NFL Player News

Mitchell (hamstring) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers have a numbered of injured running backs also not playing Saturday, including Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo, but it doesn't seem as if backup Jordan Mason will see extensive snaps. As a result, Cody Schrader, Matt Breida and Patrick Taylor could see plenty of opportunities.

Johnson (hamstring) wasn't in uniform ahead of Saturday's preseason game against the Bears, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News.

The same applies to WRs Mack Hollins (leg), Chase Claypool (toe) and Justin Shorter (knee). Johnson's next opportunity to see exhibition action will be Aug. 17 against the Steelers. Once he returns to the mix, Johnson will resume competing with Ray Davis for slotting behind top RB James Cook.

Harris carried eight times for 22 yards and a TD and caught one of his three targets for six yards in Thursday's 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers.

In his latest 53-man roster projection, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site predicts that Harris will stick as the team's No. 3 running back to begin the coming season behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Per Lazar, Harris -- a 2022 sixth-rounder -- "won't 'wow' you with elusiveness or pass-catching ability, but he runs hard between the tackles and has displayed better vision working off zone blocks." Also competing for depth slotting in New England's backfield are JaMycal Hasty and Terrell Jennings, and one or both could potentially end up on the practice squad following cut-downs.

Hall is among the Jets' key skill players not slated to see action against the Commanders in Saturday's preseason opener, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The same applies to QB Aaron Rodgers, WRs Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson and Allen Lazard, as well as TEs Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert. In Hall's absence, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Deon Jackson and Xazavian Valladay are available to handle backfield duties against Washington.

Akers carried six times for 17 yards and caught all three targets for 24 yards in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.

Akers followed up an effective Hall of Fame Game and is showing no ill effects of the knee injury that wiped out the second half of the 2023 season. The Texans added him to the roster when they learned Joe Mixon (quadriceps) was dealing with an injury, so his stay on the roster could last as long as it takes Mixon to heal. All of Akers' 15 offensive snaps came during the second half.

Taylor had one carry for three yards, returned one punt for 10 yards and had a kickoff return for 29 yards in Friday's 20-12 win over the Steelers.

Taylor was the third back in the game, with his lone carry coming late in the first half. That places him ahead of Cam Akers and Jawhar Jordan, both of whom played in the second half. Taylor was one of five players to return a punt or kickoff but was the lone player given opportunities for both.

Jordan had six carries for 22 yards in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over Pittsburgh.

Jordan led the Texans in rushing, but it was all accumulated in the fourth quarter, which indicates a long climb to win a roster spot. He was used as a returner on kickoffs in the Hall of Fame Game last week but did not get that opportunity Friday.

Ogunbowale rushed three times for 10 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over Steelers.

The Texans couldn't get much going with their run game, but Ogunbowale had an easy four-yard scamper for a score. He was the second back in the game following Dameon Pierce, who started in place of Joe Mixon (quadriceps). That suggests Ogunbowale will be Houston's third back to start the season.

Perine rushed four times for 10 yards while failing to secure his lone target during Friday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Texans.

Perine signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in May, but he wasn't particularly efficient during Friday's preseason opener. It's unclear whether he'll be able to land a spot on the team's 53-man roster this year, but even if he's included on the active roster, he's unlikely to see much regular-season work since the Steelers also have Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson.

Ward rushed six times for 26 yards while securing his lone target for five yards during Friday's 20-12 preseason loss to Houston.

Ward spent the first three seasons of his career in Arizona before spending the last two years in Tennessee, but he's been mainly limited to work on special teams during his time in the NFL. Ward was decent on offense during Friday's preseason opener, but even if he makes the Steelers' 53-man roster this year, it seems unlikely that he'll see much offensive work since the team also has Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson.