Achane is expected to sit out practice through the rest of the week and could be closely managed until the Dolphins’ Week 1 game against the Colts. “Calves are the ones that you have to be super proactive [with], especially with explosive players,” McDaniel said when asked about how the team is handling Achane ahead of the regular season, adding that NFL trainers have “horror stories” of players coming back too soon from calf injuries and aggravating the injury or tearing their Achilles tendon. If Achane sits out the season opener while recovering from his calf issue, Jaylen Wright would take over as Miami’s RB1, with rookie RB Ollie Gordon serving as a complementary option.

Charbonnet has impressed Seahawks coaches, including new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, throughout the offseason and into training camp while Ken Walker has missed significant time with an ongoing foot issue. Walker has managed just four practices over the past month, according to Henderson. Charbonnet hasn’t missed any time, and rushed fore 45 yards on just five carries last week against the Chiefs. “While no one with the Seahawks has publicly acknowledged that the RB1 job is up for grabs, Walker’s ongoing availability issues and the way Charbonnet continues to impress the organization suggests that Seattle’s backfield could be more of a timeshare than a typical starter-backup arrangement,” Henderson said. Kubiak, meanwhile, said availability will weigh heavily in who carries the load in the Seattle backfield this season. Kubiak said he’s seeking backs “that are available for the whole game. The best backs that I’ve been around are super smart ... Our top two guys are doing some really good things, but Charbonnet, his mental approach to the game is extremely impressive. He does not flinch.” Charbonnet is an excellent fantasy pick for drafters who fade the running back position in the opening rounds, while Walker remains a risky option with some upside if he can manage to stay healthy in 2025.

Alexander said the Texans signed Chubb this offseason specifically because they feared Mixon would miss time with a foot/ankle injury he suffered this offseason. Though Mixon is unlikely to miss the entire regular season, the veteran could land on the PUP list to start the season, according to Alexander. That would cost Mixon the first four weeks of the regular season and perhaps put Chubb in the RB1 role. One of the most inefficient rushers in the NFL last season, Chubb, 29, had 25 yards on five rushing attempts last week against the Panthers in the Texans’ second preseason matchup. Rookie Woody Marks led the backfield with 40 yards on seven carries. Marks would likely work as the primary pass-catching back if Mixon were to miss time, while Chubb splits early down duties with Dameon Pierce. Chubb will be touchdown dependent even as the team’s de facto No. 1 back.

That would mean Mixon, dealing with lingering foot and ankle issues, would miss at least the first four weeks of the regular season. Mixon is already an iffy option for Week 1. He hasn’t been seen out at practice, nor has he worked off to the side, which would indicate he’s not two to three weeks away from returning from the foot or ankle injury he suffered off the field this past offseason,” Alexander said of Mixon, who rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns over 14 games in 2024. Texans officials have been vague about Mixon’s status two weeks ahead of the team’s Week 1 game against the Rams. “Joe is kind of working through it,” general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday. “We’ll kind of take it one day at a time. Once we get a little closer, we’ll probably have a better idea of where he’s going to be. But Joe is working hard trying to get himself back ready to go.” Nick Chubb, according to Alexander, “will likely serve as the lead back until Mixon returns, whenever that may be.” Chubb would probably share the backfield workload with Dameon Pierce and pass-catching specialist Woody Marks.

All three teams would make sense as a landing spot for disgruntled Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, who has sat out Washington’s training camp and is reportedly unhappy with the lack of progress toward a new deal with the Commanders. The Vikings will be without Jordan Addison for the season’s first month, meaning Jalen Nailor will likely work as the team’s WR2 if he overcomes a hand injury before Week 1. The Jets, meanwhile, have the league’s thinnest wide receiver room behind Garrett Wilson. The 49ers will be without Brandon Aiyuk for a while, and Jauan Jennings is reportedly dealing with a calf injury and unhappy with his current contract. McLaurin’s fantasy stock would be highest in Washington, though San Francisco would be a good landing spot statistically for the 30-year-old wideout. He’d take a major hit if he’s dealt to the Jets.

He missed just over two weeks with a shoulder injury. Guerendo should slot right back in as Christian McCaffrey’s main backup over Jeff Wilson going forward. It’s possible Guerendo gets a little run in the final preseason game to make sure he’s fully ready for the regular season.

We’ve gone from McMillan “avoiding anything major” to him being out half the season through the last two days. McMillan starting on IR will give runway to Emeka Egbuka to be a major contributor to Tampa Bay’s offense immediately. It also may give supporting options like Cade Otton more of a share than they’d normally have as Tampa threads the needle early without McMillan and Chris Godwin. McMillan isn’t a must-hold in shallow leagues based on this reported timeline.

Schefter adds “it sounds like at this point it’s personal.” Since Parsons’ trade request earlier in August, we haven’t had much in the way of real news updates, and Schefter says both sides haven’t negotiated since April. “The only question is when is that divorce going to happen, and how is it going to happen?” Schefter continues. There are very few non-quarterbacks who could be traded and cause a monumental shift before the season started, but Parsons qualifies. We’ve yet to blurb about any teams directly linked to acquiring Parsons, but it would likely take at least a first-round pick — and probably more than just that.

Skattebo, who struggled with soft tissue injuries in college, missed two weeks of practice with a serious hamstring injury. That gave Tyrone Tracy a path to establishing himself as the Giants’ No. 1 running back ahead of the team’s season opener against Washington. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said Tracy would “100 percent” function as the Giants’ lead back in 2025, with Skattebo operating a complement. That could include pass catching duties, as Skattebo was one of the nation’s best pass-catching backs at Arizona State last season. The rookie will have a chance to carve out a larger role as the season wears on.