NFL Player News

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington missed the past two practices with what the team calls a minor neck injury. He is expected back Friday after Thursday's off day, according to the team's website.

Ellington initially was expected to return Wednesday, but the team held him out.

Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who dealt with a foot injury early in camp, is practicing Wednesday, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Patterson is working in team drills so he's apparently not limited in any way.

Colts running back Trent Richardson, who had not practiced since Thursday due to a hamstring issue, returned to work Wednesday, reports the Indianapolis Star.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden "has the starting edge" over Maurice Jones-Drew, reports SI.com. The website adds, however, that "this should be a committee backfield considering McFadden’s injury history -- he’s yet to play a full season in six."

The Broncos' Ronnie Hillman has "usually been the second running back up behind [Montee] Ball and has been effective so far in training camp," reports the team's website. Hillman, who's ahead of C.J. Anderson, is "hitting the holes well," the report said.

The website said there's a sizable gap between those top three backs and four newcomers trying to make the team.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington missed Tuesday's practice with a neck issue, but coach Bruce Arians told reporters he expects Ellington back on the field Wednesday.

Dolphins running back Damien Williams, an undrafted free agent who starred at Oklahoma before getting dismissed from the program, is opening eyes at training camp. Coach Joe Philbin said Williams has good hands and "a little bit of a second gear."

"I think he’s got that explosiveness," Philbin continued. "He shuffled one or two times today on a draw, I know we corrected him one time where he kind of danced in the hole a little bit, but typically he’s been decisive. When he really makes up his mind, you kind of see him moving away from people. I think he catches the ball well, I like what he’s done so far."

Williams (5-11, 222 pounds) ran for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012 with Oklahoma. He dealt with an ankle injury last year before getting dismissed in November.

Browns rookie running back Terrance West must prove he can pass protect at the NFL level to make an early splash, reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. If West can show well during preseason games, "he just might be able to make an impact early. He is an explosive runner and he has great hands as well," La Canfora wrote.

After Monday's practice, West said his pass protection is coming along. "Today I had some good feedback from the coaches and picked up some big blocks in pass protection," he told La Canfora.

"And I want to be an every down back in this league, so I have to show them I can run, and catch and pass protect, and today was a great day. I feel like I started really picking it up in OTAs and during the break I stayed in my playbook and that helped me get caught up to speed."

Alfred Morris can't do it all -- that's the message sent by new Redskins coach Jay Gruden when he said "[w]e need another back to emerge as that third-down back."

ESPN took a look at the candidates to work as that third-down guy and concluded that Roy Helu is the best option. Helu not only has the size and experience to work as a third-down back but is "more than just a third-down guy" because he can handle every-down work if need be. Working in a third-down type of role last season, Helu had 62 carries for 274 yards and four touchdowns with 31 grabs for 251 yards -- an 8.1 yard average. 

The Colts are counting on a big year from 2013 bust Trent Richardson. But the running back was unable to practice Monday as he continues to deal with a sore hamstring, reports the Indianapolis Star.

Richardson has not practiced since Thursday.