NFL Player News

Anderson rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and added seven yards on two catches in Saturday's preseason win over the Packers.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for Anderson, as four of his carries went for no gain or a loss, but he was able to put the team on the board with a 16-yard run off tackle for a score late in the first quarter. The Broncos offense will likely go as Anderson does this season, and it will be refreshing for him to return to an offense similar to that which he broke into the league with in 2014. That said, Denver is deep at the position with youngsters De'Angelo Henderson and Devontae Booker (wrist), plus veterans such as Jamaal Charles. Anderson should put up nice numbers, but he won't have a stranglehold on the position.

Hightower did not see the field in Sunday's preseason loss to the Vikings.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been alternating starts with his backup running backs this preseason, so expect Hightower to receive a heavy workload in Thursday's exhibition finale against the Chargers. The 31-year-old projects to be in the mix as one of Carlos Hyde's primary backups once the games begin to count.

Mostert rushed four times for 26 yards and a touchdown Sunday, but he did the majority of his damage on two receptions for 104 yards and another score in a preseason win over Minnesota.

Mostert's big night puts him in a strong position to win one of the 49ers' final roster spots heading into the season. The 25-year-old has now surpassed the century mark in both rushing (115 yards) and receiving (104 yards) -- albeit against backup defenders -- through two preseason contests. If Mostert makes the cut, he would sit low on the running back depth chart and make the majority of his contributions on special teams.

McKinnon notched a 108-yard kickoff return touchdown, rushed seven times for 27 yards and secured all four of his targets for 31 yards in Sunday's 32-31 preseason win over the 49ers.

McKinnon made a statement of significant proportions in Sunday's contest, showcasing his diverse skill set and game-breaking speed. The fourth-year Georgia Southern product had turned in a modest showing in his preseason debut against the Seahawks last Friday, and he'd also suffered through a down rushing season overall in 2016 while averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. Therefore, his breakout effort against the Niners was reminiscent of some of the fireworks that McKinnon often created as a complementary, change-of-pace option in his first two seasons. McKinnon figures to slot back into that role alongside Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray in 2017, likely seeing his most extensive work in the passing game and as a kick returner.

Murray (ankle) rushed twice for six yards and secured two of his three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 32-31 preseason win over the 49ers.

Murray finally stepped onto the field in a Vikings uniform after an extended recovery from offseason ankle surgery. The fourth-year back was projected to serve as the team's lead back when first inked to a deal at the start of free agency, but Minnesota's selection of Dalvin Cook in April's draft put a crimp in those plans. Cook's subsequent body of work through training camp and preseason -- coupled with Murray's absence early on -- further solidified the former's standing as the top backfield option to open the season. Given that he's missed considerable time, Murray could see additional reps in next Thursday's exhibition finale versus the Dolphins.

Cook rushed five times for 17 yards and secured his only target for minus-five yards in Sunday's 32-31 preseason win over the 49ers.

Cook saw Jerrick McKinnon pace the Vikings backfield in rush attempts and yards, and free-agent acquisition Latavius Murray also made his exhibition debut after offseason ankle injury. Cook did nothing to hurt his standing as the presumed No. 1 tailback and is likely to take a seat for next Thursday's preseason finale versus the Dolphins. The 2017 second-round pick has seemingly validated his first-round grade this summer with solid efforts in both camp practices and exhibition contests, and he appears primed for plenty of volume in his rookie campaign.

Perine rushed for five yards on five carries in Sunday's preseason win over the Bengals.

Two of Perine's carries went for no gain or a loss. There were some rumblings that Perine might skyrocket up the depth chart after last week's 74-yard outing against Green Bay and the recent struggles of starter Rob Kelley. After Perine's underwhelming play against Cincinnati and Kelley's rebound performance, such talk seems increasingly premature.

Kelley rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught a three-yard pass in Sunday's preseason win over Cincinnati.

After averaging less than a yard per rush through two preseason games, some questioned Kelley's hold on Washington's top spot, particularly with rookie Samaje Perine's 74-yard outing against Green Bay. Kelley assuaged concerns on Sunday, while Perine was only able to muster five total yards. The second-year back's starter status should be set for the opening of the season, with the caveat that Perine still looms in the background and Chris Thompson will get plenty of looks on passing downs.

Mixon carried the ball eight times for 31 yards and added a six-yard catch in Sunday's preseason loss to Washington.

Mixon also lost the handle on an exchange to kill the Bengals' second drive before it started, though the fumble was officially attributed to Andy Dalton. The Bengals have featured a power runner in Jeremy Hill and deft pass-catcher in Giovani Bernard in recent seasons, and the thought was that Mixon could be both rolled all up into one after he was drafted with some controversy in the second round. That hasn't quite been the case as of yet for the rookie, who's averaged just 3.9 yards per carry during the preseason despite a strong debut against Tampa Bay in the exhibition opener. He saw time with the first team on Sunday, though, and his current value is heavily tied to the status of Hill's ankle.

Gordon carried eight times for 36 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 21-19 preseason win over the Rams.

Gordon did most of his damage early in the game and was featured heavily on a 54-yard touchdown drive which he capped off with a plunge into the end zone from two yards out. Though he hasn't been used extensively this preseason, Gordon appears ready to go for the regular season, where he could see north of 20 touches per game as a featured option in what should be a productive offensive unit.