NFL Player News

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said running back DuJuan Harris "looks fully recovered" from his knee injury, adding that Harris "ran the ball hard" and "practiced like he was supposed to" Wednesday, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Harris is expected to start Friday against Seattle.

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told ESPN.com the running back job is "absolutely" still open, as the team has yet to settle on one of Daniel Thomas or Lamar Miller as the starter.

"I think they both had a productive camp, and there is still more to be played before we make a final decision," Philbin said.

Neither player has really stood out in the preseason in limited chances, though Miller is the only one of the two to have scored in the first three games. Miller has rushed for 37 yards on nine carries, while Thomas is at 49 yards and 12 carries.

When asked whether the starting position was just a symbolic position, Philbin did not agree with that assertion.

"We want to reward the guys we feel earned positions on the football team, so obviously it will be important who the starter is," he said. 

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, coming back from surgery on both ankles, will miss his third straight preseason game Thursday and might end up on the PUP list, reports the Associated Press.

"At this point anything is an option," coach Ron Rivera said after Tuesday's practice. "What you're hoping is you can get him on the football field and we'll see once the doctor gets a chance to look at him."

Rivera said Stewart will meet with the team doctor soon to evaluate his status.

Stewart is working with trainers on the side of practice. If he goes on the PUP list, he'd miss at least the first six games. In Stewart's absence, rookie Kenjon Barner is getting increased reps behind starter DeAngelo Williams.

Rivera also isn't ruling out Stewart for the Sept. 8 season opener. 

"You'd love to have him but we'll have to wait and see how it goes," Rivera said. "It's going to take a little time."

Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman continued to insist Tuesday that the race for the starting tailback spot is close. "I think Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are competing neck-and-neck," Sherman said.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that he thought Daryl Richardson "would probably take the first snap against Arizona," effectively naming him the starting back. But he had an interesting take on the race to back up Richardson. 

"As far as who’s going to come in (second), that remains to be seen," Fisher said. "We still have some more evaluating to do. ... It's consistency, and it's not just the game. It's consistency on the practice field, understanding, first and foremost, probably how to play without the football. For us, that's more important than how he plays with the football. By that I mean, is getting to the right place in the passing game? Is he proficient, and does he know exactly what to do in protection? Once you get that down, then we'll evaluate the run skills."

Isaiah Pead and rookie Zac Stacy are competing for the spot. Pead underwhelmed in the Rams' second preseason game and fumbled the ball away in the first. He's also suspended for the team's Week 1 game against the Cardinals. Stacy averaged 3.3 yards over seven attempts in the Rams' first preseason action but missed the second game with a leg injury. 

Pead had every opportunity to close the door on Stacy last week and didn't do it. If he doesn't do it against the Broncos on Saturday then Stacy -- or perhaps another back on the roster -- could leapfrog him. Whoever helps Richardson with the rushing workload is worth a late pick in Fantasy drafts. 

Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner wants running back Trent Richardson "to be prepared to play every down," reports ESPN.com. Turner is planning to give Richardson 300 carries and targeting him for 60 catches, the report said.

In 15 games last season, Richardson got 267 carries and caught 51 passes.

"It's hard for a tailback now to play every down the entire game, but they have to be prepared to play every down," Turner said. "If we're in a two-minute situation, I don't think any of us want Trent standing on the sidelines." 

The Browns don't have much behind Richardson, as Dion Lewis broke his leg last week.

Raiders rusher Darren McFadden dealt with a shoulder injury in practice on Sunday but coach Dennis Allen doesn't believe it will keep him from playing in the team's third preseason game vs. the Bears on Friday, per The Associated Press.

Redskins running back Roy Helu broke off a 30-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game against the Steelers. It was the only carry of the game for Washington's No. 2 running back, who also caught a 14-yard pass.

The Rams made it official Monday, naming Daryl Richardson the Week 1 starter at running back, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Isaiah Pead started the last preseason game but failed to impress, averaging 1.9 yards on his 11 carries.

Richardson averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season as Steven Jackson's primary backup.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris got the first-team reps at Monday's practice, and coach Mike McCarthy indicated things will stay that way heading into the third preseason game Friday against Seattle, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. McCarthy noted Harris finished last season strong.

As for Eddie Lacy, McCarthy said the rookie played well at St. Louis but needs to "clean up details of his work," the paper reported. Lacy ran eight times for 40 yards and caught an 11-yard pass in the 19-7 win.