NFL Player News

Carter is competing for standing on Arizona's roster behind starter James Conner, after having ended the 2023 season in the No. 2 role, Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic reports.

Carter totaled 30 carries for 187 yards across 15 regular-season games between the Jets and Cardinals last season, in addition to 24 catches for 101 yards and one touchdown on 31 targets. Now, though, the addition of rookie third-round pick Trey Benson has crowded Arizona's backfield, and Carter is competing for standing alongside Emari Demercado (shoulder) and DeeJay Dallas, in addition to Tony Jones. It would help Carter's case to impress in the preseason, with Saturday's exhibition game against the Colts representing his next chance to do so.

Kamara (back) remained sidelined at practice Friday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Per Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Kamara left practice earlier this week with back tightness, so at this stage the running back should be considered day-to-day. With that in mind, it doesn't seem likely that Kamara will appear in Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers.

Charbonnet (undisclosed) is expected to miss Saturday's preseason game against the Titans, Justin Melo of USA Today reports.

Charbonnet is dealing with what appears like minor tightness, and while it doesn't seem like he'll be sidelined for long, he is a near lock to miss Seattle's second preseason contest. The second-year pro's absence figures to leave more opportunities on the table for Kenny McIntosh, especially as Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks' starters aren't expected to suit up.

Conner is listed as the Cardinals' No. 1 running back on the team's second unofficial depth chart of training camp, Jeremy Cluff of The Arizona Republic reports.

This comes as no surprise considering Conner has started all 26 regular-season games in which he's been available for Arizona the last two seasons. He's also coming off a career-high 1,040 rushing yards while tallying 27 catches for 165 yards and nine total touchdowns in 13 appearances during the 2023 campaign. The team bolstered its backfield in the offseason with the selection of Trey Benson in the third round of the draft, and holdovers Emari Demercado and Michael Carter had brief moments of output last season. As long as Conner stays healthy, though, the 29-year-old should remain the top option at running back for the Cards in 2024.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday that "guys who are starters" will handle "some action" during Saturday's preseason game versus the Commanders, Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

McDaniel didn't clarify which specific starters will play in Miami's second preseason game, or how many snaps they'll handle, but it sounds like Mostert will take the field with the first-team offense alongside backfield mate De'Von Achane. Mostert and Achane were one of the NFL's most productive RB tandems last season and are now joined by rookie fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright, who David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports Mostert has been continually impressed by this offseason. Familiar faces Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed have also returned as depth options.

Miller (hamstring) still isn't practicing, and coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that it's "challenging" and "hasn't gotten easier" for the running back to make the team without practicing, Patrick Magee of the New Orleans Advocate reports.

Allen essentially doubled down on his comments from late July, when he was asked about Miller and told reporters, "it's hard to make the team from the training room." The Saints are unlikely to actually cut a 22-year-old that they took in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but there's no denying the criticism has dampened Miller's fantasy outlook for the upcoming season, with thoughts of forcing a timeshare/committee replaced by concerns the young RB might be stuck behind both Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. Miller was recovering from an MCL injury when the Saints drafted him last spring, and he then suffered a minor knee sprain in mid-August and a hamstring injury a few weeks later. After that, a high-ankle sprain kept him out for seven straight games in November/December before he returned for Week 18 and took 13 carries for 73 yards and a TD. Miller's performance in the season finale led to optimism in fantasy circles, but much of that seems to have faded since he suffered a hamstring injury during the first practice of training camp and was subsequently criticized by Allen. Miller has now missed more than three weeks of practice and is about to miss a second straight preseason game.

Laube rushed four times for eight yards and was targeted once in the passing game during the Raiders' preseason opener against the Vikings. He also returned one kickoff for 16 yards.

Laube didn't tote the rock until the second half in his NFL preseason debut, but he took his first carry for 13 yards before struggling to find much space on each of his final three rushes. Although he left his maiden tilt without a reception, the versatile sixth-round rookie out of New Hampshire continues to be lauded for his pass-catching chops as he looks to carve out a meaningful role in the backfield behind starter Zamir White.

The Rams don't plan to play Williams or other key players in Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

Coach Sean McVay suggested his plan will be similar to the preseason opener against Dallas, in which the Rams not only held out starters but also a lot of key backups, including rookie RB Blake Corum. McVay even said the list of rested players could be longer this time, so there's no reason to expect an appearance from starters like Williams and Cooper Kupp who are ticketed for huge roles come Week 1. There is some thought that Corum's presence will leave Williams with lighter workloads than he handled last year, but the third-year pro can afford to lose some work and still maintain considerable fantasy value, after averaging 19.0 carries and 4.0 targets in 12 appearances last year. Williams missed 12 regular-season games over his first two campaigns, and there is some concern that missed time in 2024 would allow Corum to thrive in a lead role and complicate the Rams' backfield thereafter.

Sermon (hamstring) did not practice Thursday, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Sermon left Indy's first preseason game Sunday with a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury isn't clear, but it's not a good sign that he hasn't returned to practice this week. He seems unlikely to play in the team's second preseason game Saturday. 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.

Stevenson rushed six times for 18 yards and wasn't targeted in Thursday's 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.

Stevenson got a substantially larger workload in the second preseason game after logging only one carry in the preseason opener against the Panthers. He remains on track to lead New England's backfield in 2024, with Antonio Gibson slated to back up Stevenson and mix in for passing situations. The Patriots will round out their preseasonn Sunday, Aug. 25 in Washington.