Who Should I Start? John Kelly or Miles Sanders

Friday, August 18, 5:51 AM

Cleveland Browns running back John Kelly Jr. carried the ball eight times for 20 yards and lost a fumble while adding a three-yard catch in an 18-18 tie vs. the Philadelphia Eagles in preseason action on Thursday. Kelly got the start but his fumble was a costly one as it came on Philly's one-yard line and short-circuited a 75-yard drive on Cleveland's opening possession. Kelly has been battling for backup carries this preseason but it appears that he has moved behind Demetric Felton Jr. He will get one more chance to make his case next week against the Kansas City Chiefs in Cleveland's final preseason game.

Thursday, February 20, 10:48 AM

Running back Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season, but his biggest supporters, head coach Frank Reich and assistant coach Duce Staley, were fired 11 games into that season. Sanders then took on a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the Panthers will create $5.23 million in salary cap space this year by cutting Sanders. Jonathon Brooks is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after a second ACL surgery, but Carolina should be able to find cheaper RB options than Sanders to serve in a backup role to Hubbard. The 27-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in his final season with the Eagles in 2022, but he was not the same back in Carolina, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry while racking up 637 rushing yards and only three touchdowns on 184 rushing attempts in 27 games (seven starts).