After two weeks of the NFL season, we have already seen a plethora of players suffer injuries. That opens the door for backups or players that are not yet on a roster to get an opportunity. Two starters that got injured this past week are Aaron Jones Sr. and Austin Ekeler.
That opens the door for both the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders to look for a replacement. Jones was placed on the IR with a hamstring injury and Ekeler is done for the season with an Achilles tear.
Free Agents That Could Interest the Vikings and Commanders
At this point in the season, there is probably a reason why the players in free agency are available. Some may have an injury history, while others may have let the game pass them by. However, here are some running backs that could help either team.
Khalil Herbert
One of the running backs that the Commanders worked out was former Chicago Bear Khalil Herbert. Herbert worked out for the Commanders but has not yet signed with them. The last time we saw Herbert was last season when he played in six games with the Bears before getting traded to the Bengals. In Cincinnati, he averaged 4.1 yards per carry across 28 attempts.
Gus Edwards
Another veteran running back looking for an opportunity is Gus Edwards. He is a bruising back who last played with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. Edwards rushed to a 49.5% success rate last season and 3.6 yards per carry across 101 attempts. While he might not have much left in the tank, he could be a decent fill-in.
Jamaal Williams
The next free agent running back these teams should take a look at is Jamaal Williams. He rushed 48 times for 168 yards last season with the Saints. Williams is 30 years old and might not have a lot left in the tank. However, he is a good pass blocker, and many teams find that valuable.
Demetric Felton
If a team is looking for a young running back with fresh legs, Demetric Felton could be a solid option. While he does not have much NFL experience (only 24 career games), he is 27 years old and a strong pass catcher. Felton last played in the NFL during the 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns.
According to Aaron Wilson, Felton spent training camp with the Commanders, so he is familiar with them.
#Commanders working out running back Demetric Felton Jr., Monday, per a league source. Spent camp with them. Former #Browns sixth round pick @UCLAFootball @KPRC2 @VicEnwere1 pic.twitter.com/Ho5gvzibzB
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 14, 2025
He is a long shot to be effective even if picked up by a team, but he could be a fun third-down back.
D’Onta Foreman
The last time we saw D’Onta Foreman, he was running for the Cleveland Browns in 2024. He did not have a productive season, and that could be part of the reason why he is still not signed. However, Foreman has demonstrated his ability to be an effective runner in the past. Back in 2022, he rushed for 914 yards and five touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers. He is worth a look for the Commanders or Vikings if they want a big-bodied runner.
Practice Squad Options
The way the practice squad works is that any team can sign a player off another team’s practice squad, but they must add them to their active 53-man roster. Each team can carry up to 16 players on their practice squad, 10 of whom have played two seasons or fewer, and the other six may be veterans. It is ultimately the player’s choice if he wants to move to the new team.
Some of the best practice squad running back options include Israel Abanikanda, Jeff Wilson Jr., Ameer Abdullah and D’Ernest Johnson. Any of these players can be claimed by one of the RB-needy teams and added to their 53-man roster.
Ultimately, trying to fit solid contributors in free agency is difficult. But these players could provide depth, which is always a necessity in the NFL.
