NFL Player News

49ers running back LaMichael James didn't get a carry in the playoff win at Green Bay, but he made an impact as a returner. James returned three kickoffs for 78 yards, including a critical 37-yarder, and returned two punts for 20 yards.

"A very admirable job," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "A blue-collar effort on his part. Catching the balls in the elements and the wind and the factors that were there. I thought he did a great job and was able to set up a 37-yard kickoff return to help us answer the scoring drive of the Packers. He was rock solid.”

The Patriots have listed nine players as limited in Wednesday practice, including running back Shane Vereen (groin).

The others are wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (hip), defensive backs Devin McCourty (concussion), Steve Gregory (finger/knee), Kyle Arrington (groin) and Alfonzo Dennard (knee/shoulder), linebacker Dane Fletcher (groin), and offensive linemen Logan Mankins (ankle) and Will Svitek (ankle).

Mike McCoy said that Chargers running back Ryan Mathews is on the same path to playoff game participation as he was last week, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mathews did not practice on Wednesday. He missed the Wednesday and Thursday sessions last week before returing to action on Friday. He has been dealing with an ankle problem.

Five Chargers were sidelined from Wednesday practice, but four of the absences were considered rest days, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Those given the red light were center Nick Hardwick, wide receiver Eddie Royal, tackle D.J. Fluker, safety Eric Weddle and running back Ryan Mathews. All are expected to play in the Sunday playoff game at Denver.

Hardwick is going through concussion protocol. He was diagnosted with the concussion after the playoff win in Cincinnati.

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews (ankle) was held out of Wednesday practice. His absence is likely precautionary.

Mathews missed two practices last week before helping his team defeat the Bengals. He did much much of the second half of that game, however, with the injury.

Ravens backup running back Bernard Pierce is expected to have surgery to fix damage to his rotator cuff, an NFL source told the Baltimore Sun. The surgery would take place this month, enabling Pierce to be ready for the 2014 season.

Pierce averaged 2.9 yards per carry in 2013 as he dealt with multiple injuries, though he did catch 20 passes. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie in 2012.

Running back Chris Johnson is under contract for 2014 with the Titans -- for now. He's due to make $8 million, an amount the team might not pay. And Johnson would be fine with it if it meant going to a team that would use him the right way. 

"I feel like if they are not going to use me the way I am supposed to be used and let me be the horse, then I would rather them let me move on," Johnson told The Tennessean. "Their money would be wasted on me. ... [I]f they are not going to use me right, let somebody get me that's going to use me the right way."

Johnson was paid $10 million in 2013 and posted his second-worst rushing numbers with 1,077 yards. He has not requested a trade and promised that if he did come back to the team in 2014 that he would work hard. 

"... I love Tennessee and would love to be in Tennessee. But I feel like I am wasting the prime years of my career if I am not used right. ... I am not a coach, and I am not a GM. But if I am paying a player to make him the top-paid guy on the team, there is no way in critical situations that he is going to be on the sideline. Around the goal line, I'd come out. I want to help the team win. People say, 'He is not worth the $10 million, he is not worth the $8 million.' I feel like if you give me $8 million, let me earn it. At crucial times of the game, I shouldn't be on the sideline watching."

The Patriots signed running back Jonas Gray to a reserve/futures contract, reports the National Football Post.

Colts running back Donald Brown continues to enjoy a career resurgence, and he's doing a lot of his damage after contact. Brown leads the NFL with an average of 3.3 yards per carry after contact, ahead of Andre Ellington (3.2), Adrian Peterson (3.0) and Chris Ivory (3.0), according to Pro Football Focus.

Brown ran 11 times for 55 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 47 yards and another score in the playoff win over Kansas City. Brown averaged 5.3 yards per carry in the regular season and has scored five times in the past three games. He'll visit the Patriots on Saturday.

Ryan Mathews missed most of the second half of the Chargers' playoff game at the Bengals but vowed after the game to be ready for next week's game at the Broncos. 

"My mindset is I'm playing," Mathews told U-T San Diego.

Mathews has been slowed by an ankle injury the past couple of weeks and it is believed that is what limited him again.