NFL Player News

The Chargers have signed Ekeler to a four-year, $24.5 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Ekeler's contract reportedly includes $15 million in guarantees. The dynamic dual threat was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this offseason, but the Chargers have opted to lock him up for the foreseeable future rather than simply bring him back on a one-year basis. The 24-year-old proved his every-down potential by shouldering the load during the first four games of the 2019 season before Melvin Gordon's holdout came to an end, a span during which he compiled 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns in addition to 24 catches, 270 receiving yards and three additional scores. With Gordon set to test the open market when free agency kicks off March 18, it's conceivable that the Chargers could consider Ekeler as the top backfield option for the 2020 campaign. At the very least, he's a lock to handle a key role on offense.

Anderson (knee) is taking a slower approach to his current ACL rehab, perhaps hoping for a mid-August debut, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website reports. "I'm taking everything slow," Anderson said. "Doing it the right way, taking as much time as I need no matter what."

Once viewed as a potential first-round pick, Anderson fell to the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after suffering a torn ACL in September 2018, his third season-ending injury in a span of four years at Oklahoma. He then re-tore the same ligament in the final week of the 2019 preseason, landing on injured reserve for his rookie campaign. Anderson has since resumed running and cutting, but he's in no rush to get back on the practice field. He and fellow 2019 draft pick Trayveon Williams could end up battling for the No. 3 running back job behind veterans Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard, assuming the latter isn't an offseason cap casualty.

San Francisco tendered Wilson to a one-year contract Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Wilson was effective when called upon in a crowed 49ers backfield last season, producing 27 carries for 105 yards and four touchdowns while adding three receptions for 34 yards and another score in 10 games. Wilson faces a tough path for carries next season, especially considering there's three running backs ahead of him on the depth chart under contract.

Gordon plans to test the market as a free agent, Josina Anderson of ESPN reports.

This doesn't necessarily mean he'll leave Los Angeles, but it does suggest Gordon won't re-sign with the Chargers before free agency opens. He struggled when he first returned from his contract holdout in October, eventually picking up some momentum down the stretch with 411 rushing yards and four TDs in a five-week stretch from early November to early December. Gordon will turn 27 in April and should attract interest from multiple teams, though he's unlikely to be paid as one of the top players at his position.

General manager Mike Mayock said the Raiders expect Jacobs (shoulder) to increase his contributions in the passing game during his second pro season.

Jacobs' skill as a receiver was one of his main selling points coming out of Alabama, but he was limited to 20 catches for 166 yards as a rookie, while Jalen Richard took most of the snaps on obvious passing downs en route to 36 receptions for 323 yards. Despite the promising comments from Mayock, it's worth noting that the Raiders gave Richard a two-year, $7 million contract in February. That doesn't mean Jacobs won't see more targets in 2020, but it suggests the team still plans for Richard to have a significant role. There haven't been any reports of Jacobs needing offseason surgery for his injured shoulder after he missed three of the final four games in 2019. His rookie campaign was thoroughly impressive from a rushing standpoint, as he finished with 242 carries for 1,150 yards (4.8 average) and seven touchdowns. Only Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry averaged more rushing yards per game, and Jacobs also finished in the top 10 for both yards after contact per attempt (2.8) and attempts per broken tackle (9.3).

Walton has been arrested in Miami for violating a restraining order, Cristina Alexander or WSVN 7 News reports.

Walton, who has been arrested five times in the last year, was cut by the Dolphins in November due to a separate incident with the law. The 22-year-old recently concluded a four-game ban for violating the NFL's conduct and substance abuse policy in December, but it now looks possible that another suspension could be in line. Walton's continued legal issues serve to make his chances of earning an opportunity with a new team increasingly unlikely.

General manager John Lynch said McKinnon (knee) is now healthy and could stay with the 49ers if the two sides reach an agreement on a reworked contract, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Scheduled for a $6.5 million base salary in the third season of a four-year, $30 million contract, McKinnon presumably needs to accept a huge pay cut to have any shot at sticking around in San Francisco. He missed all of 2018 and 2019 with right knee injuries, and he wasn't exactly a world beater in his four seasons with Minnesota from 2014 to 2017. Fellow running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman are under contract with the 49ers for the upcoming season, while Matt Breida can become a restricted free agent. Regardless of what happens this offseason, McKinnon is looking at a difficult path back to fantasy relevance.

General manager Jason Licht said the Buccaneers expect Jones to be even better in 2020, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

While far from spectacular this past season, Jones undoubtedly took a big step forward from his washout rookie campaign, leading the Tampa backfield in rushing yards (724), yards per carry (4.2), receiving yards (309) and yards per target (7.7). There's potential for a larger workload with Peyton Barber scheduled to become a free agent on the heels of an underwhelming season, but it won't come as any surprise if the Bucs replace the veteran with an early draft pick or superior free agent. Jones likely will have competition for carries in one form or another, plus the Bucs still have passing-down specialist Dare Ogunbowale.

Penny (knee) is a candidate to begin training camp on the Seahawks' preseason PUP list, Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio 950 KJR Seattle reports.

That's not surprising considering Penny tore his ACL in Week 14 of the 2019 season and subsequently had surgery later in December. Given the timing of his injury, coupled with reports that the running back's knee woes went beyond his ACL tear, Penny's status for Seattle's season opener remains murky. On the plus side with regard to the team's Week 1 backfield composition, Chris Carson (hip) is on track to be ready for the start of the coming campaign, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Colts owner Jim Irsay denied reports about Mack discussing a contract extension with the team, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

This doesn't mean an extension isn't in play, but it does suggest the Colts have bigger offseason priorities, including a potential quarterback upgrade and convincing left tackle Anthony Castonzo not to retire. Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract, after averaging 75.7 and 77.9 rushing yards per game the past two years. His work on the ground has been solid, but he's missed multiple games in each of his three seasons, and his PFF grades for pass blocking and receiving have consistently been poor. The Indianapolis offense could benefit from adding a running back with a more balanced skill set, rather than rotating between Mack and passing-down specialist Nyheim Hines. It remains to seen if the Colts actually take that step, as there is a lot to be said for deploying a dirt-cheap rotation instead of using significant cap space or an early draft pick on the position.