NFL Player News

Sermon (hamstring) did not play in Saturday's preseason win over Arizona.

Sermon left Indy's first preseason game Sunday with a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury isn't clear, but it's thought he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Sermon had been the leader for the No. 2 RB role behind Jonathan Taylor prior to the injury, with Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull competing for the No. 3 role.

McLaughlin rushed three times for 17 yards and caught his only target for four yards in Sunday's 27-2 preseason win over the Packers.

McLaughlin was the second running back into the game for Denver after Javonte Williams, working ahead of Audric Estime and Samaje Perine. He handled only four touches in this game after logging nine in the preseason opener against the Colts. McLaughlin is seemingly locked in as Williams' top backup, so it's possible neither of them will play much in next Sunday's preseason finale against the Cardinals as Denver sorts out the rest of its backfield depth chart.

Williams rushed three times for 17 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in Sunday's 27-2 preseason win over the Packers.

Williams also had a would-be 14-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive wiped out by an illegal forward pass penalty on rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Denver's offense has moved the ball well with Nix under center in the preseason, which bodes well for Williams' outlook heading into the regular season. Williams has started the Broncos' first two preseason games, but it remains to be seen if the starting running back will get any usage in next Sunday's preseason finale against the Cardinals.

Williams rushed five times for 32 yards and caught his lone target for two yards in Sunday's preseason tilt against San Francisco.

Williams continues to start for the Saints while Alvin Kamara (back) heals in anticipation of the regular season. The latter is currently not in jeopardy of missing any meaningful time, so fantasy managers shouldn't fret over the lingering injury designation. That said, it wouldn't hurt to target Williams if you have shares of Kamara, roster space permitting. Williams has produced in a starting role before, but the veteran would struggle to reach the amount of touches required if Kamara is ready to roll come Week 1.

Coach Kyle Shanahan clarified after Sunday's 16-10 preseason win over the Saints that Mason sat out due to hip soreness Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The team doesn't sound overly concerned with Mason's injury, as he appears healthier than the team's other top running backs at the moment, but he got the night off Sunday nonetheless. Mason's next chance to take the field will come in Friday's preseason finale against the Raiders.

Warren (hamstring) is slated to miss multiple weeks, making him uncertain for Week 1 against Atlanta, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Warren suffered the injury during Saturday's preseason game against the Bills. Najee Harris would get more playing time if Warren were to miss regular-season action, with Cordarrelle Patterson potentially taking on a large role off the bench. Harris and Warren have split first-team snaps this preseason, much as they did throughout the 2023 campaign.

Mason (undisclosed) won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Mason is dealing with what is being described as a minor injury. The 49ers are thin at running back with Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) all banged up as well, leaving more opportunities for Patrick Taylor, Matt Breida, Cody Schrader and Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

Kamara (back) won't play in Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers, John Hendrix of Sports Illustrated reports.

Kamara is in attendance but won't be seeing the field, as the coaching staff has little reason to deploy the veteran running back in this exhibition game while he works his way back from back tightness that has kept him from practicing in the lead-up to this second preseason game. Kamara's unlikely to dress for the Saints' Aug. 25 preseason finale against the Titans, but the team hasn't given any indication that his regular-season availability could be affected by the injury.

Pierce started and gained five yards on four carries in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. He also returned one kickoff for 18 yards.

Pierce got a second straight preseason start and played the first quarter with Joe Mixon not suiting up. Mixon, who opened camp with a quadriceps injury, returned to practice last week but was held out Saturday. The running back rotation following Pierce was Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers, J.J. Taylor and then Jawhar Jordan.

Small entered league concussion protocol Sunday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Small took a blow to the head during Saturday's preseason game versus the Seahawks, and it turns out he did sustain a concussion as a result. The update makes it unlikely that he'll appear in the Titans' preseason finale at New Orleans.