NFL Player News

According to a report from Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910, Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is expected to miss an "extended period of time" because of a foot injury.

Ellington had been dealing with some discomfort in his left foot the past week, and aggravated the injury during Thursday's practice. He was sent for an MRI after practice and the team is still awaiting the results of the exam. If he's unable to play Week 1 against San Diego, the team will likely turn to Jonathan Dwyer and Stepfan Taylor to shoulder the load.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington underwent an MRI on his injured foot on Thursday, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910. The team is still awaiting the results of the exam.

Ellington had been dealing with some discomfort in his left foot the past week. He was limited in practice on Thursday because he irritated the injury during the session. It remains to be seen if he'll be available to practice on Friday.

The Packers backup running backs managed to play a role despite limited carries Thursday against the Seahawks.

John Kuhn played his normal role, sneaking in a touchdown from two yards out. It was Kuhn’s only carry of the game. He was not targeted in the passing game. 

DuJuan Harris also managed one carry during the contest. He picked up 7 yards on his only rush. 

Both players will take on the Jets Week 2. 

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is facing a Carolina defense that was third-best against the run last season. He’s also looking to shake off an injury-plagued 2013 campaign heading into his Week 1 matchup at home against the Panthers.

Martin never faced the Panthers in 2013 because of his season-ending shoulder injury. In his first two meetings his rookie season, he compiled for 233 yards on 48 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. Running backs against Carolina last year averaged only 12.41 Fantasy points per game in CBSSports.com standard formats.

Martin is a workhorse back and will get a healthy amount of touches regardless of the matchup. Consider him a strong starting option for Week 1.

The Seahawks have designated RB Christine Michael, CB Tharold Simon, TE Cooper Helfet, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, WR Kevin Norwood, WR Phil Bates, and DE Greg Scruggs as inactive Week 1 against the Packers.

Michael, Helfet, Pierre-Louis and Simon were all listed as out entering the game, so the fact that they are inactive shouldn't come as a surprise. Norwood is a surprise, since he was considered probable for Week 1. 

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington was listed as a limited participant in practice Thursday due to a foot injury. The Cardinals host the Chargers Week 1.

They say if you have two quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, you actually have no starting quarterback. The same might be said about featured backs.

At least those seeking that title with the Jets. Though newly acquired Chris Johnson is coming off a sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season with Tennessee, but his 3.9 YPC average in 2013 was the worst of his career. Chris Ivory followed strong performances with weak ones throughout last season and Bilal Powell also proved inconsistent.

The trio combined to rush for 223 yards on 43 carries for a 5.2 average in the preseason, which prompted Rex Ryan to declare that the three will alternate in the regular season. Though Johnson is the most likely to emerge as the featured back, it seems clear that all will receive enough opportunities in the season opener Sunday against an improved Oakland defense to make none of them more than a second option in shallower leagues and flex in deeper ones.

Fantasy owners should monitor their reps to determine if any of them emerge as a featured back.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (concussion) was a full participant in practice for a second straight day Thursday. The Ravens host the Bengals Week 1.

Just months removed from a frustrating offseason in which he was released by Tennessee after the team found no trade partners, Jets new running back Chris Johnson is claiming to be enjoying the game again.

Johnson is not officially the featured back, though he will likely receive more reps than backfield mates Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. More will be known about the distribution of carries when the team opens against visiting Oakland on Sunday. All three are listed as first teamers on the depth chart. But Johnson is having fun.

"It just feels great to be back out there playing on Sundays," he told the New York Post. "It's fun again."

With Ivory and Powell earning playing time, Johnson will likely not approach the average of 17 carries per game given to him last year with Tennessee.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was a full participant in practice Wednesday.

Pierce has been dealing with a concussion, but was cleared Tuesday. The fact that he was able to get through Wednesday's full practice bodes well for him starting Week 1.