NFL Player News

Kamara isn't playing in Friday's preseason game against the Cardinals, Herbie Teope of NFL.com reports.

With no injury reported, the Saints likely are just being cautious as they prepare to begin the regular season without Mark Ingram (suspension). Kamara did have three carries for 11 yards and one catch for seven yards in last week's preseason opener against Jacksonville, and he could get some work in the third week of the exhibition slate. The Saints seems to be auditioning Jonathan Williams for a role behind Kamara while Ingram serves the four-game suspension. The team can't ask Kamara to shoulder the load alone, considering he and Ingram combined for 350 carries and 171 targets last season.

Anderson gained 39 yards on eight carries and nine yards on two catches in Friday's preseason game against Miami.

Anderson got his first carry with 4:29 remaining in the second quarter, at which point Christian McCaffrey had already piled up 120 yards on nine touches, including a 71-yard rushing score. Panthers coach Ron Rivera has been clear about his desire to get McCaffrey more touches this season, and Friday's game wasn't encouraging for the idea of Anderson matching Jonathan Stewart's 2017 mark of 13.2 carries per game. There should still be room for Anderson to contribute, but it does seem the Carolina backfield will primarily be McCaffrey's show.

McCaffrey had five carries for 92 yards and a touchdown along with four catches for 28 yards on five targets in Friday's preseason game against the Dolphins.

McCaffrey was barely touched on a 71-yard touchdown scamper, showing what can happen when speed meets terrible defense. He also had a bad third-down drop, a reception for 18 yards and a pair of nine-yard carries, thoroughly dominating the early workload before C.J. Anderson got involved with five minutes remaining in the first half. Anderson finished with eight carries for 39 yards and two catches for nine yards, playing until midway through the third quarter. It was an encouraging night for anyone invested in McCaffrey; less so for those with stock in Anderson.

Simmons left Friday's game against the Lions with a concussion, Tom Rock of Newsday reports.

Simmons is seeking a depth roster spot with with the Giants, but his performance before his injury was won't help his chances. The 26-year-old rushed six times for 11 yards, while three other Giants running backs scored Friday -- Robert Martin, Wayne Gallman and Kyle Lauletta.

Williams (shoulder) is dressed for Friday's preseason game against the Falcons, Nate Taylor of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Williams is among a large group of running backs vying for limited spots behind Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware, but his experience may give him a leg up on the competition. His return to action Friday also provides him with an opportunity to show the coaching staff he's worthy of a spot.

Barkley (hamstring) won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Lions, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Any shot of Barkley playing in Friday's game disappeared when he was limited to side work at Thursday's practice. Considering he took five carries for 43 yards in the team's preseason opener, the Giants have no incentive to rush Barkley back into exhibition action before he's proven his health with multiple days as a full participant in practice. There's still some chance (however small) he makes another appearance this preseason, as his injury is reported to be a mild hamstring strain, an ailment that might only warrant day-to-day status during the regular season. A cautious approach still seems more likely when dealing with a high-value player who isn't facing any competition for his role.

Perine (ankle) likely will be out for at least a week, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Perine rumbled for 30 yards on his first carry in Thursday's preseason game against the Jets, but he injured his ankle on an awkward collision at the end of the play. Even if the injury doesn't impact Perine's availability for Week 1, it could hurt his bid to beat out Rob Kelley for lead rusher status. Survival is the name of the game in Washington, where Derrius Guice (knee) is already done for the season and Byron Marshall is out for 2-to-4 weeks with an ankle injury of his own. Kelley, Kapri Bibbs and undrafted rookie Martez Carter were the healthy men remaining Thursday.

Penny (finger) is on the field for Friday's practice, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

The Seahawks are holding a walkthrough in preparation for Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers. Penny's presence at the session carries no significance in terms of recovery/rehab expectations, but it does mean he's staying involved from a mental perspective. His timeline is estimated at 3-to-4 weeks, with Seattle's opener taking place 25 days after he had surgery to repair a broken finger. Penny's status will be one of the major NFL stories of the next few weeks, though Chris Carson figures to get the Week 1 start even if the rookie is cleared.

Patterson caught four of his seven targets for 51 yards and a TD in Thursday's 37-20 preseason win over the Eagles.

Patterson is expected to make his mark as a kick returner for the Patriots this year, but with Julian Edelman set to serve a four-game suspension to start the regular season, there will be a target void to fill out of the gate. Chris Hogan is locked in as a starting wideout for the team, but Patterson, Phillip Dorsett, Eric Decker and Kenny Britt (hamstring) -- when healthy -- are all candidates to see added opportunities in Edelman's absence.

Bolden carried three times for 35 yards in Thursday's 37-20 preseason win over the Eagles.

Bolden has been with the Patriots since 2012, and he's managed to stick around that long thanks to his versatility and special teams prowess. Fantasy relevance this season seems unlikely for the 28-year-old, but it would be a surprise if Bolden didn't survive the team's final roster cuts.