NFL Player News

General manager Chris Ballard indicated Friday that Mack (shoulder) has received full medical clearance, and the running back will be ready for the start of training camp, Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star reports.

Mack, who was unavailable for the Colts' offseason workout program, is bouncing back from shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum that he played through for most of his rookie season. Now healthy, Mack will open training camp as the team's No. 1 running back, though he'll need to fend off rookies Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins in order to remain atop the depth chart. Robert Turbin is also around, but he's suspended for the first four games of the regular season due to a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Mixon is down to 218 pounds, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website reports.

Mixon weighed 226 pounds at last year's combine, but he reported to rookie minicamp at 238 and played most of his rookie season around 230. A report from April had him around 225, and he apparently wants to take it a step further, even if that means sacrificing some power. In addition to the obvious benefits in terms of speed and acceleration, the second-year back may find that a slimmer physique helps him gain separation running routes. Perhaps more important than his own development, Mixon stands to benefit if the Bengals' offseason moves to upgrade their woeful offensive line end up being successful. In addition to trading for left tackle Cordy Glenn and drafting center Billy Price in the first round, Cincinnati hired offensive line coach Frank Pollack, who spent the last three seasons in Dallas. Giovani Bernard will still be involved in some capacity, but the Bengals seem intent on having Mixon handle the lead role.

Vereen agreed to a contract Wednesday with the Saints, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The Saints have been looking at veteran running backs ever since the announcement of Mark Ingram's four-game suspension, previously showing interest in the likes of DeMarco Murray and Jamaal Charles. The team ultimately settled on Terrance West and now Vereen, a pass-catching specialist who averaged just 3.6 yards on 45 carries and 5.8 yards on 44 receptions for the Giants last season. The Saints likely will give Alvin Kamara more work on early downs while Ingram serves his suspension, potentially opening up a few snaps for Vereen in obvious passing situations. The 29-year-old will first need to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, as he'll compete with West, Boston Scott, Trey Edmunds and Jonathan Williams for what likely will be two or three jobs.

Oliver may set up a workout with the Bills, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

Currently an unrestricted free agent, the University of Buffalo product spent the past four years with the Chargers after earning a roster spot as an undrafted rookie in 2014. He made seven starts his first season and piled up 853 scrimmage yards in 14 games, but he's spent most of the past three years either rehabbing from injuries or buried on the depth chart. Oliver did finish last season healthy, serving as the Chargers' No. 2 back while Austin Ekeler missed Weeks 16 and 17 with a hand injury. The 27-year-old will need to battle for a spot on the 53-man roster if he ends up signing with the Bills.

Washington is expected to compete with Ameer Abdullah and Zach Zenner for the Lions' No. 4 running back job during training camp, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official website reports.

With LeGarrette Blount, Kerryon Johnson and Theo Riddick all considered to be locks, the Lions seem to have three running backs fighting for one roster spot. Abdullah has the advantage in terms of draft status and backfield experience, but Washington has the best size and speed combination and Zenner is most likely to contribute on special teams coverage units. A 2016 seventh-round pick, Washington has gained just 309 yards on 110 career carries (2.8 average) and 76 yards on 12 receptions.

Jones was suspended two games Tuesday for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

On Oct. 1 of last year, the rookie running back was pulled over for speeding, and the ensuing traffic stop brought with it charges of driving without a valid license and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his system. The latter allegation stemmed from the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Despite wrapping up his legal woes with a plea deal March 1, Jones was a prime candidate to earn a suspension for running afoul. While Jones takes a seat Weeks 1 and 2 of the upcoming campaign, Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery will highlight the Packers backfield off the bat.

Jones focused on adding muscle to his lower body during the offseason, Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com reports. "I'm bigger all around," Jones said. "That's something that's going to help me in pass protection and that's something I want to get better at."

Jones easily led Packers running backs last season with 5.5 yards per carry, but MCL injuries in both knees limited him to just 23 touches in six games after a Week 8 bye. He seems to have recovered in time for full participation throughout the offseason, so the Packers will enter training camp with Jones, Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery all healthy. In addition to helping him in pass protection, Jones believes the added strength will improve his durability and make him tougher to tackle. He'll battle Williams and Montgomery throughout August for the lead role in Green Bay's backfield, with the battle potentially stretching into the regular season the way it did in 2017.

Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site compares the offseason addition of Anderson to the team's signing of Stephen Davis in 2003.

That comparison is probably pushing things, considering that Davis rushed for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games in his first season for Carolina. Still, Anderson is a useful back, who is capable of running hard between the tackles as well as catching the ball out of the backfield. With 2017 first-rounder Christian McCaffrey also in the mix, Anderson isn't likely to log abundant targets in the Panthers' passing game, but he should at least fill the sort of early down role that Jonathan Stewart handled last season en route to averaging 3.4 yards on 198 carries. Meanwhile, Anderson logged 1,007 yards on 245 carries (4.1 YPC) for the Broncos in 2017. While the presence of McCaffrey limits Anderson's fantasy ceiling, the 27-year-old should earn enough of a workload to maintain a modest weekly floor, which would of course spike in the event of an injury to McCaffrey.

Rawls will enter training camp on the roster bubble, NJ.com's Daryl Slater reports.

Now three years removed from his only productive season, Rawls settled for a one-year contract without any guaranteed money. He managed just 3.0 yards per carry on 167 attempts the past two years in Seattle, looking nothing like the player who rumbled for 830 yards on only 147 carries (5.6 YPC) as an undrafted rookie in 2015. Rawls likely will enter training camp fourth or fifth on the depth chart, with no assurance of making the team even if the Jets decide to carry four running backs. Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell figure to get most of the first-team work, with Rawls, Elijah McGuire and rookie sixth-round pick Trenton Cannon splitting snaps with the backup units.

Kelley (ankle) returned healthy for offseason practices and saw extended reps with the first-team offense, Stephen Czarda of the Redskins' official website reports.

Kelley likely will share first-team work once training camp begins, and it isn't even a sure thing the third-year back will make the 53-man roster. Derrius Guice and passing-down maven Chris Thompson (leg) are obvious roster locks, and Samaje Perine's status as a 2017 fourth-round pick could give him an edge over Kelley. Even if the Redskins ultimately decide to carry four running backs, they might prioritize special teams over offense for the No. 4 spot. Kelley averaged just 3.1 yards on 61 carries last season before an ankle injury ended his campaign after seven games.