NFL Player News

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips told reporters Thursday that Chandler will "have to be" ready to take on an increased role with the Vikings set to part ways with Dalvin Cook, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

The 2022 fifth-round pick logged limited snaps last season as he operated behind Cook and Alexander Mattison, with all six of his carries for 20 yards coming in the last game of the 2022 season. Chandler could now assume a key backup role behind Mattison with Cook on the way out, but he will have competition from Kene Nwangwu and DeWayne McBride, who the team took in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Minnesota will continue attempting to finalize a trade for Cook (shoulder) on Thursday, and will otherwise officially release him Friday, Adam Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Cook has been surrounded by trade rumors all offseason, and while Schefter reports that the Broncos and Dolphins remain interested, at this point it may be likelier that he's released than a last-minute deal comes to fruition. The four-time Pro Bowler's shoulder surgery isn't expected to impact his regular-season availability and could even have a positive long-term influence on his durability, and he remains one of the league's true every-down backfield options. Heading into his age-28 season, Cook is coming off four straight seasons of over 1,100 rushing yards and boasts a career 4.7 yards per carry, so he should have no lack of suitors if he does hit free agency.

Mattison becomes the incumbent No. 1 option in Minnesota's backfield, with the team intending to part ways with Dalvin Cook, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mattison re-signed with the Vikings on a two-year contract this offseason, a move which now positions him as the likely starter heading into 2023. The 2019 third-round pick has flashed in his previous four years with Minnesota when asked to fill in for Cook, averaging 4.1 career yards per carry while also securing 70 of 84 targets for 526 yards. Ty Chandler and rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride could also potentially earn weekly touches, though Kene Nwangwu mostly profiles as a special-teams option, leaving the Vikings without much in the way of proven depth behind Mattison. While the team could still add to the backfield ahead of Week 1, Mattison currently faces massive opportunity and is a lock to rocket up fantasy draft boards.

The Vikings informed Cook (shoulder) on Thursday of his pending release, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter reports that the Dolphins and Broncos are two of the top teams expected to make a bid for Cook's talents once he's officially a free agent. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Cook is expected to be officially released Friday. With the soon-to-be 28-year-old now heading to new pastures, Minnesota's backfield is headlined by Alexander Mattison, whom the team re-signed this offseason, alongside depth options Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride. Cook is coming off shoulder surgery but still profiles as an every-down player when healthy, meaning his fantasy prospects for 2023 will depend heavily on landing spot.

Henry, who has spent more time in Nashville this offseason compared to previous years, has been been at the team facility for all six of the Titans' voluntary OTA sessions, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

The Titans' No. 1 back noted that his increased offseason presence stems from wanting to get up to speed with the team's new offense under coordinator Tim Kelly. Per Wyatt, Henry, who logged 349 carries in 16 games in 2022, "looks to be in great shape" at this stage of the offseason, while also looking "smooth running and catching the ball." As the coming season approaches, Henry is poised to maintain his high-volume role in Tennessee's offense, while 2023 third-round pick Tyjae Spears and 2022 fourth-round pick Hassan Haskins are in line to compete for complementary snaps.

Spears, who has regularly been "one of the most active players" this offseason, stood out once again during Tuesday's minicamp practice, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Though the 2023 third-round selection is clearly behind undisputed top back Derrick Henry in the pecking order, the rookie has a chance to secure a key complementary role this coming season. Along with Spears, 2022 fourth-round pick Hassan Haskins is also in the mix for work behind Henry, though offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told Wyatt that the team plans "to give [Spears] as much as he can handle." With that in mind, it will be worth monitoring how the competition between Spears and Haskins plays out this summer, with the player who emerges as Henry's top backup becoming an intriguing insurance policy behind Tennessee's high-volume lead back.

Head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that Williams has suffered an ACL injury and is expected to miss the 2023 campaign, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Williams is expected to be sent in for knee surgery in the coming days, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Williams averaged 5.0 yards and scored a touchdown on 22 carries and added 13 receptions for 61 yards, but his main contributions for Atlanta in 2022 came in the return game.

The Rams waived Evans on Tuesday.

Evans will head to waivers despite having just signed with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent back in May. The 21-year-old will look to catch on with another team after recording 83 carries for 525 yards and six touchdowns at Louisville last season.

McBride (hamstring) signed a four-year contract with the Vikings on Tuesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.

Alec Lewis of The Athletic notes that the 2022 seventh-round pick, who wasn't able to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine or at UAB's pro day due to a hamstring injury, was spotted at Tuesday practice. Now that he's presumably past the health concern, McBride will look to cement a depth role in a Minnesota backfield that currently includes Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu. That said, Cook's future with the team is unclear and if the Vikings part ways with him, McBride's chances of landing a Week 1 roster spot would improve.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Edwards (undisclosed) will be "partially ready" for mandatory minicamp next week and will be "fully ready" for training camp at the end of July, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Harbaugh added that Edwards hasn't suffered any setbacks, but the medical staff is being cautious. The running back dealt with knee and hamstring injuries during the 2022 campaign, limiting him to just nine appearances, but it's unclear if his current issue is related to either of those injuries. Either way, it sounds like Edwards should be good to go for the start of the 2023 campaign, barring a setback.