NFL Player News

Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain said Tuesday that he's recognized growth in Nix during the offseason and anticipates the quarterback taking another step forward both on the field and as a leader in his third NFL season, Susanna Weir of the team's official site reports. "I think his cerebral approach to the game is off the charts," Surtain said. "I always say he's so poised, but he's always had that calm demeanor going into his third year just bringing all the guys together offensively and just being a tremendous leader on the team."

Tight end Evan Engram and offensive tackle Garett Bolles also chimed in with praise for Nix, who finished the 2025 regular season with a 25:11 TD:INT and 3,931 yards on an NFL-high 612 pass attempts while adding 356 yards and five scores on the ground. He then helped lead Denver to a divisional-round win over Buffalo before sitting out the AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots due to a broken bone in his ankle, but he made a full recovery from surgery in advance of June minicamp. Nix performed efficiently during his lone preseason appearance Aug. 21 versus the Packers, connecting with offseason pickup Jaylen Waddle on a deep throw for a 35-yard gain during that contest. With a new field-stretching weapon like Waddle in the fold, Nix can potentially offset any decline in his league-leading passing volume by generating more splash plays. Nix saw his yards per attempt drop from 6.7 as a rookie to 6.4 during his sophomore season.

Gainwell is one of three running backs on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster, along with Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker (undisclosed), the latter of whom didn't practice Wednesday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season. He's likely to fill a change-of-pace role while playing primarily in passing situations, much like Rachaad White did for the past couple seasons in a Buccaneers backfield that's expected to be led by Irving as long as the latter stays healthy. Tucker could be a thorn in the side of both Gainwell and Irving from a fantasy perspective if Tucker reprises his red-zone role from 2025, which helped him punch in a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.

Love wrapped up the Packers' preseason slate having completed eight of 12 passes for 74 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in two appearances.

Love led one drive apiece in Green Bay's first two exhibitions, with his sole TD a connection with RB MarShawn Lloyd over the middle in Denver in preseason Week 2. Love also linked up with each of his top three WRs Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden at least one time. Especially against the Broncos, Love appeared to be hitting on all cylinders, and he'll aim to carry it over to a Week 1 road matchup with the Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Irving is set to lead a Buccaneers backfield that also includes Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker (undisclosed), the latter of whom didn't practice Wednesday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

Irving figures to get most of the rushing opportunities in Tampa Bay's backfield, though Gainwell is likely to play in passing situations after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season and subsequently signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March. Tucker was used frequently in the red zone last season, leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns. Irving saw his rushing touchdown total dip to one in 10 games during his injury-plagued 2025 campaign after scoring eight regular-season rushing touchdowns as a rookie. Despite the competition for touches, Irving maintains the highest ceiling in Tampa Bay's backfield given his success in 2024.

Kamara (knee) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Kamara was diagnosed with a sprained MCL a little over two weeks ago and was given a return timetable of "at least one month," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, so it's not at all surprising to see the veteran running back still sidelined. The Saints will begin official Week 1 prep next week, and it would be somewhat shocking to see Kamara practice and be available for the season opener against the Lions. With Kendre Miller (undisclosed) also missing practice time, Audric Estime could be the backup to Travis Etienne against Detroit.

Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are slated to have regular roles in the Steelers offense during the 2026 season, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

Despite Warren being the top incumbent running back in Pittsburgh, Graziano believes that Dowdle is a better bet to handle early downs out of the backfield, not only due to his experience working with new coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas but because of his combined 471 carries over the last two seasons. Both campaigns resulted in more than 1,000 yards on the ground for Dowdle, while Warren has topped out at 958 rushing yards (2025) in his four-year career. Warren does have the advantage in pass-catching chops, with 139 receptions over the last three years. As a result, both players are in line for weekly usage for the Steelers.

Warren and Rico Dowdle are expected to have regular roles in the Steelers offense during the 2026 season, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.

With Kenny Gainwell moving on to the Buccaneers in free agency, Warren is the top incumbent running back in Pittsburgh, but Dowdle has taken Gainwell's place. Dowdle's previous experience with new coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas could dampen Warren's early-down role somewhat, but according to Graziano, Warren should take on the bulk of the pass-catching work out of Pittsburgh's backfield, as evidenced by his 139 catches in 48 regular-season games over the last three campaigns. Overall, Warren handled a career-high 251 touches in 2025, while Dowdle is coming off back-to-back seasons with 274 (with the Cowboys) and 275 (in Carolina), so both should be busy on a weekly basis this fall.

McLaurin is set to lead a group of seven wide receivers that made Washington's initial 53-man roster.

McLaurin had a career-low 582 receiving yards while being limited to 10 appearances in 2025. Prior to that down year, the 2019 third-round pick out of Ohio State recorded at least 919 receiving yards in each of his first six NFL regular seasons. McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are expected to operate as the top targets for QB Jayden Daniels, with Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey providing depth at wide receiver.

Diggs is among the seven wide receivers on Washington's initial 53-man roster.

The depth chart behind Diggs appears uncertain, but the veteran wide receiver seems safely locked into a starting role opposite Terry McLaurin heading into the regular season. Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey also made the team. Diggs has fallen short of 1,000 receiving yards only once in the past eight regular seasons.

Coach Mike LaFleur said Thursday that Love (ankle) is "progressing," Howard Balzer of Cards Wire reports.

It seems to be the only thing LaFleur is willing to say about his rookie running back's recovery at this point, as the coach has made it his daily ritual to say Love is merely progressing while offering little else in the form of insight. Love has 10 days to try and get ready for Arizona's Week 1 opener against the Chargers. He's going to need to practice in some fashion next week to have a chance to play Sunday, Sept. 13, and even then Love is still likely to split carries with Tyler Allgeier versus Los Angeles.