Tag: running backs

Saints say rookie RB Kendre Miller dealing with new hamstring injury

The Saints say rookie running back Kendre Miller is dealing with a new hamstring injury, putting his Week 1 availability in jeopardy:

This is discouraging: rookie New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller is now managing a new hamstring injury after a knee issue slowed him down throughout the summer, per head coach Dennis Allen.

Allen declined to say whether Miller would be able to return in time for Week 1’s home opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10. But the team’s latest roster moves may tell us something about the state of the depth chart.

The Saints are already thin at running back with Alvin Kamara suspended the first three games. They shuffled the depth chart a bit by signing rookie runner Jordan Mims and swapping first-year pro Ellis Merriweather for a veteran they know well in Tony Jones Jr., both moves on the practice squad.

With just Miller, Jamaal Williams and Kirk Merritt (who missed most of the preseason with a groin injury) remaining on the 53-man roster, the Saints are suddenly looking less-stable in the backfield than they were just a few weeks ago. That’s going to make for tough sledding against one of the league’s best run defenses.

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Saints announce multiple practice squad roster moves, re-sign RB Tony Jones Jr.

The Saints announced multiple practice squad roster moves, signing running backs Tony Jones Jr. and Jordan Mims. Both pickups were previously reported:

The New Orleans Saints are continuing to tweak their depth chart at running back as the regular season approaches, with head coach Dennis Allen announcing multiple roster moves for their practice squad on Thursday.

“We added a couple of runners to the practice squad and we released a couple of players from the practice squad,” Allen said, confirming that rookie running back Ellis Merriweather and veteran linebacker Ty Summers were both waived. “It’s a lot of transactions that happen in the first weeks of the season, so it’s all about roster management.”

With Alvin Kamara suspended and Kirk Merritt coming off an injury — with Kendre Miller managing a new hamstring issue — it made sense to reinforce the depth chart. But the Saints wanted to get someone they were more comfortable throwing into a game by bringing Tony Jones Jr. back. Here’s what you need to know about each move:

Kirby Smart updates Georgia RB situation: ‘We’re looking at everyone at running back’

Injury updates, RB room outlook from Kirby Smart…

Running back depth is a concern for Georgia as the Bulldogs prepare for the 2023 season opener versus UT Martin on Saturday.

Sophomore tailback Branson Robinson suffered a torn patella tendon last week and will miss the entire season. Seniors Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton, Georgia’s leading returning rushers, are both dealing with injuries with kickoff quickly approaching.

Head coach Kirby Smart spoke to the media on Monday and outlined where Georgia stands at running back.

“Well, we’re looking at everyone at running back. We’re trying to find the best way possible to get the ball in the hands of playmakers. Daijun is dealing with an MCL. He had one last year, but he’s actually doing great. He’s going to be able to practice and do everything today, so we feel good about Daijun’s status. It happened in the second scrimmage… He’s bounced back pretty good from that, so he looks good.”

Edwards finished second in rushing last season behind 2023 NFL draft pick Kenny McIntosh. The Norman Park, Georgia, native rushed 140 times for 769 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding another 101 yards on 14 receptions last season.

Milton finished behind Edwards with 592 yards on 85 carries and eight touchdowns, along with five catches for 64 yards and a score as a receiver.

“Kendall, he’s been dealing with a hamstring most of — almost all of — camp. He feels 80 – 90% and we’re hopeful to get him back today as well in terms of practicing and taking reps. The volume they do we have to be careful of because they haven’t been in the heat as much as the other guys in the last week, but we feel good about both of those guys (Edwards, Milton).”

Redshirt freshman Andrew Paul, true freshman Roderick Robinson and Cash Jones, a sophomore walk-on, have had an opportunity to shine more with Edwards and Milton limited.

“I feel good about Andrew Paul. Rod (Roderick) Robinson has had a great camp. Cash (Jones) has had a good camp. (We’ve) really got a bunch of guys that have repped and done some good things there.”

