Michael Turner and Willis McGahee Remain Top Free Agent Running Backs With Joe McKnight After NFL Preseason

Aug 30, 2013 12:18 PM EDT
Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner
Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33), runs for yardage as New York Giants linebacker Keith Rivers defends in the second half at their NFL football game in Atlanta, Georgia December 16, 2012. "

The NFL season is about to begin now that the preseason is over teams will be looking to cut down rosters to 53-men by Saturday at 6 PM and with injuries piling up around the league, including to Andre Brown on the Giants, Michael Turner, Willis McGahee and Joe McKnight remain the top free agent running backs left on the market.

SWR looked at some of the top free agents on the market already and there could be plenty more coming as cuts start going down after Thursday's games. After cut downs from 90 to 75 players, McKnight was released and McGahee and Turner are just simply veteran free agents that were cut earlier in the offseason and have yet to find a team. Both players have been some of the most productive running backs in the league over the past five years, but now with age and injuries it has been harder for them to find jobs out there with teams.

The Giants lost Brown to a broken leg and while he said that he thinks he should be ready to return in a few weeks, he already broke his leg last season and that could be trouble since he was expected to be the primary starter for the team along with David Wilson. Brown hurt his leg last season and he said that he plans on playing again soon since the break was not complete and was just a fracture. The Giants are dealing with injuries to a number of important players this preseason and Brown might be the most important.

The team already lost Stevie Brown for the year and now they have to figure out what to do at running back. Wilson will step up into the main role and while the team was ready to give him more responsibility, this is more than they were expecting. McKnight was released by the Jets after a very strange summer and while he dealt with injuries and a head issue as well as mental issues, he still is a talented running back and kick returner and he could be an option for a number of teams looking for depth.

McKnight didn't produce at all with the Jets and Turner is coming off 1,000 yard seasons in two of the last three years, but last season he was a disappointment with just 800. He has played in 16 games in the last three seasons and had 1,699 yards in 2008, but he has steadily been declining, although he did have double-digit touchdowns five seasons in a row, including 10 last year and 11 the previous season.

McGahee was let go as the Broncos decided to go younger and he has just 700 yards rushing last season after being one of the most prolific over the past few years and now he is looking for a new job as well as a 32-year old. McGahee had knee issues and now he will be looked at as a veteran replacement and he could be a fit for the Giants if they feel like they need someone else to step up.

Click here for the full roster cut list.

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