NFL Player News

The Rams waived running back Isaiah Pead with an injury designation, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pead tore his ACL in Saturday's preseason game with the Packers.

The Colts are focused on getting their rushing game going heading into Saturday's third preseason game against the Saints. Specifically, they want to see more production from Trent Richardson, who's averaged 2.4 yards per carry through two games.

"Trent, he needs to answer the bell and do his job to the best of his ability," general manager Ryan Grigson told ESPN.com. "We're all accountable here. I will say this, there are a lot of backs last year that wouldn't have got [2.4 ypc] considering the amount of people he had in that box and the amount of bodies that were hitting him before he even seemed to get the ball sometimes.

"He's such a hard runner, we know how tough he is, but he's got to produce just like all these guys do on the final 53."

Richardson averaged 2.9 yards per carry last season with Indy. If he continues to flounder, the Colts could turn to Ahmad Bradshaw, who's coming back from a neck injury and scheduled to make his preseason debut Saturday.

Under new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, the Ravens have a different mindset and plan to be a run-first team again, reports ESPN.com. The revamped offensive line has pushed defenders off the line, and running backs Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce "are lighter, and as a result, more explosive," the report said.

Baltimore leads the NFL with 194 rushing yards in the preseason, 69 more than any other team.

Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has rushed for 91 yards on 20 preseason carries (4.6 yards per carry). Owner Jerry Jones said Randle "is really playing outstanding" and "that's not an exaggeration," reports ESPN.com.

Randle, who averaged 3.0 yards per carry last year, said he's bigger, stronger and smarter. "I'm a year smarter in the playbook. I think that's all things that help me play fast," he said. "Now, I'm just working on playing fast every play I'm out there. That comes with practice."

Randle is running third behind DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar.

The Eagles acquired running back/return specialist Kenjon Barner from the Panthers Tuesday in exchange for a 2015 conditional seventh-round pick.

Barner was a potential cap casualty for the Panthers after seeing just six carries in his rookie season last year. A sixth-round pick in the 2013 draft, Barner played under Eagles coach Chip Kelly at Oregon.

Browns rookie running back Terrance West got only one first-half carry Monday night against the Redskins as Ben Tate dominated snaps with the first string. West finished with 31 yards on eight carries (3.9 yards per rush). He was not targeted in the passing game.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith referred to running back Doug Martin as the team's "bell cow," reports ESPN.com. Smith also praised Martin's improvement as a pass catcher, a role that will be critical given the serious ankle injury suffered by rookie running back Charles Sims.

"From watching practice, you've seen Doug has caught the ball a lot better," Smith told.

Martin caught 49 passes as a rookie. He said he put in extra work this preseason catching passes to prepare for Jeff Tedford's offense.

Bears running back Shaun Draughn "appears to have solidified the No. 2 spot" behind starter Matt Forte, reports ESPN.com. Draughn continues to run ahead of rookie Ka'Deem Carey.

Draughn ran three times for 33 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards last Thursday against the Jaguars. Carey carried 13 times for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce ran with "power and decisiveness" against the Cowboys on Saturday, and he's been very consistent through two preseason games, reports ESPN.com. Pierce is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Nearly half of his 17 rushes have produced more than 4 yards.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson entered after Ronnie Hillman in Sunday's game against the 49ers, but Anderson got some snaps with the starters too. Anderson ran nine times for 29 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and caught both his targets for 11 yards.

Hillman started in place of Montee Ball, who's recovering from an appendectomy.