NFL Player News

Gaskin was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice due to a neck injury, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Gaskin finds himself as one of three Miami running backs who were listed as limited participants Wednesday, leaving Raheem Mostert as the only healthy running back to start the week. The extent of Gaskin's neck injury remains unclear, but it's hard to project what the Dolphins' backfield will look like Week 1 with the majority of their running backs currently banged up.

Robinson (Achilles) isn't listed on the Jaguars' Week 1 injury report and could have a significant role Sunday against Washington, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Doug Pederson made it sound as though Robinson has no limitations, apart from the presumption of backfield mate Travis Etienne also handling a large role. Pederson further suggested that usage of the two backs could depend on both game plans and game context, noting that there are some situations where he likes to "control the pace of play with a guy like James." While the workload distribution remains uncertain, Robinson apparently will be on the field Sunday -- a major milestone after he suffered an Achilles tear in Week 16 last season.

Dobbins (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Dobbins is "ascending quickly," while quarterback Lamar Jackson said he hoped the running back would be out on the field in "a couple of weeks." A limited designation on the first official injury report of the season was to be expected, considering Dobbins was activated from the PUP list Aug. 8 but seemingly still hasn't been cleared for contact. If Dobbins misses the season opener against the Jets this weekend, Baltimore will rely on Mike Davis, Justice Hill and Kenyan Drake in the backfield, with Davis being the favorite to draw the start.

Edmonds was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice on account of a groin injury, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Fellow Miami backs Myles Gaskin (neck) and Salvon Ahmed (heel) also were limited participants, while oft-injured Raheem Mostert managed to duck the injury report after his lengthy offseason rehab. The Dolphins hadn't previously signaled that Edmonds was managing an injury at any point this summer, but it's still worth watching to see if he upgrades to full participation ahead of Sunday's matchup with New England.

Brightwell (undisclosed) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Brightwell was sidelined for the Giants' second preseason contest but returned to action for the finale and will be good to go for the regular-season opener. The second-year return man is expected to operate as a depth running back behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, but he'll get most of his snaps on special teams.

Sanders (hamstring) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice.

Sanders had an interesting training camp, working with the second-team offense at one point, and after hauling in both targets for 20 yards in the Eagles' preseason opener, he didn't make another appearance during exhibition season due to a hamstring issue. The fourth-year running back finally returned to the practice field last Thursday and has progressed enough to handle all on-field activity less than a week later. How many reps Sanders may yield to the backs behind him on the depth chart (Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and Trey Sermon) in Sunday's season opener in Detroit is still uncertain.

Sanders (hamstring) likely will be a limited practice participant Wednesday but appears on track to start Sunday in Detroit, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Speaking before Wednesday's practice, head coach Nick Sirianni said his level of concern about Sanders' hamstring injury isn't high, per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It's nonetheless worth monitoring Sanders' participation throughout the week, as hamstring injuries always carry the possibility of a setback even if his limitations in practice are mostly out of caution. The Eagles have Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon behind him on the depth chart.

Allgeier is listed as the No. 3 running back on the Falcons' unofficial depth chart ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Scott Bair of the team's official site reports.

The rookie fifth-round pick out of BYU will open the season behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Damien Williams following a so-so preseason in which he averaged 4.0 yards per carry to go with a touchdown on 17 totes. Though Allgeier is listed as a reserve, Atlanta's offense will likely be run-heavy, so he could still be part of the rotation Week 1.

Williams is listed as the No. 2 running back on the Falcons' unofficial depth chart ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Scott Bair of the team's official site reports.

Williams was expected to replace Mike Davis as the primary backup behind Cordarrelle Patterson when he signed with the Falcons this offseason. However, Atlanta selected Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round of the draft and converted return man Avery Williams to running back, developments that appeared to put Williams on the roster bubble heading into training camp. Nonetheless, the veteran running back showed his worth during camp and the preseason and will still open the season as the top backup in a run-heavy offense. Williams could be in line for a solid role, given that Patterson isn't expected to operate as a workhorse.

Head coach Lovie Smith confirmed Wednesday that Pierce is the Texans' starting running back, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports. "He's earned the right to run with the ones, and I'm anxious to see him play," Smith said of the rookie fourth-round pick.

With Pierce atop the team's posted depth chart ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Colts and poised to handle the lead role out of the backfield, look for Rex Burkhead to work in a complementary capacity. Of particular note in his NFL debut will be what sort of volume Pierce logs, given that the 5-foot-10, 218-pound back often worked in a committee during his collegiate career at Florida.