NFL Player News

Ford figures to start offseason practices as Cleveland's No. 2 running back, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Ford played 14 snaps on offense and 145 on special teams as a rookie last year, taking eight carries for 12 yards and 30 kick returns for 723 yards. He's now in a much better position to earn RB reps, as the Browns lost third-stringer D'Ernest Johnson to Jacksonville and seemingly don't plan to re-sign second-stringer Kareem Hunt. The other players behind Nick Chubb as of mid-May are Demetric Felton, John Kelly, Nate McCrary and UDFA rookie Hassan Hall -- a group with 40 combined NFL carries. Ford, a 2022 fifth-round pick, is the youngest of the bunch and also the only one drafted before the sixth round. His performance over the first two weeks of the 2022 preseason -- 19 carries for 89 yards and a TD plus eight catches for 71 yards and another score -- likely was a big factor in Cleveland carrying four RBs for most of last season and then focusing on other positions this offseason. Of course, there's still time to sign a veteran for training camp if the Browns lose some of their confidence in Ford or deal with injuries in the backfield.

The Saints signed Merriweather as an undrafted free agent Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Merriweather participated in the Saints' rookie minicamp as a tryout player, and he showed enough to earn himself an extended look. The 6-foot-2 running back was electric in 2021, rushing 218 times for 1,138 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 22 receptions for 165 yards and an additional score. However, he was limited to just 10 games during his final campaign at Massachusetts, totaling 158 touches for 623 yards and three scores in 2022.

The Broncos waived Wilson on Monday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

The Broncos signed Wilson as an undrafted free agent, but he's been let go following the team's rookie minicamp. The 5-foot-10 running back finished his final season at Fort Valley State with 1,371 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Ekeler isn't present Monday for voluntary offseason workouts, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

This was expected, with no progress reported since Ekeler requested and received permission in March to seek a trade. He wants an extension as he heads into the final season of a four-year contract that he's easily outplayed, and his trade request seems to be an acknowledgement that the Chargers are unlikely to give him the deal he wants. There's a possible holdout brewing with the first mandatory team activities only a few weeks away, though it's still possible the team changes its mind on contract terms or finds a trade partner willing to give up a lot for Ekeler. The Chargers don't have much else in their backfield, with returning reserves Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller and Larry Rountree thus far joined by only a pair of undrafted rookies (Elijah Dotson and Tyler Hoosman).

Patrick signed a contract with the Broncos on Sunday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Patrick has spent time with the Bengals, 49ers, Panthers and Ravens after going undrafted out of Florida State. However, he most recently played in the XFL with San Antonio, where he accumulated 443 yards on 115 carries. He'll work to earn a depth role in Denver's backfield.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes there's a "good chance" Williams will avoid the PUP list to begin training camp, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

This is the first bit of reported optimism regarding Williams' status to start the 2023 season given general manager George Paton had previously made couched remarks regarding the star running back's availability when August rolls around. The third-year player saw his 2022 season cut short in Week 4 after tearing his ACL and LCL along with severe bruising in other areas of his knee. Rehab from the season-ending surgery was thought to be a long road, but evidently the 23-year-old has made significant progress over the last couple of months. Samaje Perine would likely have first crack at the starting role if Williams was unable to play Week 1.

Gibbs suffered a minor ankle injury Friday and won't practice Saturday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

It's only rookie minicamp at this point, with the first set of OTAs coming May 23-25. Gibbs should be a big part of Detroit's offense from the jump after he and Bijan Robinson became the first RBs since 2018 to get drafted in the first half of the first round. The Lions traded D'Andre Swift to Philadelphia two days later, completing an offseason backfield makeover in which they swapped out Swift and Jamaal Williams (Saints) for Gibbs and David Montgomery. It's certainly an upgrade in terms of athleticism, with Gibbs offering 4.36 speed and double-threat college production (2,132 rushing yards and 1,212 receiving yards in three seasons), while Montgomery profiles as a younger and more versatile version of Williams.

Smith and the Seahawks have come to terms on a contract, John Boyle of the team's official website reports.

Smith, a undrafted free agent, was a dynamic running back and kick returner during his time at Louisiana-Lafayette. He ended his collegiate career with 2,167 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 373 carries to go along with 410 yards and three touchdowns on 52 receptions. He will now look to showcase his talents at OTAs and training camp in hopes of ultimately earning a role on Seattle's roster.

Robinson, who believes he's fully past the Achilles injury that he sustained at the end of the 2021 season, is slated to have a chance to compete for the Patriots' No. 2 RB role behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

Robinson, who turns 25 in August, rushed for 1,070 yards in 2020 after signing with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. However, since then Jacksonville's first-round selection of Travis Etienne in 2021, coupled with injuries Robinson has dealt with, have thwarted his momentum as a pro, and the Illinois State product now is looking to reboot his career with New England (with whom he signed a two-year deal with modest guarantees in March) after seeing limited action down the stretch last season following his October trade to the Jets. With the Patriots, Robinson has a chance to help fill the void created by the offseason departure of Damien Harris, and if he's healthy enough to run with the pace he did as a rookie, the 5-foot-9, 219-pounder's ability as a pass catcher (he caught 49 passes in 2020) could allow Robinson to carve out a key complementary role behind Stevenson in a backfield that also includes Ty Montgomery and 2022 draftees Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris.

Koback signed with the Seahawks on Wednesday, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Koback spent last season on Minnesota's practice squad and will now head to Seattle. Joining a crowded backfield, the 25-year-old will likely be competing for a roster spot going into the upcoming campaign.