NFL Player News

Johnson (knee) did not participate in Monday's practice, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.

Johnson left Saturday's practice early with a knee injury. The change-of-pace back still does not have a set return date, and it's currently unclear how severe the knee issue is. Johnson was spotted on the field at the beginning of Monday's session but then retreated back into the locker room. If Johnson was testing the limits of the injury Monday, it could signify he's not far from returning.

Harvey expects to provide a lot of big plays in Year 2 with the Broncos, Susanna Weir of the team's official site reports.

Harvey notched three rushes of over 20 yards in his rookie campaign, two of which were 40-plus yard gains, but he expects more frequent such plays in his second year. The running back believes that big plays are his calling card as an athlete, saying that he feels like that's "his game." Harvey compiled 540 yards and seven touchdowns on 146 carries while also reeling in 47 of 58 targets for 356 yards and five scores over 17 regular-season contests in 2025. The 25-year-old is expected to operate in a timeshare with J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed) again this season, but the oft-injured Dobbins is already dealing with a soft-tissue injury at training camp. If Dobbins is unable to put together a healthy campaign, Harvey would have the opportunity to take command of Denver's backfield for years to come.

Pierce (hamstring) did not participate in Monday's practice, Brooks Kubena of The Athletic reports.

Pierce exited Saturday's practice with a hamstring injury, and it is unclear how long the running back will be absent due to the issue. With Elijah Mitchell (undisclosed) having been placed on injured reserve Monday, the team signed Ja'Quinden Jackson to further cement the running back room throughout the preseason. Currently, the No. 2 role behind Saquon Barkley is up for grabs, with Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Pierce fighting for snaps. If Pierce misses significant time, his chances of starting the season as the No. 2 back figure to diminish.

The Eagles placed Mitchell (undisclosed) on injured reserve Monday.

Mitchell signed with the Eagles in early June with designs on having him compete for a complementary role in the Eagles' backfield. Unfortunately, it appears Mitchell has suffered a significant setback, and the 28-year-old will spend the entirety of the 2026 season on injured reserve unless he is waived with an injury settlement. The Eagles signed running back Ja'Quinden Jackson in a corresponding move.

The Eagles signed Jackson to a contract Monday.

The Jaguars waived Jackson in May, but he's now caught on with the Eagles due to injuries to Dameon Pierce (hamstring) and Elijah Mitchell (undisclosed). Jackson is likely just a fill-in for the preseason, but he has an outside chance of making the roster if he can prove useful both in the backfield and on special teams.

New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said Monday he'll likely use a "hot hand" approach in the backfield this season, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.

"Bad news, fantasy owners," McDaniel said regarding the roles for Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell. "Good news is I see all three of those guys producing at a very high level. Bad news is I can't tell you which games those are." Hampton is being drafted in the second round of best-ball drafts currently, which appears to be a rich price for a player involved in what could be a convoluted backfield in 2026. Hampton wasn't handpicked by McDaniel, and the team signed Mitchell to a two-year, $9.25 million deal at McDaniel's request during the offseason. Vidal has the trust of coach Jim Harbaugh after what he did in Hampton's place last season. There are a lot of mouths to feed in this offense as a whole, making Hampton a high-risk, potentially-high-reward fantasy pick.

Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said Monday that Mitchell will have an offensive role on game days this season, Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com reports.

McDaniel specifically mentioned all three of Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Mitchell will have roles in the offense. "All three of those guys will start at that point given the nature of the NFL," McDaniel said. "I will use all three of those guys every game." Mitchell signed a two-year, $9.25 million deal with the Bolts in the offseason, and that's not chump change for a running back, so the money itself suggests McDaniel has a vision for him. Armed with a 4.37 40 time and elite burst, Mitchell is a dream fit in McDaniel's offense that is built on speed. The Chargers have already been experimenting with Mitchell in the passing game this summer. He's a high-upside, lottery-ticket pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the 49ers are "just managing" McCaffrey (undisclosed), who missed Monday's practice due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Kubiak also told Wagoner that McCaffrey is "a little sore," but the standout running back is "doing fine." The 49ers also are dealing with injuries to others in the backfield, namely Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP), meaning Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert currently are the healthy options at the position. Kubiak's comments indicate the team will take a cautious approach with McCaffrey until he's fully healthy.

Coach Sean Payton noted Monday that Dobbins has a soft tissue injury, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Dobbins left Monday's practice with a trainer, with his exit due to an unspecified soft-tissue injury. Per DiLalla, Payton thinks that the running back will be fine, but it looks like Dobbins' practice participation could be impacted ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons. If that's the case, added practice reps will be available for RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman and Jaleel McLaughlin.

McCaffrey won't practice Monday due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

McCaffrey is the latest 49er to catch the injury bug that has plagued the team in the early stages of training camp, joining fellow RBs Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP) on the sideline. That leaves Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert as the team's healthy options at the position just three days before the team's preseason opener Thursday against the Titans. San Francisco likely will continue to exercise caution with McCaffrey until he's back to 100 percent.