NFL Player News

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.

Dobbins exited Monday's practice alongside the training staff with an undisclosed injury, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.

The good news is Dobbins jogged into the locker room, but other than that there isn't any news on what the running back is dealing with health-wise. RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman figure to handle the bulk of the first-team reps while Dobbins is tending to his issue.

McGowan has emerged as the Colts' top backup running back during training camp, James Boyd of The Athletic opines.

Per Boyd, with DJ Giddens having been sidelined with a hamstring injury, McGowan has seen added reps of late with the first- and second-team offense. While Jonathan Taylor is the Colts' undisputed top back, and those behind him on the depth chart are off the fantasy lineup radar as long as he's healthy, the pecking order behind him remains of interest in the event that he misses time for any reason. Though Giddens still has a chance to make a push for the No. 2 role ahead of Week 1, he'll first need to get back on the practice field to build any momentum toward that end.

Pacheco is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell believes he will be ready for Detroit's season opener against New Orleans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

It's unclear how Pacheco sustained the injury, but it will confine him to the sidelines for the time being. Pacheco's absence will open up some reps for the other running backs on Detroit's roster, but if he recovers as anticipated he remains the clear favorite to back up Jahmyr Gibbs (back) in Week 1.

Mason has been putting together a productive training camp with the Vikings, Will Ragatz of Bring Me The Sports reports.

Mason is expected to operate in a timeshare with veteran Aaron Jones in the backfield for a second straight season. The running back has made an early statement at camp, showing some added burst in his second year in Kevin O'Connell's offensive system. Jones was limited to 12 contests due to injury in 2025, and he'll turn 32 before the end of the upcoming season, so 27-year-old Mason could be asked to handle a larger split of the workload in Year 2 in Minnesota.

The Packers activated Brooks (hamstring) off the active/non-football injury list Sunday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Brooks practiced at camp for the first time on Sunday. The running back has finally recovered from the hamstring issue he sustained in the offseason and is ready to contest MarShawn Lloyd for the No. 2 role behind Josh Jacobs (groin). Brooks will need to show that he is healthy and ready throughout the preseason, as Pierre Strong and rookie seventh-rounder Damien Martinez are looking to climb the depth chart as well.

Giddens did not participate in Sunday's training camp practice due to a hamstring injury, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan reports.

It's unclear when Giddens tweaked his hamstring, but it jeopardizes his chances of participating in Tuesday's joint practice with the Patriots on Tuesday, as well as Thursday's preseason opener against New England. The 2025 fifth-rounder entered training camp as the RB2 behind Jonathan Taylor, so an extended absence for Giddens would free up reps for rookie sixth-rounder Seth McGowan and Ulysses Bentley.