NFL Player News

Steele rushed 56 times for 183 yards and hauled in seven of his 11 targets for 26 yards in 17 games during the 2025 regular season.

Steele was immediately asked to contribute as a rookie, including a 17-carry effort against the Falcons in Week 3. However, his contributions waned as the season wore on following the addition of Kareem Hunt as a free-agent signing and the return of Isiah Pacheco from a rib injury. Hunt and Samaje Perine were on one-year deals with the Chiefs, making the pair free agents ahead of the 2025 campaign. Even so, the front office presumably will add another couple of backs to the room during the offseason via free agency or the draft. Steele likely will need to earn his way up the depth chart behind Pacheco heading into next year.

Perine rushed 20 times for 92 yards and a touchdown in 17 games during the 2024 regular season, adding 28 catches for 322 yards and a touchdown on 35 targets.

Of Perine's 20 carries during the regular season, 11 came in a two-week stretch in Weeks 3 and 4. He contributed a little bit in the playoffs with a carry for eight yards in the Super Bowl and a catch for 17 yards against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, but most of his extended work came while Isiah Pacheco was sidelined early in the year due to a rib injury. Perine still has proven to be a reliable pass catcher but hasn't graded out particularly well as a pass blocker in the last couple of campaigns, per PFF. He'll enter the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent following his one-year deal with the Chiefs and will compete with others on the market and a strong rookie running back crop for a backup job next fall.

Pacheco took three carries for seven yards and brought in one of two targets for five yards in Sunday's 40-22 loss to the Eagles.

Pacheco was the first back deployed out of Kansas City's backfield in what turned out to be a blowout loss for the Chiefs. Recent starter Kareem Hunt wound up matching Pacheco in total touches, so the starting honors meant little in the one-sided affair. That said, his veteran counterpart is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason while Pacheco still has one year left on his rookie contract. The Chiefs could bolster their backfield in the coming months, but Pacheco stands to be the favorite to start next year as the situation currently stands.

Hunt took three carries for nine yards and brought in his only target for five yards in Sunday's 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIX.

Isiah Pacheco technically drew the start against the Eagles, but both tailbacks finished with four touches apiece with neither doing much from a fantasy perspective. Hunt failed to extend his postseason touchdown streak to three games, resulting in a disappointing performance overall. The 29-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason after rejuvenating his career in Kansas City in 2024.

Barkley rushed 25 times for 57 yards and brought in six of seven targets for 40 yards in the Eagles' 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

Playing in his first Super Bowl on his 28th birthday, Barkley filled his usual workhorse role but finished with unremarkable numbers on the ground. However, the prized offseason acquisition ground out some tough yards throughout the night to help keep the clock running, and he was a key outlet receiver for Jalen Hurts on multiple occasions while posting a team-high number of receptions that also served as his most yet in an Eagles uniform. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year also broke Terrell Davis' 26-year-old record for most combined rushing yards in a regular season and postseason, edging the former Bronco's mark of 2,476 yards by finishing with 2,490. Additionally, Barkley became the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season during his first campaign with Philadelphia, and despite his relatively nondescript night Sunday, there's no disputing his addition was key to the second Super Bowl win in franchise history.

Gainwell (concussion/knee) doesn't carry a designation into Sunday's Super Bowl LIX matchup versus the Chiefs.

Since sustaining a concussion in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26, Gainwell didn't take part in drills last week, but a limited session Wednesday was followed by back-to-back uncapped practices. Now, with no designation to speak of, he's gained clearance from an independent neurologist and thus is good to serve as the direct backup to workhorse RB Saquon Barkley this weekend. In three postseason games so far, Gainwell has combined for 10 touches for 58 yards from scrimmage.

The Jets signed Beck to a one-year contract Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Beck appeared in four regular-season games with the Texans in 2024, in addition to the team's divisional-round loss to the Chiefs. Now, the veteran fullback will spend the offseason competing to carve out a role with New York.

Barkley was named the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports.

Barkley had a remarkable first season in Philadelphia, turning 345 carries into 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while also catching 33 of 43 targets for 278 yards and two touchdowns over 16 regular-season games. The running back became the ninth player all-time to surpass 2,000 rushing yards and he edged out the likes of Ja'Marr Chase and Derrick Henry for OPOY. Barkley and his Eagles squad will look to defeat the back-to-back champion Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Gainwell (concussion/knee) practiced in full Thursday,

Gainwell has followed up Wednesday's limited session with all activity one day later, indicating he's in the later stages of his recovery from the concussion that he sustained in the NFC Championship Game against the Commanders on Jan. 26. He remains subject to an examination from an independent neurologist in order to be available as Saquon Barkley's direct backup for Super Bowl LIX versus the Chiefs this Sunday.

The Commanders signed Wiley to a reserve/future contract Thursday.

Wiley spent time on Washington's practice squad during the 2024 campaign, though the undrafted rookie didn't ultimately suit up for a single regular-season or playoff game with the team. Now, Wiley will get a chance to continue his development with the Commanders for a second consecutive offseason.