Raheem Blackshear's 31 rushing yards, although the latter scored a touchdown in the second half. Should the injuries to Sanders and Hubbard linger into the regular season, it's not yet clear whether Blackshear or Brown would assume lead duties.

Blackshear carried the ball eight times for 31 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason loss to the Giants.

The second-year running back led the Panthers in rushing yards and scored the team's only TD on the ground. Blackshear's fantasy appeal could be on the rise, as Miles Sanders (groin) once again wasn't in the lineup and Chuba Hubbard (ankle) didn't return after getting injured on the first play of the second quarter. However, it was Spencer Brown (10 carries for 26 yards, one catch for seven yards) who took over for Hubbard, while Blackshear didn't see his first touch on offense until late in the third quarter. Should the injuries to Sanders and Hubbard linger into the regular season, it's not yet clear whether Blackshear or Brown would assume lead duties.

Robinson carried the ball four times for 20 yards in Friday's 13-13 tie with the Bengals in preseason action. He also recorded one catch for six yards.

The Falcons' first-team offense played only one series, though it lasted 20 plays and 9:51 of game time. Robinson played on that drive and entered the game after Tyler Allgeier took the first carry of the game. He gained 12 yards with his first carry and was largely unremarkable otherwise, though he did manage to haul in his only target. Robinson may not take the field again until a Week 1 matchup against the Panthers, when he'll almost certainly lead Atlanta's backfield.

Coach Frank Reich said Hubbard sustained an ankle injury during Friday's 21-19 preseason loss at the Giants, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

For a second consecutive contest, Hubbard started for the hobbled Miles Sanders (groin), turning his eight carries into 30 yards. Now that the Panthers' top two running backs are injured, the team is left with Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples as its healthy running backs. While Sanders likely will be sidelined until Week 1, it remains to be seen if Hubbard will be able to play in the preseason final on Friday, Aug. 25 versus the Lions.

Brightwell is not in uniform for Friday's exhibition matchup with the Panthers due to an undisclosed issue, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.

Brightwell is competing with Jashaun Corbin, James Robinson and Eric Gray for the team's No. 3 running back role behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida. It is unclear what specific issue he is dealing with, but the Giants have one more preseason game left, so he will have more time to make an impression going forward.