The Bulldogs have matchups with UT Martin and Ball State before SEC play begins versus South Carolina on Sept. 16. The Dawgs need to get healthier at running back.

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2024 NFL draft watch list: Top running backs for the New Orleans Saints

2024 NFL draft watch list: Highlighting top options at running back for the New Orleans Saints | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints are looking good at running back for now, but you can never take your eyes off a position like that. The turnaround at running back is high so the Saints could still be watching the position in the draft.

Jamaal Williams is coming off of a great year, but both he and Alvin Kamara are both 28 and these days that is almost ancient for a star running back. Todd Gurley retired and he’s only 29. It’s hard to predict when someone falls off the cliff at this position.

The Saints running back room has a little bit of everything right now, but it’s clear that they favor some versatility. There are some great names available for the second and third rounds, which seems to be the go to spot for running backs these days (unless you’re the Atlanta Falcons or Detroit Lions).

Here are the top names at running back to keep an eye on this college football season, while there’s really no Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, it’s still a fun class:

Kirby Smart provides injury updates on Georgia’s running backs

What is the status of injured Georgia Bulldog running backs?

The Georgia Bulldogs are dealing with several injuries in the running backs room. Georgia lost running back Kenny McIntosh to the 2023 NFL draft. McIntosh was last season’s leading rusher and receiving running back.

The Bulldogs return every other key piece from the 2022 running backs room. However, Georgia does have some early depth concerns at running back due to the accumulation of injuries the Dawgs have at the position.

What is the latest injury update on Georgia’s backfield?

Cowboys to spread carries around among all 4 young RBs vs Jaguars, per McCarthy

From @ToddBrock24f7: Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke will all get looks Saturday with Ronald Jones unlikely to go, says Mike McCarthy.

Saturday night’s preseason opener will give Cowboys coaches their first gametime looks at a whole host of players. Everyone who takes the field against Jacksonville will be evaluated, from quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Will Grier as they vie for the QB2 spot to Brandon Aubrey, who tries to convince the front office that they can stop worrying about the kicker position.

But one of the most wide-open battle royales will be at running back. Tony Pollard’s slot as the lead ballcarrier is secure, but this weekend’s exhibition game will start to settle the matter of who will back him up once the regular season commences.

There are five men looking to climb the depth chart at RB. But one of them, Ronald Jones may be sitting out this first showcase opportunity. The veteran sustained a groin injury last weekend and has not practiced since.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said things didn’t look good for the all-important Thursday practice, either.

“I don’t see Ronald going today,” the coach said during the day’s press conference. “If he doesn’t go today, he won’t go Saturday.”

That leaves Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, rookie Deuce Vaughn, and fullback UDFA Hunter Luepke to split the team’s rushing attack when the Jaguars pay their visit to AT&T Stadium.

McCarthy believes there will be plenty of carries to go around.

“I really don’t think it’s going to be a challenge at all, especially now that RoJo’s not going to be going Saturday, unless something changes big-time here in the next 24 to 36 hours,” McCarthy told reporters. “I think there’ll be plenty for all those guys.”

Which one of them breaks out of the pack remains to be seen. But McCarthy believes that the organization has done a great job of bringing in very versatile candidates who can truly do it all out of the backfield.

“Guys you have to scheme for and [who can] play in certain schemes obviously limits you. If you look at these young backs, all four have very instinctive run ability between the tackles,” the coach explained. “At the end of the day, you’ve got run at people, downhill. You’re only going to get outside so many times. This game, running the football and pass protection, it happens between the C-gaps.”

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Whether it’s the elusive 5-foot-6-incher- Vaughn- or a big 238-pound bruiser like Leupke or someone in between, McCarthy is clear on what he wants to see.

“You want them to be dynamic with the ball in their hands.”

Four young rushers will get their chances to do just that for the Cowboys on Saturday night.

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2023 Tennessee football roster: Vols’ running backs

A look at Tennessee’s running backs on roster in 2023.

2023 is the third season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel compiled a 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record and appeared in two bowl games from 2021-22 with the Vols.

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Virginia.

Kickoff between the Vols and Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. ABC will televise the season-opening matchup.

