NFL Player News

Broncos GM George Paton reiterated Thursday that he isn't sure when Williams (knee) will be ready for games but does know it will be at some point in 2023, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Paton made similar comments in late March, responding, " we won't know that for a while," when a reporter asked him if Williams would be ready for Week 1. The 2021 second-round pick is rehabbing multiple ligament tears in his right knee, including an ACL, and the Broncos don't have much experience in their backfield beyond Williams and new addition Samaje Perine. Paton thus acknowledged the possibility of the team drafting a running back, though Denver's lack of capital (no picks in the first or second round) means anyone they add might not represent serious competition for Williams/Perine.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach said Thursday that he'll talk with McKinnon after the NFL Draft, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports. "He's certainly a guy that we love," Veach said. "Jerick likes to take his time and make sure he's ready to go."

The Chiefs currently have only three running backs on their roster and seemingly will consider re-signing McKinnon if the soon-to-be 32-year-old wants to play another season. While he doesn't offer much in terms of elusiveness or explosiveness at this point in his career, McKinnon's reliable hands and firm grasp of the KC offense made him the preferred option on passing downs for part of 2021 and most of 2022. He parlayed the role into a 56-512-9 receiving line, albeit with only 72-291-1 on the ground while Isiah Pacheco handled a majority of the carries. Apart from Pacheco, the Chiefs have Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine under contract ahead of the draft.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach said Thursday that the team will wait until after the NFL Draft to make a decision on Edwards-Helaire's fifth-year option, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

It's possible the Chiefs have already made a decision internally, as it seems unlikely they'd pick up the option after the 2020 first-round pick missed 14 regular-season games the past two years and saw his role diminished even when healthy in 2022. That doesn't mean Edwards-Helaire can't be part of the team's backfield plan for 2023, but it does mean the Chiefs are unlikely to guarantee him a $5.46 million salary for 2024. The fifth-year-option deadline for 2020 first-rounders is May 3, four days after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Giants GM Joe Schoen said Thursday that nothing has changed between Barkley and the team, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Schoen implied that the team will focus more on veteran contracts -- namely Barkley's and DL Dexter Lawrence's -- after the conclusion of the NFL Draft next weekend. Barkley still hasn't signed his franchise tender and thus remains absent from the offseason program, but the Giants have until July 17 to work out a long-term contract. If nothing happens by then, Barkley can either sign the tender or hold out.

Mixon pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated menacing in his first court appearance Wednesday in Hamilton County, Ohio, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

The aggravated menacing charge stemmed from Mixon allegedly pointing a gun at a woman and threatening to shoot her in a Jan. 21 incident. Baby notes that Mixon was granted recognizance for a $10,000 bond and requested a jury trial in relation to his case, which had been dismissed by the city prosecutor's office before being refiled April 7. The running back, who was present for the first day of the Bengals' offseason workouts Monday, is coming off a 2022 season in which he recorded 1,255 yards from scrimmage and a total of nine touchdowns in 14 games.

Taylor said Wednesday that the offseason surgery on his right ankle was a "perfect success," Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

Taylor was shut down for the season after suffering a high-ankle sprain Week 15, and while he initially hoped the injury would heal without surgery, he ultimately underwent an arthroscopic debridement at the end of January. It's not considered to be an especially invasive procedure, potentially allowing for some participation in the offseason program. At worst, Taylor should be ready for the start of training camp as the Colts look to bounce back from an ugly 2022 campaign under new head coach Shane Steichen, who previously served as offensive coordinator for the Chargers (2020) and Eagles (2021 and 2022). It isn't yet clear who will be the team's starting quarterback, as the Colts signed Gardner Minshew this offseason but also have been mentioned as a potential destination for Lamar Jackson or the top rookies in the 2023 NFL Draft.

As the Buccaneers' offseason program commences this week, White profiles as the team's No. 1 running back, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

With last season's top rusher Leonard Fournette no longer with the team, White appears poised to see an expanded role this coming season in a Tampa Bay backfield that also includes Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Chase Edmonds and Patrick Laird. It's possible that the Bucs could add RB depth in the upcoming NFL Draft, but as things stand, White, who has drawn the praise of GM Jason Licht this offseason, appears to be in a position have an opportunity to secure a lead role, a context that would yield increased volume for the 2022 third-rounder, who carried 129 times for 481 yards and a TD while adding 50 catches (on 58 targets) for 290 yards and a pair of receiving scores in 17 games last season.

Seattle waived Thompson on Monday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Thompson was one of numerous cuts Monday, as the Seahawks cut down their roster ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. The practice-squad running back impressed during limited preseason action last year and was signed to a reserve/future contract in January, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him land another job this spring or summer.

Jacobs isn't slated to participate in the initial phase of the Raiders' offseason voluntary workouts,Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Given that Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tag tender with Las Vegas, it's no surprise that the running back won't participate in the opening of the team's offseason program. Per Anthony Holzman-Escareno of NFL.com, the two sides have until July 17 to come to terms on a new deal, but if that doesn't occur, Jacobs would be in line to earn a fully guaranteed $10.06 million in 2023. Jacobs, who the Raiders selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is coming off a career-best 2022 season in which he led the league with 1,653 rushing yards. Assuming the 25-year-old eventually either gets an extension or signs his franchise tag tender, Jacobs once again will be on track to remain the clear-cut top option in a backfield that currently also includes Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, Brandon Bolden and Brittain Brown.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday that Conner (shin/knee) "looked good" at the start of the Cardinals' offseason program, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

After breaking out with 18 total touchdowns in his first season with Arizona in 2021, Conner fell back to eight scores in 13 games while battling ankle, knee, rib and shin injuries over the course of the most recent campaign. With more than three months to get past shin and knee issues that kept him out Week 18, Conner appears to be healthy as the team reported for the first workouts under Gannon, who took over for Kliff Kingsbury in February. As the Cardinals' roster currently stands, Conner doesn't have much competition for backfield reps ahead of the 2023 season, barring an addition via free agency or the upcoming draft.