Tag: running back

Broncos rule out RB, elevate DL ahead of Chiefs game

The Broncos ruled out RB Tyler Badie (back) and elevated DL Matt Henningsen from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 18.

The Denver Broncos have ruled out running back Tyler Badie (back) and elevated defensive lineman Matt Henningsen from the practice squad ahead of Sunday’s regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tyler Baide returned to practice last week, starting his 21-day window to return from injured reserve. If Badie is not activated to the 53-man roster by Jan. 14, he will remain on IR for the rest of Denver’s season.

Meanwhile, Henningsen has joined the team’s game-day roster for Week 18. Players can be elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. Henningsen will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). With the Chiefs resting starters, the Broncos are considered favorites in Week 18. Denver can clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win.

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Ex-Broncos RB will face his former team in Week 18

With the Chiefs resting key starters in Week 18, ex-Broncos RB Samaje Perine could have a big workload against his former team.

Samaje Perine will return to Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday.

After being cut by the Denver Broncos earlier this year, Perine quickly signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, a division rival. He is now set to face his former team when the Broncos host the Chiefs in Week 18.

Kansas City has already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, so they will be resting key starters in Denver, perhaps including running back Isiah Pacheco. That could lead to a bigger workload for Perine, who seems poised to mix in with Kareem Hunt and Carson Steele at running back.

Perine has rushed 19 times for 91 yards and one touchdown this season while adding 27 receptions for 309 yards and one score as a receiver out of the backfield. He totaled 693 yards from scrimmage and scored one touchdown with the Broncos last season.

Perine caught two passes for 37 yards when KC beat Denver 16-14 earlier this year. He’s poised to have a bigger workload on Sunday.

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Former Wisconsin starting running back set to visit SEC power

Former Wisconsin starting running back set to visit SEC power

Former Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker is receiving high-profile transfer interest.

The former Badgers starter is setting up official visits to both Georgia and Cincinnati, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Related: Where Wisconsin football transfers have signed so far

Walker is in the portal after one year with the Badgers. He was granted an extra year of eligibility for the season he spent at Palomar Junior College. He entered the portal on Dec. 24, looking for a new destination to play that final year.

Walker tallied 864 yards and 10 touchdowns on 190 carries in his one season with the Badgers. Those numbers follow totals of 120 carries for 575 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons at Oklahoma.

Georgia is reportedly entering the mix for Walker as it prepares for its College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Notre Dame. The program is highlighting running back as a need with starter Trevor Etienne likely gone to the NFL draft after the Bulldogs’ playoff run concludes.

Wisconsin will enter 2025 with sophomore Darrion Dupree and redshirt junior Cade Yacamelli leading the running back room. Both excelled in limited action in 2024. Walker commanded the majority of the carries. Dupree took 79 carries for 317 yards and a touchdown, while Yacamelli tallied 274 yards and two touchdowns on just 33 carries.

The Badgers are well-stocked at the position after several years of strong recruiting efforts. Still, it will be interesting to watch Walker in his final year — especially if it is at a leading SEC power in Georgia.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Chiefs FB Carson Steele reflects on early season mistakes: ‘Learning from the older guys’

Kansas City #Chiefs fullback Carson Steele reflects on early season mistakes: ‘Learning from the older guys’ | @EdEastonJr

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will showcase a different look to their roster. Many starters are expected to rest in Week 18, and young players like rookie fullback Carson Steele will see more action.

Steele spoke with reporters on Wednesday about the lessons he’s learned from veteran running back Kareem Hunt during his rookie season and fixing mistakes.

“I mean, just watching him (Kareem Hunt), he’s an eight-year guy, nine-year guy, just being able to watch him and kind of fall in his footsteps, not even in the running back role, like blocking, catching out of the backfield, stuff like that,” said Steele. “It’s really helped me improve my game too, as well, especially learning different types of blocking techniques from him.”

Steele was given opportunities early in the season but was hampered by three fumbles in the first five weeks. Hunt was signed shortly after Isiah Pacheco’s injury to help solidify the position.