Tennessee’s 2023 home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

2023 SEC football returning rushing yard leaders

Eight student-athletes are running backs on Tennessee’s 2023 roster. The Vols’ 2023 running backs are listed below.

Saints hosting RB Kareem Hunt on free agent visit

Looking to add to the RB room after suspension to Alvin Kamara and injury to Eno Benjamin, Saints host free agent Kareem Hunt | @ClutchWDN

The New Orleans Saints have recently been dealt a few blows at the running back position. This includes a suspension to Alvin Kamara for the first three weeks of the season and a season-ending Achilles injury to Eno Benjamin. This news has prompted the Saints to hold a meeting with free agent running back Kareem Hunt, formerly of the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler first reported news of Hunt’s visit.

Now you may ask, why bring in another back when the team already has Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller to carry the load? The reason for this is to somewhat fill the role Kamara would play out of the backfield on screens and as another receiving option. Hunt had a solid 2022 season in the receiving game last year, with 35 receptions for 210 yards (6.0 yards per reception), 1 touchdown catch, and a 79.5% catch rate. On top of that, he also brings versatility on the ground, with 123 carries for 468 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns last year.

Logistically speaking, Hunt would not completely re-define the New Orleans running game.  However, he would add some much-needed depth to the position when Kamara is serving is suspension, and in the event of any more absences We will see if the signing takes place later, but for now, it would make sense for it to take place.

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Ranking the best available free agent running backs

Will the Saints sign another running back in light of Alvin Kamara’s suspension and Eno Benjamin’s injury? These are the best available free agents:

Will the New Orleans Saints sign another running back in light of Alvin Kamara’s suspension? It’s a cold world for free agent running backs with more and more teams devaluing the position, but the Saints are one squad that still regards them highly — they’re paying $12.8 million to their running backs in 2023, per Over The Cap records, which ranks 11th-highest around the league.

And with Kamara sidelined for the first three games to open the season, it’s fair to wonder if they might spend more at the position. New Orleans did sign Jamaal Williams to a respectable three-year, $12 million contract in free agency while adding rookies Kendre Miller (third-round pick out of TCU) and Ellis Merriweather (undrafted from UMass), also holding onto backups Eno Benjamin and Kirk Merritt.

That should have been enough to get them through the first few games, but Benjamin’s ruptured Achilles injury (combined with Kamara’s suspension) is a big hit to the depth chart. If the group disappoints in preseason or the depth looks suspect, it shouldn’t shock anyone if the Saints add another veteran to the group at near-minimum salary.

If they are interested in adding another veteran to the mix, they’ll need to act quickly — in recent days free agents like Kenyan Drake (Indianapolis Colts) and Marlon Mack (Arizona Cardinals) have signed with new teams, thinning out the market. And if the Saints are going to sign someone, it’s more likely they’ll target a free agent on a minimum salary rather than one of the big names headlining these kinds of lists.

Still, here are the top 10 free agent running backs looking for work:

NFL fans absolutely crushed Colts owner Jim Irsay for his hot take on running backs getting paid

This comment from Colts owner Jim Irsay did NOT go over well.

The controversy around how star running backs are paid in the NFL has been one of the defining narratives of the offseason, and a major voice in the league has now weighed in on the situation.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has used the last NFL collective bargaining agreement agreement the players agreed to as a reason for the pay rate being what it is.

With that, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be supportive of running backs being compensated more than what they have been right now.

As you could imagine, this did not go over well with those in the NFL community who feel that running backs (rightly) should be paid what they’re worth in comparison to other skill positions in the league, CBA or not.

With Colts running back Jonathan Taylor heading into a contract year, it doesn’t sound like Indianapolis is going to be the organization to buck recent trend and pay star running backs like the elite talents they are.

It never particularly goes well when someone like Irsay weighs in on a controversial topic like this from a position of power and takes the unpopular opinion.

He caught plenty of flak on social media for firing off this hot take, and some folks wondered if this might make Taylor hold out until he gets a new deal.

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