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    Panthers put Trevor Etienne on IR

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    CAR Running Back #23
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    Panthers placed RB Trevor Etienne on injured reserve.

    Etienne will be eligible to come off IR after the first four weeks of the 2026 regular season. He got some buzz during offseason workouts and training camp but has exceedingly little chance of seeing significant regular season snaps for Carolina. Etienne as a rookie in 2025 had 20 carries for 94 scoreless yards, functioning mostly as a kick returner. AJ Dillon will be the depth back behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks as things stand right now.
Are Browns competitors or contenders now 3-1?
Dan and the Danettes debate if the Cleveland Browns are "competitors or contenders" after their Week 4 win and discuss the heated exchange between Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy.

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  • CAR Running Back #23
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    Etienne suffered a high-ankle sprain in the final preseason game. He may return as the nominal No. 2 back behind Chuba Hubbard after Jonathon Brooks was injured in Week 2, giving him non-zero deep-league value.
  • CAR Running Back #24
    Earlier today, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported that “there will be no limitations” for Brooks (knee). First-team usage seemingly affirms that. The team hopes Brooks forms a one-two punch with RB Chuba Hubbard before taking over as the starter at some point. Backup RB Trevor Etienne “also got his fair share of reps, and he worked with the starters as well in the running back rotation.” This is somewhat surprising, and worth keeping an eye on. Regarding Brooks’ showing, Kaye says he “looked quick as he bobbed and weaved with the ball in his hands.” He notably took “a mild hit,” but “showed no signs of struggle afterward.” Brooks looks like a high-upside, risk-reward type of pick right now.
  • CAR Running Back #24
    It’s part of the reason why the Panthers are willing to let Rico Dowdle leave in free agency. With Chuba Hubbard as the main back, Brooks would likely not be a major part of the offense even if he got to camp healthy after losing most of his NFL career to date to ACL tears. Still, he’s going to be just 23 this offseason, it’s hard to completely give up hope on him. He’ll battle Trevor Etienne for the main backup role if the Panthers don’t bring in anyone else.
  • CAR Running Back #23
    His most important contribution against the Rams was letting one punt return clank off his helmet to be recovered by the Rams, then nearly losing a second one later in the exact same way. Etienne never truly entered the backfield derby in Carolina, topping out at 7/33 against the Patriots in a 42-13 drubbing where he mostly played late. The 114th overall pick in last year’s draft, Etienne could wind up as Chuba Hubbard’s No. 2 back this offseason if the Panthers don’t add anyone else to the room, but this year’s usage doesn’t exactly demonstrate a commitment from the Panthers that leads us to think they want him to be that player.
  • CAR Running Back #23
    His longest play of the day, an 11-yard run deep in the fourth quarter, came with the Cowboys figuratively begging him to score so they could get the ball back, not even attempting to tackle him. Etienne smartly slid down. He’s got no role worth speaking of at the moment and will fall even further once Chuba Hubbard is healthy again.
  • CAR Running Back #23
    Etienne was used sparingly even with Chuba Hubbard out this week. Rico Dowdle was the team’s lead back and he gave them no reason to turn to the rookie. Dowdle ran for 206 yards on 23 attempts and scored once. Half of Etienne’s carries came on the Panthers’ penultimate drive while Dowdle was dealing with cramps. Needless to say, Etienne is not on the fantasy radar heading into Week 6.
  • CAR Running Back #30
    Just hours after it was reported that Hubbard was expected to miss Week 5, the Panthers have confirmed their RB1 will miss Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Hubbard’s injury isn’t expected to be something that sidelines him long-term, but the Panthers will give him the week off and turnover duties to Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne. Dowdle profiles as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside, while Etienne should be viewed as a stash until we see how he’s utilized sans Hubbard.
  • CAR Running Back #30
    Hubbard popped up on Thursday’s injury report with a calf injury and was officially limited as a limited participant. He was again listed as limited on Friday, which is a relatively good sign for his Week 4 availability, but his name will be one to watch when inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff. In the event he can’t go, backup Rico Dowdle would be the favorite to handle the majority of backfield duties with rookie Trevor Etienne also being in the mix for touches.
  • CAR Running Back #30
    Hubbard was a workhorse for the Panthers last year, running for 1,195 yards on 250 attempts. He also totaled 43 receptions for another 171 yards, bringing him over 275 touches for the second season in a row. The team rewarded him for his efforts with a four-year extension midseason, but that doesn’t mean they are going to load him up with touches once again. The Panthers brought in Rico Dowdle in free agency and spent a fourth-round pick on Trevor Etienne. Dowdle split snaps with Hubbard during the preseason, alluding to a possible role for him on passing downs. Hubbard remains the only back with stand-alone fantasy value in Carolina, but he may struggle to live up to his lofty ADP if Dowdle or Etienne are more involved than expected.
  • CAR Running Back #23
    Etienne also caught one pass for seven yards on his only target. The 21-year-old is attempting to work his way into a role with the Panthers after being selected in the fourth round, but he hasn’t looked the part in these first two preseason games. Chuba Hubbard was always there starter, but Rico Dowdle will be the backup to open the year with Etienne unlikely to see many touches to begin the campaign.

