NFL Player News

Featured back Darren McFadden is one of nine Raiders working extensively with a trainer before the game tonight against Chicago, the Contra Costa Times is reporting. The report did not elaborate as to any possible physical problems he is experiencing. McFadden has yet to break loose in the preseason with just eight carries for 22 yards.

Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright will not travel with the team for Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers, head coach Leslie Frazier told the team's official website.Wright suffered a concussion in the last preseason game.

Frazier expects to see more out of rookie Cordarrelle Paterson against San Francisco.

"He will get a number of opportunities," Frazier said. "We had that in the plans anyway. It will be just a little more action for him, and we will just watch him keep progressing."

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (head) hopes to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Dolphins, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Martin has just three carries in two preseason games and left last week's loss to the Patriots after taking a shot to the head during pass protection. Martin said his concussion tests were negative and he is 100 percent healthy and has practiced all week. However, Martin said he'd understand if the coaches hold him out as a precaution.

"I'm not sure what we're going to do with Doug right now," coach Greg Schiano said Thursday.

Neither of the Patriots' top two running backs made much of an impact Thursday, in the team's preseason game against the Lions, as both Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen finished with just 6 yards each rushing.

Vereen picked up his 6 yards on four carries, while Ridley needed nine attempts. Neither made much happen in the passing game, as Vereen finished with one reception for -2 yards, while Ridley was not a factor.

Ridley is at the top of the depth chart, and he got the first crack with the first-team offense. Vereen was largely used to spell Ridley, and he lost a fumble early in the second quarter. 

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was able to return to action Thursday against the Panthers, after missing the team's previous preseason game with a knee injury.

Pierce received plenty of work in the game, with most of his touches coming with the first team while spelling Ray Rice. He didn't do much with his chances, however, finishing with just 7 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 6 yards.

Pierce is expected to open the season as Rice's primary backup, and may only play a few series in the team's final preseason game against the Rams Aug. 29. 

Panthers running back Kenjon Barner was forced out of Thursday's game against the Ravens after making little impact, as he suffered a foot injury and could not return for the second half. Barner finished the game with just two carries for 7 yards, as well as a reception for 10.

Barner has been in the mix as the team's backup running back, so it is not clear how this injury will impact that position battle at this time. His status moving forward is unknown. 

Contrary to earlier reports, Cardinals running back Ryan Williams has not ruled himself out for a preseason premiere against the Chargers Saturday. Williams made it through practice for the first time in over three weeks Thursday, and thinks he can play in the team's third preseason game.

"I will be out there" Williams told the team's official website Thursday. "I don't know how many reps I'll get, but I will be out there. Hopefully I can get some plays and get in the end zone."

Williams has been limited by a knee injury, but said he felt fine in practice. He indicates that his confidence level is high after getting through practice, a good sign for him heading into a possible return to game action. His performance in a walkthrough Friday could be the determining factor in whether he is able to get on the field.

"Every evaluation is critical for him now," coach Bruce Arians said. "He's missed so much. I want to see how he does in practice before I put him in a game. Hopefully he'll do as well as I think he will and he can get out there and play full speed (Saturday), get tackled."

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase called the team's four turnovers against Seattle "unacceptable." Running back Ronnie Hillman fumbled twice in Saturday's game, losing one on the goal line that was returned for a touchdown.

“The ball security – when the ball is in your hand, the ball cannot be on the ground,” Gase told the team's website. “What happened the other day? I’m telling you – unacceptable. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen anymore.

“We’re not going to put the ball on the ground, or else they’re not going to carry it.”

After reviewing the first-team reps of the Dolphins offense at Houston last week, the threat of Daniel Thomas to Lamar Miller's workload is very real.

Miller started the game and did show flash on a couple of plays -- a run off right tackle for 8 yards and a run for 10 yards deep in the Dolphins' territory -- but they were negated by penalties and didn't show up in the final stat line. Had they, Miller would have finished with a respectable 28 yards on seven carries. 

But we saw some of the Dolphins' frustration with Miller when he bobbled and dropped a pass right in front of coach Joe Philbin. Philbin dropped his shoulders and shook his head in disgust. The very next series belonged to Thomas. 

Later on, Thomas was on an entire drive for the Fins until he asked for a break following a 27-yard gain on a shovel pass deep in Texans territory. Miller scored from 5 yards out two plays later and both backs were done for the night. 

Miller is faster than Thomas, but he's not as good of a pass protector and both of them looked as if they were a shade slow getting out of their cuts. Thomas is also bigger. He offers a legitimate change-up. Miller hasn't proven he can be an every-down player this summer, so the Dolphins have little choice but to utilize Thomas. 

I would still expect Miller to start but for Thomas to take at least one series for every two Miller has. I don't think they'll rotate based on down and distance but it's possible. Anything's possible here, which makes Miller a scary draft proposition with a Top 30 pick.

He's a good pick just after 30th overall -- the later you can get him the better. Spending a late pick on Thomas as a handcuff/potential starter for Miller also wouldn't hurt.  

Raiders rookie running back Latavius Murray had arthroscopic ankle surgery Tuesday, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The timetable for his return is unclear.