NFL Player News

The Texans envision Chubb serving as their "bell-cow running back" in Sunday's season opener versus the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) racked up 12 touchdowns and 1,325 yards in 12 games as the Texans' lead back in 2024, but he'll miss at least the first four contests of 2025 after being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Aug. 26. With Mixon out of the picture for at least the first quarter of the season, Chubb looks poised to have an extended runway to lead the Houston backfield. Chubb's final season in Cleveland was cut short by a foot fracture that he sustained Dec. 15, but he avoided surgery and has reportedly looked healthy and effective in training camp after joining Houston on a one-year deal in June. When available, Chubb has proven to be one of the NFL's most efficient runners, though he averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry over his eight games in Cleveland a season ago. He could be in line for some improvement now that he's further removed from the major knee surgery he required in September 2023, and while he looks poised to dominate the early-down work out of the Houston backfield, Chubb has never been a major contributor in the passing game and could cede most of those reps to Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks or Dare Ogunbowale.

Knight (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Knight will not suit up Week 1, as the Cardinals will roll with a three-man backfield of James Conner, Trey Benson and Emari Demercado. Knight has not played in a regular-season game since 2023 with the Lions, and his next opportunity to see the field is Week 2 against the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Carter is inactive for Sunday's regular-season opener against Tampa Bay, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Carter made Atlanta's initial 53-man roster following a strong preseason, but he's not expected to see much work on offense this season with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier heading the Falcons' backfield. Carlos Washington, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday, will serve as the team's third RB in Week 1.

Rodriguez (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Rodriguez thus is the odd man out in a Commanders backfield that will be playing without Brian Robinson following his trade to the 49ers on Aug. 22. Instead, some combination of Austin Ekeler, rookie seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols will be Washington's available running backs Sunday. Rodriguez's next chance to suit up will be Thursday at Green Bay.

Mostert (coach's decision) is a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against New England.

Mostert's inactive status comes as a surprise, as he's not known to be dealing with an injury and was listed as the Raiders' RB2 or RB3 on the team's initial Week 1 depth chart, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. With Mostert out of action, Las Vegas will go with Zamir White and Dylan Laube as the active running backs behind rookie starter Ashton Jeanty.

Goodson (elbow) is inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins.

After being limited at practice this week, Goodson approached the contest listed as questionable. With his regular-season debut on hold, DJ Giddens and Ulysses Bentley are available Sunday to handle backfield snaps that don't go to Jonathan Taylor. Goodson's next chance to see action will occur next weekend against the Broncos.

Williams (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Williams managed to crack the Buccaneers' 53-man roster after a strong training camp, but the undrafted rookie out of LSU will be in street clothes for Week 1 as Tampa Bay goes with a three-man backfield of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. Williams' next chance to make his NFL regular-season debut is Week 2 against the Texans on Monday, Sept. 15.

McCaffrey (calf) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play in Sunday's season opener against the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. "He's good to go," one source told Schefter.

Fantasy managers will still want to confirm that McCaffrey is suiting up when the 49ers release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, but the running back looks on track to play through the calf issue, which resulted in him being limited in Thursday's practice before he worked out off to the side during Friday's session. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, McCaffrey was a "big participant" in Saturday's team walk-through, which suggests that the running back will be in line to fill his usual duties as the 49ers' lead back Sunday.

Judkins won't be activated for Sunday's game against the Bengals, but the Browns are optimistic that the rookie running back will be ready to make his NFL debut next weekend in Baltimore, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Judkins finally put pen to paper on his rookie contract with the Browns on Saturday, but because he missed all of training camp and preseason while he was unsigned following his July 12 arrest in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on charges of domestic assault and battery, Cleveland was granted a two-game exemption in which the running back won't count toward the 53-man roster. Though all charges against Judkins have since been dropped, the NFL is still investigating the alleged incident, and the 21-year-old is scheduled to meet with league officials during the upcoming week. While it's still unclear if Judkins will be subject to any league discipline, the expectation is that he'll have the roster exemption lifted in advance of the Week 2 contest. Because of all the time he's missed this summer, Judkins could handle a light role initially for Cleveland, though Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network relays that the Browns are hopeful that Judkins will eventually emerge as the team's lead back. Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford will take on the brunt of the snaps and touches out of the backfield for at least the Week 1 game, however.

McCaffrey (calf) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Seattle, though he's still "trending" toward playing after he was a "big participant" in the 49ers' team walk-through Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

McCaffrey had enjoyed a healthy training camp and preseason before he unexpectedly popped up on the 49ers' injury report Thursday, when he was listed as a limited participant in practice due to a calf injury. Though McCaffrey's 2024 debut was delayed until Week 10 after he suffered a calf strain last August that was later reclassified as bilateral Achilles tendinitis, the 49ers appear to be more optimistic that the 29-year-old will avoid any missed games this time around. McCaffrey was listed as a non-participant in Friday's practice, but he was spotted doing some running off to the side and downplayed the calf injury when he spoke to reporters after the session. McCaffrey's inclusion in the walk-through Saturday represents another positive indicator that he'll suit up, but fantasy managers planning on using the star running back in Week 1 will still want to keep tabs on his status leading up to 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. If the 49ers ultimately decide to hold McCaffrey out of the contest or limit his workload, Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo would be in line for enhanced roles out of the backfield.