NFL Player News

With the expectation that J.K. Dobbins is likely to miss the coming campaign with a knee injury, Edwards is poised to lead Baltimore's backfield heading into the 2021 regular season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Edwards has been effective in a lead role for the team in the past, and with Dobbins no longer in line to lead the way out of the gate this season, the 26-year-old -- who logged 144 carries for 723 yards and six TDs in 2020 -- is in line for expanded work, notably on early downs. Also currently in Baltimore's complementary/pass-catching back mix are Ty'Son Williams and Justice Hill (ankle).

Dobbins is undergoing an MRI on his left knee, but the expectation is that the running back suffered a season-ending injury in Saturday's preseason game against Washington, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it is feared that Dobbins tore his ACL, but either way it looks like the Ravens are bracing to lose their top back for an extended period. Gus Edwards thus is poised to open the 2021 season as the team's lead rusher, with Ty'Son Williams and Justice Hill (ankle) also in the mix for backfield touches.

There's concern that Dobbins may have sustained a major left knee injury during Saturday's preseason game against Washington, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

While coach John Harbaugh declined to comment on his level of concern regarding the second-year back's injury after the contest, he did relay that Dobbins is set to undergo tests Sunday, noting "we'll see where we're at, at that point in time." Although a timetable for the 2020 second-rounder is pending the results of the medical evaluations he's slated to undergo, Zrebiec speculates that even if the Ravens "get good news Sunday on Dobbins, he's going to miss extensive time." In such a scenario, Gus Edwards would be in a position to open the 2021 season as the team's lead back, with Ty'Son Williams and Justice Hill (ankle) also in the mix for backfield touches.

Penny rushed seven times for 24 yards and brought in one of two targets for five yards in the Seahawks' 27-0 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday night.

Penny was able to get on the field for the final two preseason games and was more productive on the ground than during his five-carry, eight-yard performance last Saturday against the Broncos. The 2018 first-round pick did see backfield mate Alex Collins turn in an impressive performance in which he led the Seahawks in rushing yards (37), receptions (seven) and receiving yards (37) while also contributing a rushing score, however, so it remains to be seen if that will shake up the depth chart behind No. 1 back Chris Carson and knock Penny down a notch in the process.

Kelley rushed three times for two yards and brought in his only target for 12 yards in the Chargers' 27-0 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night.

Still looking to shake Larry Rountree for the No. 3 running back job, Kelley didn't get much of an opportunity to make an impression Saturday. The second-year back saw Rountree take six carries for 27 yards, record two receptions and gain 33 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, so the pendulum could well have swung away from Kelley ahead of final cutdowns.

Gordon recorded five carries for 35 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Rams. He added one reception for four yards.

Gordon got plenty of work on the team's first two possessions, picking up solid gains of six and 15 yards. His productivity slowed from there, though the most important takeaway is that Gordon appears to be fully healthy after dealing with a minor groin injury earlier in training camp. He figures to lead the backfield in a Week 1 matchup against the Giants, though rookie Javonte Williams will almost certainly cut into his workload.

Coach Vic Fangio said Williams was "a healthy scratch" for Saturday's preseason win against the Rams, George Stoia III of The Denver Gazette reports.

Fangio aimed to feature fellow top running back Melvin Gordon after the veteran sat out the first two preseason contests. And Gordon accumulated 35 yards on five rushes and four yards on his only target across three drives. Meanwhile, Williams ends his first exhibition season with 12 carries for 49 yards and one catch (on two targets) for five yards in two appearances. Gordon and Williams, a rookie second-rounder, are expected to work in tandem out of the Broncos backfield this season, with the former perhaps the favorite to lead the duo in touches weekly to begin the season.

Williams carried the ball five times for 11 yards in Saturday's preseason win over the Titans.

Getting the start with David Montgomery resting ahead of Week 1, Williams made little impact and got stuffed for no gain on two of his carries, including on a fourth-and-1 from the Titans' 49-yard line. With Tarik Cohen (knee) still on the PUP list and looking iffy for Week 1 against the Rams, Williams appears set as the Bears' No. 2 running back to begin the season, but the downgrade in offensive environment will make it difficult for him to match the efficiency or production he displayed with Kansas City over the last two years.

Henry didn't play in Saturday's preseason loss to the Bears, according to Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com.

Henry emerged from exhibition season with no snaps on his odometer as he readies for yet another massive workload in the coming campaign. Over the last two years, he's totaled 718 touches in 31 appearances en route to 3,887 yards from scrimmage and 35 touchdowns.

Coach John Harbaugh said after Saturday's preseason win at Washington that Dobbins (knee/leg) will "get tested tomorrow, and we'll see where we're at, at that point in time."

Dobbins remained on the field for a spell at the end of a two-yard gain on a screen pass. He required assistance to reach the sideline tent and eventually needed a cart to get to the locker room. Following Sunday's examination, the Ravens likely have a better idea of the extent of his injury, which currently is murky. If Dobbins is sidelined for any length of time, Gus Edwards figures to be the team's No. 1 running back in those contests, with some combination of Justice Hill (ankle) and Ty'Son Williams mixing into one of the NFL's most run-oriented offenses.