“I had a few mistakes at the beginning of the year,” said Steele. “It’s something I’ve learned from, too, after practice every day, trying to work on little fundamental stuff like that, especially learning from the older guys, protecting it in traffic, stuff like that, just a little technique.”

The rookie has tremendous upside, and Sunday’s game could remind the coaching staff how impactful he can be in the postseason.

Broncos select RB Ashton Jeanty in 2025 NFL mock draft

Pro Football Network’s recent 2025 NFL mock draft has the Broncos selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round.

How’s this for a backfield spark?

Dalton Miller’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft for the Pro Football Network has the Denver Broncos selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the 22nd overall pick in the first round. Some fans and pundits might quickly interject that “Jeanty won’t be available that late!”

Here is Miller’s response:

I don’t expect Ashton Jeanty to slip this far in April. However, it’s important to note that no first-round running back has had the amount of miles he has on the odometer in a very long time. The Boise State runner toted the rock 345 times this season and will carry a heavy load against Penn State in the Broncos’ playoff game.

So make of that what you will.

Denver could certainly use a dynamic running back in Sean Payton’s offense. Javonte Williams is scheduled to become a free agent in March and the Broncos seem unlikely to re-sign him.

Denver currently holds seven picks in the 2025 NFL draft, which will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.

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Buccaneers rookie RB drawing comparisons to Saints superstar

Bucky Irving’s rookie season with the Buccaneers has put him in exclusive company. It’s just him and Alvin Kamara in this key category:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving has gotten off to a strong start to his career. In his first season in the NFL, Irving has joined exclusive company. He and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara are the only running backs to reach 1,400 scrimmage yards on less than 250 touches as a rookie.

This is a great display of their explosiveness and dual-threat ability. Kamara’s rookie season was only 16 games, so this is a good point to compare stats and usage.

Irving has more overall touches and is used as a runner more frequently than Kamara was as a rookie. On the other hand, Kamara’s receiving production far outweighs the rookie’s.

The ability to do both is what connects the two, and Irving told Bucs media Kamara was “a guy I always looked up to” and noted Kamara’s receiving ability.

To take the connection a step further, Irving revealed Kamara reached out to him in college to tell the young player he liked his game.

Irving is coming off his most total yards in a game last week. This week, the Saints are tasked with trying to stop Irving much better than they did last time. He had his first game with 100-plus scrimmage yards this season against the Saints in Week 6. Will he do it again in Week 18?

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5 running backs to target on fantasy football waiver wire

If you have a fantasy football championship game in Week 18, consider these five running backs on the waiver wire.

If you’re reading this, you likely play in a fantasy football league that schedules its championship game for Week 18. If that’s the case, consider talking with your league’s managers about moving the title game up to Week 17 in 2025 because there are so many key players who are rested in the final week of the NFL’s regular season.

With that suggestion out of the way, here is our final fantasy football waiver wire list of the 2024 season. It’s five running backs, none of whom were considered viable starters in Week 1 of this season. That’s fantasy football (and a reflection of the Week 18 landscape).

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. RB Ameer Abdullah (33.4%): Abdullah had double the amount of carries (20) as Alexander Mattison (10) on Sunday and he led the Raiders with 115 yards on the ground while adding three catches for 32 yards. Abdullah is the RB1 in Las Vegas going into Week 18.

2. RB Michael Carter (1.1%): Trey Benson (ankle) was inactive on Sunday and James Conner (knee) left the game after just four carries. The Cardinals then turned to Michael Carter, who stepped up with 13 carries for 70 yards while adding two receptions for 11 yards. If Benson and Conner are sidelined again this week, Carter could have another productive day.

3. RB Kareem Hunt (66.1%): The Chiefs are expected to rest their key starters, likely including Isiah Pacheco, against the Broncos. That could leave a sizable workload for Hunt. If Hunt is not available in your league, there should also be plenty of touches for Samaje Perine (2.4%) against his old team.

4. RB Khalil Herbert (4.4%): Chase Brown injured his ankle on Saturday, leaving Herbert as the next man up for the Bengals. It’s not believed to be a serious injury, so Brown might be on the field for a must-win game in Week 18. If Brown isn’t able to suit up, Cincy will turn to Herbert.

5. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (17.8%): McLaughlin has been the Broncos’ best running back in recent weeks and he will face KC’s backups on Sunday. McLaughlin turned 10 carries and two catches into 76 yards in Week 17.

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Terrell Davis welcomes Saquon Barkley to 2,000-Yard Club

Saquon Barkley is the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. Terrell Davis welcomed him to the 2k Club on social media.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley made NFL history on Sunday by rushing for 167 yards in Philly’s 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

That brought Barkley’s season-long rushing total to 2,005 yards, making him just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.

With one game remaining, Barkley is just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season all-time rushing record (2,105 yards in 1984).

Barkley joins Eric Dickerson (2,105 yards), Adrian Peterson (2,097 yards), Jamal Lewis (2,066 yards), Barry Sanders (2,053 yards), Derrick Henry (2,027 yards), Terrell Davis (2,008 yards), Chris Johnson (2,006 yards) and O.J. Simpson (2,003 yards) in the NFL’s 2,000 Yard Club.

NFL 2,000 Yard Rushers

  1. Eric Dickerson (2,105 yards)
  2. Adrian Peterson (2,097 yards)
  3. Jamal Lewis (2,066 yards)
  4. Barry Sanders (2,053 yards)
  5. Derrick Henry (2,027 yards)
  6. Terrell Davis (2,008 yards)
  7. Chris Johnson (2,006 yards)
  8. Saquon Barkley (2,005 yards)
  9. O.J. Simpson (2,003 yards)

Davis took to Twitter/X on Sunday to welcome to Barkley to the 2K Club.

Sanders also welcomed Barkley:

As did Johnson:

Davis, 52, played for the Denver Broncos from 1995-2002. A two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time NFL MVP and one-time Super Bowl MVP, Davis was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

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How did Saints use their running backs in Alvin Kamara’s absence?

An early scoring deficit made the Saints call an audible on which running back to lean on in Week 16. What’s the plan moving forward?

Darren Rizzi told reporters the New Orleans Saints would take a committee approach to replacing Alvin Kamara. Rizzi laid out the plan was to use Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims and Jamaal Williams in the backfield. It seemed to be the plan to use the triumvirate equally, though it had primarily been Miller sharing the backfield with Kamara.

Plans had to change offensively after falling into an early hole against the Green Bay Packers, and that directly impacted the running back room.

“The way the game played out, we dug such a hole. We had a plan for Kendre coming in, and we got into a lot of the two minute drill,” Rizzi responded when questioned about Miller’s usage. He added, “That’s why you saw more of Mims.”

That’s reflective when looking at how the two running backs were used. Miller had the most carries and touches, but Mims was right behind him in usage. Miller’s 10 touches were comprised of eight rushes, while Mims caught the ball on five of his nine touches of the day.

Surprisingly, Williams was the runner with the least amount of activity between the three. It’s unclear if that is connected to the scoring deficit. It is clear Jordan Mims is viewed as the preferred receiving back of the trio.

New Orleans shouldn’t get into an early hole versus the Raiders. Therefore, we should get a more accurate vision of how Rizzi wants to use the running back room if Kamara is unable to play next week,

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Broncos promoting RB Blake Watson to 53-man roster

The Broncos are promoting running back Blake Watson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

The Denver Broncos are promoting running back Blake Watson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, coach Sean Payton announced Tuesday.

Denver had room for Watson on the active roster after waiving cornerback Levi Wallace on Tuesday. If Wallace clears waivers, he will be a candidate to return on the practice squad.

Watson (5-9, 195 pounds) signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis this spring. He made the team’s initial 53-man roster this summer but was a healthy scratch for five of the team’s first six games before being bumped down to the practice squad.

With Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) sidelined last week, Watson was elevated from the practice squad and served as the team’s No. 3 running back behind Audric Estime and Javonte Williams. Watson rushed four times for 10 yards and hauled in one catch for 13 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers last week.

It remains to be seen how the backfield will shake out going forward. One of Williams, Estime, McLaughlin or Watson will likely be inactive on game days. Payton has indicated that he wants to see more of Estime and Watson, so the team might have a surprise scratch at RB in Week 17.

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