NFL Player News

Hubbard has new competition in the Carolina backfield with Miles Sanders replacing D'Onta Foreman, WCNC's Nathaniel Puente reports.

Sanders recently signed a four-year, $25.4 million contract, including $13 million guaranteed, while Foreman settled for a much smaller one-year deal with the Bears after playing out last year on a similar contract for Carolina. Foreman and Hubbard handled the vast majority of RB snaps/touches after the team traded Christian McCaffrey, with Hubbard notably finishing the year on a high note as he racked up 435 total yards over his final five games. The 2021 fourth-round pick now figures to take a backseat to Sanders, whose uneven tenure in Philadelphia was capped off by a career-best 259-1,269-11 rushing line last season. The Panthers could still add more backfield talent, or perhaps find a passing-down role for Raheem Blackshear, given that Sanders and Hubbard both have struggled with drops and don't look especially natural as receivers or blockers. Hubbard's new role might just be as a backup on early downs, with upside dependent on Sanders missing time.

Herbert is likely to be in a running back committee after the Bears signed D'Onta Foreman in free agency Thursday, Adam Jahns of The Athletic reports.

Before Foreman was signed, Travis Homer and Trestan Ebner were the only other running backs on the Bears' roster. Last year, Herbert rushed for 5.7 yards per carry, but he averaged 10 rushing attempts per game while David Montgomery averaged 12.5 carries. It's unclear whether Herbert or Foreman will be the lead back, but with Foreman weighing 235 pounds, he would seem the more likely candidate for early down and goal-line work. However, nothing is certain at this point except Herbert now has serious competition for work.

The Bears and Foreman agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

After allowing David Montgomery to move on to the Lions in free agency, Chicago continues to retool its backfield, following up Tuesday's signing of Travis Homer with the addition of Foreman to holdover Khalil Herbert. Foreman is coming off the most productive season of his six-year career in which he turned 203 carries into 914 yards and five touchdowns. As the Bears' roster currently stands, Foreman may be the best bet of the trio to see work on early downs while also getting a good share of short-yardage and goal-line work considering his 6-foot, 235-pound frame.

Penny (leg) told reporters at his introductory press conference that he's fully recovered from a fractured fibula and will be ready for spring practices, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

While his ability to stay healthy remains a concern, the Eagles' new running back seems to be doing well at the moment and profiles as the new lead runner for a high-powered offense that just lost Miles Sanders to the Panthers. The Eagles also have Kenneth Gainwell and re-signed Boston Scott, both of whom are solid options on passing downs but neither of whom is in Penny's league as a pure runner. The team could still add more backfield talent via the draft or free agency, but it probably won't be a pricey signing or early pick, leaving Penny as a strong favorite for the Week 1 start and lead role. The 27-year-old has a career mark of 5.7 yards per carry and should get better blocking in Philadelphia than he ever did in Seattle, running behind an O-line with four standouts in LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, C Jason Kelce and RT Lane Johnson.

Mixon won't be indicted in connection with a shooting that occurred near his home March 6, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Per Baby, Mixon's home was part of a crime scene investigation where a teenager was shot in the foot while playing "Nerf wars," described by the report as a game involving toy guns. While Mixon's sister and her boyfriend reportedly face indictments stemming from the incident, the running back won't be subject to any criminal punishment. This past season, Mixon -- who is under contract with the Bengals through 2024 -- carried 210 times for 814 yards and seven TDs to go along with 60 catches for 441 yards and a pair of receiving scores in 14 games.

Williams re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract Thursday.

Williams closed out the 2022 season as Cincinnati's kick returner. He's likely to reprise that role in 2023 and could also see an uptick in usage on offense as a depth option in the backfield behind Joe Mixon and Chris Evans.

The Buccaneers are signing Edmonds to a one-year contract Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Edmonds is coming off a disappointing 2022 campaign, having suited up for eight games with the Dolphins and five games with the Broncos, but with just 245 rushing yards and two touchdowns (3.6 YPC) plus 16 catches for 157 yards and a receiving score. The 26-year-old did look better down the stretch in Denver, and from 2019-21 with Arizona he was one of the most efficient running back's in the NFL, so he's could be worth monitoring in his new landing spot. With the Buccaneers having released Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White currently stands as Edmonds' primary competition for touches.

Kamara has added competition for carries this coming season after the Saints agreed to a deal Wednesday with free-agent running back Jamaal Williams, ESPN.com reports.

Kamara's overall production stagnated as he dealt with numerous lingering injuries throughout the 2022 campaign, logging 1,387 total yards on 280 touches across 15 regular-season games. However, he still accounted for the vast majority of the Saints' carries at running back, as the team sorely lacked depth in the backfield and across the offense as a whole. The addition of Williams changes the backfield dynamic, with the 224-pound bruiser having come off a productive 2022 campaign in Detroit in which he logged 262 carries for 1,066 yards and a franchise-record and NFL-high 17 touchdowns. The 27-year-old Williams should once again fall into a complementary role in New Orleans while playing behind Kamara. The Saints' No. 1 running back is still set to begin trial July 31 after he was charged with conspiracy to commit battery and substantial bodily harm stemming from a February 2022 incident. Therefore, Kamara's availability for the beginning of the 2023 campaign will likely be up in the air until this case concludes.

Robinson agreed to a two-year contract with the Patriots on Wednesday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

Robinson's deal can be worth up to $8 million with incentives. After bursting onto the scene with 1,847 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns across his first two professional seasons with Jacksonville, Robinson struggled during an injury riddled 2022 campaign, mustering just 425 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in 11 appearances between the Jaguars and Jets. He tore his Achilles late in the 2021 season and battled a knee injury in 2022, but the Patriots are hoping that Robinson will regain his pre-injury form while contributing to a backfield led by Rhamondre Stevenson.

The Vikings and Mattison agreed to terms on a two-year contract Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Mattison has played second fiddle to fellow running back Dalvin Cook for his entire four-year career, but the former has had a handful of chances to shine, starting in six of his 59 appearances. Overall, Mattison has averaged just 4.1 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns, but he's also reeled in 70 of 84 targets for 526 yards, good for an 83.3 percent catch rate. There have been rumblings this offseason that the Vikings may be willing to part ways with Cook, so Mattison could benefit in 2023 if the structure of the team's backfield is altered in the coming months.