NFL Player News

Pollard rushed four times for 22 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in the Titans' 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers on Thursday.

The veteran running back took the field with the rest of the Titans' starters on Tennessee's opening possession and wasted no time making an impact, quickly bursting up the middle for a 12-yard run on his team's first play from scrimmage. Pollard eventually capped the drive off with a five-yard touchdown run, finishing his abbreviated night in impressive fashion. Pollard is looking to maintain a firm hold on the No. 1 running back role over Tyjae Spears in what is expected to be an improved Tennessee offense, and Thursday's showing certainly got him off to a strong start in that regard.

Mertz suffered a knee injury in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Mertz limped to the locker room at halftime and will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury after coach DeMeco Ryans hinted after the exhibition that it could be an ACL issue. Mertz completed four of seven passes for 23 scoreless yards prior to his departure Thursday. He also rushed three times for 15 yards.

Klein caught his only target for 31 yards in Thursday's 27-7 preseason loss to the Chargers.

Klein's lone catch gained enough yards to lead the Texans in receiving yards as Houston's offense struggled to produce while the team's starters rested in the preseason opener. Houston drafted Klein 59th overall out of Michigan, and the rookie second-round pick is likely to begin his career in a backup role behind Dalton Schultz. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Klein was known more for his blocking than his receiving ability in college.

Thompson caught two of six targets for 30 yards in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans.

Thompson tied KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the team lead in targets as the Chargers got the rookie fourth-round pick involved in Thompson's first taste of NFL action. Both Thompson and Lambert-Smith are trying to push Tre' Harris for a spot in three-receiver sets alongside Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Thompson's likely to maintain a prominent role in the Chargers' second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 20.

Tucker secured both of his targets for 21 yards in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.

Tucker opened the game with the rest of the Raiders' projected offensive starters and showed some solid chemistry with Kirk Cousins, recording 16- and five-yard grabs on an opening possession that was capped by Michael Mayer's 13-yard touchdown catch. Tucker tuned up for his projected No. 1 receiver role in 2026 by posting a career-best season a year ago, furnishing a 57-696-5 line across 17 regular-season games.

Vidal got the start in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans and rushed five times for eight yards while failing to catch his only target.

The Chargers rested starting running back Omarion Hampton for the preseason opener, and offseason addition Keaton Mitchell didn't register a touch. This was a quiet performance from Vidal, but the 2024 sixth-round pick remains in the mix for touches behind Hampton after a solid sophomore season in which Vidal produced 779 regular-season scrimmage yards.

Washington rushed six times for 63 yards, failed to bring in his only target and returned one kickoff for 22 yards in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.

The rookie fourth-round pick is considered the favorite to open the season as the No. 2 back behind Ashton Jeanty, and Washington did nothing if not help cement that status in his NFL debut. The Arkansas product gained the bulk of his rushing production on his 53-yard scamper during the Raiders' third possession, but he also had a five-yard run wiped out by an offensive holding penalty. Washington averaged a stellar 6.4 yards per carry during his 2025 senior season with the Razorbacks, and he should have ample opportunity to prove his worth as a change-of-pace back during his rookie campaign.

Dicker made both of his field-goal attempts and one of two PAT tries in Thursday's 27-7 preseason win over the Texans.

Dicker connected on field-goal attempts of 34 and 48 yards, though he later missed a PAT attempt in the fourth quarter. He missed just once on 35 PAT tries in the 2025 regular season. Dicker has established himself as one of the league's most reliable kickers in recent seasons while kicking in sunny Los Angeles.

Allgeier rushed four times for 19 yards and wasn't targeted in the Cardinals' 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders on Thursday.

Allgeier and rookie third overall pick Jeremiyah Love were the two Cardinals running backs to log touches on the team's opening possession. Allgeier's first opportunity came after Love had seen two rush attempts and recorded a reception, but the former proceeded to rattle off consecutive seven-yard runs on his first pair of carries. Allgeier also had a five-yard rush on the Cardinals' second drive, and his team debut was an encouraging one overall. The veteran RB's exact regular-season role in a crowded backfield remains to be determined, but it's worth noting Allgeier has ample experience complementing a star back after playing alongside Bijan Robinson in Atlanta for the last three seasons.

Young caught two of four targets for 28 yards in Thursday's 16-14 preseason win over the Lions.

Young ran with Joe Flacco and the second-team offense in the rookie fourth-round pick's NFL debut. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are entrenched in the top two spots on Cincinnati's wide receiver depth chart, but Young will try to contribute in a depth role out of the gate. Young should continue to get ample opportunities in the Bengals' second preseason game against the Bears on Aug. 22.