NFL Player News

Sanders and Jordan Howard didn't play in Thursday's preseason loss to Baltimore.

Sanders got the start the previous week against Jacksonville, taking five carries for 31 yards while sharing first-team snaps with Howard. The Eagles used their third preseason game to take a look at Corey Clement, who is working his way back from a knee injury and now appears on track for a roster spot. It isn't quite clear how coach Doug Pederson will divide backfield snaps, but there's no doubt Sanders is a part of the plan -- possibly even the main part.

Walton had six carries for three yards during Thursday's preseason win over Jacksonville, adding four catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.

With Kenyan Drake (foot) sidelined, Walton saw work with the starters behind Kalen Ballage and made the most of his opportunity. The second-year pro brought in all four of his targets, seemingly improving his chances of making the 53-man roster and locking up the No. 3 tailback job in Miami. It remains to be seen whether Walton will be suspended by the NFL due to his three 2019 arrests, in which case his chances at securing the reserve gig behind Ballage and Drake could be diminished.

Edwards did not play Thursday against the Eagles.

The Ravens held out three of their top four backs Thursday, with only rookie Justice Hill seeing time among the runners projected to make the roster. Edwards was held out of the first two joint practices with Philadelphia early in the week but was able to return Tuesday. The second-year back's spot on the team is safe, but Hill seems to be working towards seeing a significant role behind Mark Ingram as well, which could come at Edwards' expense.

Hill got the start in Thursday's preseason win over the Eagles, taking seven carries for eight yards and catching two of three targets for another eight yards.

The Ravens held out a slew of key players, including Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, Kenneth Dixon, Gus Edwards and three projected starters on the offensive line. The Eagles, on the other hand, used most of the top players from a talented defense, leaving Hill with a tricky mismatch in what could be his final appearance of the preseason. If so, the rookie fourth-round pick will finish with 27 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 24 yards on five targets. Hill's highlights gives him a strong case for some type of role on offense, but his lack of snap-to-snap consistency also will be a factor. It isn't clear how the Ravens plan to divide backfield work behind Ingram, with Hill, Edwards and Dixon all having decent arguments to stay involved.

Rawls rushed once for four yards and failed to catch his lone target in Thursday's preseason game against the Dolphins.

Rawls received the start in the second preseason game but totaled only 38 yards on 10 touches (10 carries and three catches), and he saw a heavily reduced workload Thursday. Leonard Fournette made his first appearance of the preseason and split carries with rookie Ryquell Armstead as the Jaguars finally gave their starting offense a look. Rawls was also out-snapped by 2017 seventh-round pick Devante Mays.

Harris (undisclosed) seems to have avoided a major injury, Nick Underhill of The Athletic reports.

The rookie third-round pick was helped off the field by New England's medical staff during the second quarter of Thursday's preseason win over the Panthers. Harris had two carries for eight yards prior to his exit, after picking up 103 scrimmage yards on 18 touches the previous week. He's made a nice case for some type of involvement in the Patriots offense, but it isn't quite clear how Harris fits in behind Sony Michel and James White. With Rex Burkhead and Brandon Bolden also on hand, the Patriots can afford to take a cautious approach with Harris if his injury turns out to be a bit more serious than this early report suggests.

Thompson has been getting practice reps with the first-team offense, while Carlos Hyde may be on the roster bubble, Brooke Pryor of The Kansas City Star reports.

Thompson's increased practice usage with the starters reportedly includes regular goal-line work. He's comfortably outplayed Hyde through two weeks of the preseason, with the veteran losing a fumble and averaging just 3.6 yards on seven carries. Thompson is averaging 5.8 yards on nine totes, along with one catch for a 29-yard touchdown on three targets. The Chiefs did give Hyde a $1.5 million guarantee on his one-year contract, but they still can avoid $700,000 of his base salary and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses if they release him before Week 1, per overthecap.com. Even if that doesn't happen, Thompson seems to be pushing for the No. 2 job behind starter Damien Williams.

Artis-Payne didn't play any offensive snaps in Thursday night's 10-3 preseason loss to the Patriots.

Artis-Payne merely featured on two special teams plays. Meanwhile, rookie fifth-rounder Jordan Scarlett entered the game behind star tailback Christian McCaffrey and led the team with 10 carries. Although Elijah Holyfield's mere one snap on offense should give Artis-Payne some peace of mind with respect to a roster spot, Reggie Bonnafon has shown enough in the preseason to cast doubt over both players' futures with the Panthers. With that in mind, it'll be interesting to see how the running back snaps are divided in next week's exhibition finale versus the Steelers.

Harris, who needed assistance from the Patriots' medical staff to get off the field after suffering an unspecified injury with about five minutes left in the first half, did not return to Thursday's preseason game against the Panthers, Erik Scalavino of the team's official site reports.

Prior to his exit from the contest, Harris logged two carries for eight yards on his five snaps on offense. At this stage, it remains to be seen if the rookie's injury is anything that might threaten his Week 1 availability. When healthy, Harris is projected to work behind starter Sony Michel, but even in that context, the 2019 third-rounder has been on the sleeper radar, given his between-the-tackles running ability, as well as Michel's history of knee woes.

McCaffrey rushed three times for 16 yards and caught one of his two targets for 10 yards in Thursday night's 10-3 preseason loss to the Patriots.

McCaffrey's first and likely only taste of the preseason included just three drives, but saw him rip off a long run of 13 yards while also gaining a first down through the air. The dual-threat dynamo will probably now sit Carolina's final exhibition outing before preparing for a Week 1 clash against the Rams to kick off his hotly anticipated third professional campaign.