The NFL preseason is moving into the final week and with coaches trying to be careful with starters, last minute additions could happen after the rosters cut down from 90 to 75 and then to 53 and there are some notable names left on the market at running back, including Michael Turner, Willis McGahee and Joe McKnight.
Turner and McGahee have been available for quite some time after getting released by their respective teams in the Falcons and Broncos earlier in the offseason, while McKnight was just released by the New York Jets as they started cutting down their roster. According to ESPN NY, the Jets released McKnight along with Braylon Edwards and now he will be looking for a new job after being a bust with the team since they drafted him. Edwards is gone after coming to the team after contributing back when they made it to the playoffs a few years ago.
The move with McKnight was expected, but it again marks a big disappointment for the formerly heralded running back from USC. Edwards felt that he would make the team despite Santonio Holmes returning, but the team decided to part ways with him. McKnight felt good coming into camp as well, but after a few bizarre moments, including a strange head injury, an arrest, conditioning issues and problems with the media, the team decided to part ways with him.
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McKnight has shown talent in the past, including when he was returning kicks on special teams, but his odd behavior as well as his problems getting on the field ended up losing his job. After failing a conditioning test, he missed some time in practice and eventually; at one point in training camp he took himself out of practice after dealing with a migraine and he also was testy with reporters, giving a "bizarre" interview about his head injury and not really answering any questions.
McKnight did not play against the Giants on Saturday and that was the first sign he could be gone and with the Jets having Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell as well as Mike Goodson, there was a good chance he wouldn't make the roster. McKnight had a few highlights during his time against the Jets, including a 107-yard touchdown kick return and he ended up with 502 rushing yards in his career. McKnight could be a free agent option for some teams, as could Michael Turner, who was released back in March and he has yet to sign with a new club.
Turner was prolific in his time in Atlanta and ended up with 1,699 yards his first season, but last year he was not as productive, going for just 800 yards and that was why the team decided to release him. The team was one of the best rushing teams over the past few years but as Turner broke down, so did the running game.
McGahee was released due to knee issues and the fact that the Broncos are looking to get younger with Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball and he still is on the market as well. The near 32-year-old has rushed for 8097 yards in his career but he had just 731 last season after suffering a knee injury, although he said he is healthy now. McGahee and Turner are in the top five of active running backs in yards, coming in at four and five with over 8,000 yards and 7,338 yards respectively in about the same amount of games. Each of these players could help out teams with injuries, including the Texans, Cowboys and Raiders.
