NFL Player News

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has hinted at reducing Jones' workload and using trade acquisition Jordan Mason as part of a "1A/1B backfield structure," ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reports.

O'Connell specifically mentioned goal-line and short-yardage situations as areas where Mason can help, noting that the Vikings "left a lot to be desired" in those situations last year. Jones returns as the starter after signing a two-year, $20 million contract, but it sounds like he's a long shot to match last season's career highs for snaps (700), rush attempts (255) and touches (306). The only disappointment in 2024 was scoring three times on 24 carries inside the 10-yard line, with just seven total TDs (five rushing) despite playing all 17 games and recording 1,546 yards from scrimmage (his most since 2019) at rates of 4.5 yards per carry and 8.0 per catch. While ceding goal-line carries is never a good thing for fantasy value, Mason's physical presence could help the 30-year-old Jones stay healthy and maintain his strong per-touch yardage production.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell expects Mason (ankle) to "bring something to the table" in goal-line and short-yardage situations, ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reports.

O'Connell also discussed returning starter Aaron Jones, saying "when [Jones] has... that 1A/1B backfield structure, he can be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball." In other words, O'Connell hopes the 223-pound Mason can be 1B, taking carries between the tackles while Jones gets most of the work in space. The Vikings traded for Mason in mid-March, shortly after San Francisco gave him a second-round restricted free agent tender (and after Minnesota re-signed Jones on a two-year, $20 million contract). Mason missed the final five weeks of his 2024 breakout season with a high-ankle injury, but there hasn't been any report of surgery or a prolonged rehab process this offseason.

Blackshear is signing a one-year contract with the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 2022 UDFA played 41 games for Carolina the past three seasons, taking 68 touches for 341 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, 66 kickoff returns for 1,734 yards and 23 punt returns for 200 yards. Blackshear returned both kicks and punts in 2024, but he didn't get a restricted-free-agent tender earlier this offseason and now returns to the Panthers on a cheaper contract. He'll likely be third or fourth on the depth chart at running back, behind Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle at the very least.

Rams GM Les Snead said Monday that he wants to "engineer a long-term partnership" with Williams, Gary Klein of the LA Times reports.

Williams has been a polarizing player in the fantasy sphere since his 2023 breakout, and that's unlikely to change after he dipped to 4.1 YPC in 2024 while fumbling six times (including once in the playoffs). He otherwise had another big year, ranking third in carries per game (19.8), sixth in rushing yards per game (81.2) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (14), giving him 26 rushing scores and five receiving TDs in 38 regular-season games over the past two seasons. Blake Corum, a 2024 third-round pick, never made a serious push to threaten Williams last season, and it sounds like the Rams would rather give Williams a contract extension than search for his replacement. Snead said he's already exchanged initial contract terms with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

New Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Monday that Hall is one of three running backs that the team wants to "utilize as much as possible," Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The other two presumably are 2024 fourth-round pick Braelon Allen and 2024 fifth-round pick Isaiah Davis, both of whom had some nice moments as rookies while spelling Hall off the bench during his disappointing season. It won't come as any surprise if the uber-talented Hall improves in 2025 and re-establishes himself as a workhorse back under a new coaching staff, but it's nonetheless interesting to see the contrast between Glenn's comment on Hall and what he said when reporters asked about WR Garrett Wilson. Glenn referred to Wilson as a "dynamic player" and said the Jets will try to get him the ball "as much as possible."

Chestnut agreed Wednesday with the Titans on a one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Sacred Heart product has inked a deal to return to Tennessee after taking 22 carries for 102 yards and catching two of his three targets for 11 yards across 17 games in 2024. Additionally, Chestnut played 225 special-teams snaps and tallied 337 kick-return yards. He's expected to play a similar role in 2025.

Homer (hamstring) signed a one-year, $2-million deal with the Bears on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The running back will remain with the team that he played for during the 2023 and '24 campaigns. Homer missed Chicago's last three games of 2024 with a hamstring injury but appears to be healthy again. He played more on special teams than offense in each of the last two seasons, recording just six carries for 23 yards and three catches for 11 yards between the two years.

Rivers signed a one-year contract with the Rams on Sunday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Rivers opened the 2024 regular season as the Rams' No. 2 running back behind Kyren Williams, but he was eventually bumped down to third string by rookie Blake Corum. Rivers saw plenty of work on special teams for the Rams last season and should reprise that role in 2025. He finished the 2024 campaign with 22 carries for 99 yards and five catches (on six targets) for 34 yards across 17 regular-season games.

The 49ers traded Mason (ankle) to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 49ers placed a second-round tender worth $5.3 million on Mason when free agency began, but he'll now be shipped out along with the No. 187 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for the No. 160 pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick, per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com. Mason will receive a two-year contract with the Vikings that's worth up to $12 million and includes $7 million guaranteed. Mason served as the 49ers' starting running back for the first half of the 2024 regular season due to Christian McCaffrey being sidelined with Achilles injuries. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Mason rushed for 685 yards and three touchdowns on 134 carries while adding 10 catches (on 12 targets) for 86 yards, though he missed the final five games due to a high-ankle sprain. Ty Chandler was slated to be the Vikings' backup running back, but Mason's addition is an upgrade to the backfield led by Aaron Jones, who agreed to a two-year contract with Minneosta on March 9.

The Jets are re-signing Nwangwu (hand) to a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Per Pelissero, the deal is worth up to $2.5 million. Nwangwu logged just one offensive snap over two games with the Jets last season, but he dazzled with a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown in Week 13. Nwangwu ended the campaign on IR due to a hand injury, but he's expected to be healthy by the start of training camp.