NFL Player News

Estime rushed 10 times for 31 yards and a touchdown, caught all three of his targets for 13 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 34-30 preseason win over the Colts.

Estime was the fourth running back into the game for the Broncos after Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine all saw action in the first quarter. The rookie fifth-round pick is considered more of a threat to Williams' early-down touches than McLaughlin or Perine's reps in pass-catching situations, though Estime showed himself to be a capable pass catcher by securing all three of his targets Sunday. Estime scored a two-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter but put the ball on the ground on his very next carry and watched the Indianapolis defense scoop and score on the play. With the knee injury that kept him sidelined during the spring now in the rear-view mirror, Estime will likely handle another substantial workload in Denver's next preseason game against the Packers.

Abanikanda rushed six times for 17 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for eight yards in Saturday's 20-17 preseason win over the Commanders.

Abanikanda entered in the second half after rookie fourth-round and fifth-round draft picks Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis played the first half. Allen seems to have cemented himself as the top backup to Breece Hall, leaving Davis and Abanikanda in a competition for the third spot on the running back depth chart. Davis has the edge due to his ability to contribute on special teams, but Abanikanda may have bolstered his chances slightly with a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Abanikanda will look to add to his case for a roster spot when the Jets continue preseason play next Saturday in Carolina.

Sermon won't return to Sunday's exhibition contest against Denver due to a hamstring injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Sermon headed to the medical tent in the first quarter and has since been ruled out from returning. The severity of his hamstring injury isn't yet clear, but it could impact his availability for the remainder of the preseason slate and potentially prevent him from being ready for the start of the regular season as well. Sermon had been the leader for the No. 2 RB role behind Jonathan Taylor prior to the injury, with Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull lining up in the pecking order below him.

Shirden was waived by the Panthers on Sunday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

The running back was let go to help make room for a trio of signings in defensive lineman Walter Palmore, offensive lineman Jack Anderson and wide receiver Tayvion Robinson. Shirden signed with the Panthers after going undrafted in April. During his final season at Monmouth University last year, Shirden ran for 1,478 yards and 10 touchdowns on 221 carries.

Taylor is starting the Colts' first preseason game against Denver on Sunday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

Taylor is likely to see the field for just a series or two, but it will give him an opportunity to play alongside starting QB Anthony Richardson after the pair logged just two snaps together last year. It could be interesting to see how lining up next to Richardson affects Taylor's opportunities, particularly at the goal line, as Richardson is an explosive runner who logged a 38 percent goal-line carry rate last year before getting injured Week 5. Taylor scored seven times on the ground and one time through the air over 10 regular-season contests in 2023.

Williams is warming up to play with the first-team offense in Denver's preseason opener versus Indianapolis on Sunday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.

The Broncos are set to play most of their starters Sunday, though Williams is unlikely to see the field for more than a series or two. The running back is poised to lead Denver's backfield in 2024 after tallying 774 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 217 attempts along with 228 yards and two more scores on 47 catches across 16 regular-season contests last year. Williams reportedly lost weight in the offseason in an effort to improve his conditioning.

Strong carried the ball six times for 15 yards and caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 23-10 preseason loss to the Packers. He also returned one kickoff for 27 yards.

The 2022 fourth-round pick was the second Cleveland running back into the game after Jerome Ford, and Strong wound up leading the team in carries, although no Browns RB had much success on the ground. Strong also figures to begin the regular season in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but his role and workload depend entirely on how quickly Nick Chubb (knee) completes his recovery and reclaims his starting job.

Ford carried the ball twice for four yards in Saturday's 23-10 preseason loss to the Packers.

The 24-year-old running back got the start for Cleveland's preseason opener but played only one series before Pierre Strong took over. Ford is expected to begin the regular season as the No. 1 option in the backfield, and even once Nick Chubb (knee) is cleared to return to action, the 2022 fifth-round pick should still have a significant role while Chubb ramps up his workload.

Wilson carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 23-10 preseason win over the Browns. He added 28 yards on one kickoff return.

Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon played only one series each, but Wilson still saw more volume than anticipated after rookie MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) left the game early in the second half. Wilson, a 2023 undrafted free agent, was productive in his limited opportunities last season, but even if Lloyd's injury proves to be serious, he's still unlikely to see a significant workload once the games begin to count.

Jacobs gained seven yards on his only carry and caught his only target for a two-yard loss in Saturday's 23-10 preseason win over the Browns.

The running back dealt with a minor groin injury earlier in the week, but Jacobs was healthy for the Packers' preseason opener and played one series before calling it a day. The former Raider has topped 1,100 scrimmage yards in each of his first five seasons in the NFL, but Green Bay's coaching staff has suggested Jacobs will be used a little more frequently as a receiver during his first season with his new club. Jacobs could see a bigger workload in next Sunday's preseason clash with the Broncos as he gets ready for Week 1.