NFL Player News

Irving (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday but said that he feels "pretty great" and expects to be available for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

While Irving's optimism about his hamstring offers some reassurance, fantasy managers will still want to keep close tabs on the running back's activity at Friday's practice, which will likely determine whether he carries a designation into Sunday. Irving didn't offer much detail on how or when he injured his hamstring, but he may have gotten hurt at some point during Wednesday's practice, given that he was listed as a limited participant for that session before not practicing in any fashion a day later. The rookie fourth-round pick is coming off an impressive performance in the Buccaneers' Week 3 loss to the Broncos in which he carried nine times for 70 yards and recorded three receptions for 14 yards. According to Smith, head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Irving has earned more snaps after his big Week 3 effort, but the Buccaneers are still viewing Rachaad White as their starting running back.

Bigsby (shoulder) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Bigsby managed a shoulder issue ahead of this past Monday's 47-10 loss to the Bills, but he suited up for the contest and logged nine snaps on offense (and two carries) behind starting running back Travis Etienne. With no reported setbacks coming out of that contest, Bigsby's listed limitations Wednesday may be maintenance-related.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Chubb (knee) is "doing well" and will be evaluated next week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Stefanski essentially sidestepped the question when he was asked if Chubb would be designated to return from injured reserve when first eligible next week. Fantasy managers don't have much information to go on right now, with Chubb more than a year removed from suffering ACL and MCL tears to his left knee but only 10 months out from the second surgery he had on the knee. Fellow Browns running back Jerome Ford has played 66 percent of snaps on offense through three games, averaging 9.7 carries for 48.3 yards and 3.3 catches for 19.3 yards in an offense that's been severely limited by poor play at quarterback and offensive tackle. The situation may be somewhat better by the time Chubb returns, but the combination of subpar team context and his return from a major knee surgery will make it difficult to maintain his accustomed rushing efficiency. Chubb has averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first six NFL seasons.

Ford (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Ford is managing a knee injury to begin the week, but he still has two additional opportunities to practice Thursday and Friday before the Browns potentially give him a designation for Sunday's game against the Raiders. Pierre Strong (hamstring) also didn't practice Wednesday, while Nick Chubb (knee) is ineligible to come off the PUP list until Week 5 at the earliest. D'Onta Foreman and Gary Brightwell as the team's only healthy running backs at the moment.

Irving was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

Irving displayed no sign of being limited by injury in Tampa Bay's 26-7 loss to Denver on Sunday, when he took nine carries for 70 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards while playing 32 percent of the snaps on offense. Rachaad White took more than twice as many snaps (73 percent) but received three fewer carries and one fewer touch than Irving, adding more fuel to speculation that the rookie may eventually take over as Tampa Bay's lead back. It's unclear at this point if Irving's hamstring injury will be a factor in determining the two backs' respective workloads during a Week 4 home game against the Eagles.

Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Hunt will rotate in with the Chiefs' other running backs during Sunday's game against the Chargers, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

Reid added that the team has three reliable healthy running backs in Carson Steele, Samaje Perine and Hunt, so all three are expected to play a role against the Chargers. Steele remains the favorite to handle the majority of reps on early downs after racking up 17 rushing attempts in Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) absence against the Falcons last Sunday. Hunt was added to the 53-man roster Tuesday after joining Kansas City's practice squad last week.

Mixon (ankle) didn't participate in practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

According to Wilson, Mixon is viewed as week-to-week in his recovery from an ankle injury he suffered Week 2. The week-to-week label doesn't bode well for Mixon's chances of being available Sunday against the Jaguars, though Wilson relays the Texans have more optimism that Dameon Pierce (hamstring) will be able to avoid a third straight missed game. Pierce joined Mixon as a spectator for Wednesday's practice, however, leaving Cam Akers to take on running-back reps with the first-team offense.

Robinson could be in store for an expanded role Sunday against the Cardinals with fellow running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) having been ruled out for the Week 4 contest, Ben Standing and Amos Morale III of The Athletic report.

Third-string back Jeremy McNichols took one carry on seven snaps after Ekeler left Monday's 38-33 win over Cincinnati in the third quarter, while Robinson played 25 snaps (76 percent) and handled nine touches during the second half. Already averaging 15.0 carries, 2.7 targets and 87.3 total yards per game, Robinson may get a bit of extra work while McNichols mixes in as the passing-down back instead of Ekeler.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Brooks (knee) is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last November and is approaching his NFL debut, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today reports.

Brooks is on the non-football injury list, so the earliest he could make his NFL debut is Week 5 against the Bears. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks tore his ACL during his final collegiate season at Texas and didn't fully participate in the Panthers' offseason program, so he may need some additional practice time to get up to speed. Once healthy enough to play, the rookie will join a Panthers backfield led by Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

Harris didn't practice Wednesday for rest-related reasons, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Though Harris was spotted wearing a sling around his right arm/elbow in the Steelers' locker room Monday, head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the notion that the running back was nursing an injury when he spoke to the media Tuesday, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. With the Steelers listing Harris' absence Wednesday as being the result of rest, he still appears to be on track to suit up Sunday against the Colts. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren (knee) also sat out the session, with his availability versus Indianapolis looking much more uncertain.