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    Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla said he has “no current plans to change anything about the team, including the coach, president, operation or Lumen Field.”

    Axios’ Dan Primack reminded Khosla of his stated desire to preserve what Paul Allen built before asking him if he would commit to keeping the Seahawks in Seattle long term. Khosla first responded by saying he would “never say never,” and then rhetorically wondered aloud whether this team would be in Seattle “500 years from now,” before making his “no current plans” remarks. Primack helpfully refocused the conversation on the Lumen Field lease’s 2032 end date, prompting Khosla to say that he doesn’t think he’ll “do anything but learn for a while.” Seriously entertaining a move seems unlikely, but Khosla would do well to provide a more concrete answer to a city that once saw its NBA team relocated after new ownership took over. His comments can be ignored for now. Perhaps this is just an early negotiation tactic for future stadium renovations.
  • LA Running Back #24
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    The Athletic’s Nate Atkins believes the Rams need more from Blake Corum in the coming weeks.

    Atkins believes Puka Nacua’s (groin) impending return will lighten the box, in turn making life easier on the run game and preventing the opposition from blitzing as frequently as the Broncos did last week. Corum has not established himself as a reliable weekly contributor in fantasy. Perhaps positive impacts from Nacua’s return trickle down to the Rams’ No. 2 running back. Kyren Williams remains a locked-in starter. Keep Corum stashed for now.
  • LA Defensive Tackle #99
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Aaron Donald is dealing with a “mild” back injury.

    Rapoport also said Donald’s absence is more than just a precautionary measure, and compared his sidelining to the way the Rams handled Myles Garrett’s knee injury, with a long-term view in mind. Check back next week to see if Donald is feeling well enough to resume practicing.
  • CHI Quarterback #17
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that QB Tyson Bagent is expected to start for the Bears in Week 4 against the Jets.

    Bagent signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension in August 2025 to serve as the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback. He took the majority of first-team reps this week despite QB3 Case Keenum’s Week 3 heroics. Bagent can be started in Superflex leagues against the Jets, assuming he is officially named the starter this weekend.
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    Derwin James (hamstring) is questionable to play in Week 4 against the Seahawks.

    James sandwiched a Thursday absence with two limited sessions. The veteran safety plays through injuries whenever possible, and the Chargers will need all hands on deck to get their season back on track.
  • SEA Running Back #26
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    Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the team is making sure Zach Charbonnet (knee) “feels great when the time comes for him to come back.”

    The Seahawks opened Charbonnet’s practice window on Thursday, but he is not yet ready to return. Charbonnet’s left quad is noticeably thinner than his right quad, and Macdonald explained that there is “a process to get him physically and mentally ready to go.” That said, Macdonald also said the veteran running back “looks fantastic.” Stash him now.
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    Chiefs ruled out LT Josh Simmons (back) for Week 4 against the Raiders.

    Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Simmons is dealing with a bulging disc in his lower back. Brutal. On the plus side, CB Chamarri Conner (knee) will make his return.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #19
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    Marvin Mims (foot) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Mims aggravated his foot injury back in Week 1 and has been inactive on game day since. The Broncos’ volatile performer is back, but is not on the FLEX radar in 12-team formats.
  • DEN Running Back #27
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    J.K. Dobbins (hip) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Dobbins practiced in full this week, so he should be ready to handle his typical workload against the 49ers this week. The Broncos’ lead rusher has played very unproductively this season, failing to hit 7.0 PPR points each week. The Broncos’ defensive line has been hit hard by injuries. Perhaps Dobbins can steady himself in the RB2/FLEX ranks against them.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
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    Jaylen Waddle (foot) is not on the injury report for Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Waddle gave folks a fright, sporting a walking boot after the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams. He practiced in full all week, though, so there are no concerns about his availability. Waddle is a WR2 against the 49ers in what should be a fantasy-friendly game environment.