NFL Player News

Patriots running back Shane Vereen will be activated off short-term injured reserve in time to play Monday against the Panthers, according to ESPN. However, the Patriots plan to ease Vereen into action after he's missed two-plus months with a wrist injury.

Several Chiefs made offensive contributions in the Week 10 loss at Denver. No. 2 tight end Sean McGrath caught two passes for 40 yards and wideout Donnie Avery had a 20-yard reception on three targets.

No. 2 running back Knile Davis ran three times for 13 yards and caught an 11-yard pass. Fullback Anthony Sherman had a 1-yard carry and caught two passes for 18 yards, but lost a fumble.

They'll face the Chargers in Week 12.

Even though the Redskins more or less abandoned the running game down 24-0 early in the third quarter, backup running back Roy Helu, the preferred pass-catcher out of the backfield, wasn't much of a factor Week 11 at Philadelphia. He was targeted four times, catching three passes for 11 yards.

He was actually more of a factor on the ground, rushing three times for 39 yards. It was his best rushing performance in four games. He still has yet to rush for more than 42 yards in a game this season.

Helu will continue to serve as the change-of-pace option to starter Alfred Morris against the 49ers in Week 12.

Falcons backup running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who was used extensively as a check-down option in blowout losses to the Panthers and Seahawks in Weeks 9 and 10, wasn't as productive in that role in another blowout loss Week 11 at Tampa Bay.

He was targeted just twice by quarterback Matt Ryan, catching one pass for 8 yards. He also had six carries for 22 yards. Rodgers entered the day averaging 4.2 catches per game, including 5.5 in his last two.

Of course, the Falcons more or less waved the white flag in the fourth quarter, turning to little-used options like Antone Smith, so perhaps Rodgers simply didn't have a chance to make his usual contribution. He'll look to get back on track Week 12 against the Saints.

49ers wideout Mario Manningham regressed Sunday from his 2013 debut, when he caught three passes for 30 yards in Week 10 against Carolina. He managed just one grab for 10 yards in the loss to New Orleans.

Manningham was one of several players to make minor contributions against the Saints. Tight end Vance McDonald had one catch for 10 yards, fullback Bruce Miller caught two passes for 8 yards, running back LaMichael James had two receptions for 8 yards and two rushes for 7 yards, and running back Kendall Hunter added one yard on four carries.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson failed to make much of an impact despite being heavily targeted during Sunday's loss to the Seahawks in Week 11.

Patterson caught a short pass for a 15-yard gain in the first quarter, a 4-yard pass in the second quarter and a 9-yard pass from backup quarterback Matt Cassel in the fourth quarter. He was targeted nine times and finished the game with three receptions for 28 yards in a 40-21 defeat,

Patterson has only 21 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown this season. He'll be seeking a bounce-back game in Week 12 against the Packers in Green Bay.

Jets wide receiver Josh Cribbs, wide receiver Greg Salas, tight end Kellen Winslow, wide receiver David Nelson and tight end Tommy Bohanon all had minor contributions during a 37-14 loss Week 11 at Buffalo. 

Cribbs rushed for 9 yards on two carries, Salas had two catches for 32 yards, Bohanon had two catches for 5 yards, Winslow had one catch for 17 yards and Nelson had one catch for 12 yards.

The Jets are back in action Week 12 at Baltimore.

There was nothing earth-shattering about the performance of Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas against the Chargers on Sunday. But considering that his team rushed for a meager two yards against Tampa Bay in Week 10, it was quite an encouraging effort.

Thomas finished with 57 yards on 10 carries and a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He added a 2-yard reception. He seemingly took control of the featured back spot by getting far more work than Lamar Miller.

A sterner test awaits Thomas when the Dolphins host the Panthers next week.

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews averaged more than four YPC in each of the last five games heading into the Sunday clash in Miami. But he really outdid himself against the Dolphins.

Mathews averaged 6.7 yards in the defeat, churning up 127 yards on 19 carries for the second-most productive game of his career and best since a 137-yard effort against Denver in November 2011. He added four catches for 52 yards - not bad considering he had just one reception in the previous five games combined.

He wasted no time making his mark, rushing four times for 24 yards and snagging two passes on the team's first six offensive plays. His 51-yard jaunt in the third quarter was the longest of his career.

Mathews and his Chargers play at Kansas City in Week 12.

The Broncos listed seven players as inactive for Sunday night's game vs. the Chiefs: cornerback Champ Bailey (foot), quarterback Zac Dysert, running back Ronnie Hillman, cornerback Tony Carter, center J.D. Walton (ankle), linebacker Nate Irving (shoulder) and guard Chris Kuper (ankle).

Bailey has played just two games all season.