NFL Player News

Titans running back Chris Johnson told CBS Sports radio host Jim Rome that he likes the additions the team made to the offensive line, but he didn't like the addition of running back Shonn Greene. On the offensive line additions with guards Andy Levitre and Chance Warmack, Johnson said: “I was like ‘Thank God.' They’re trying to put somebody in front of me and opening some more holes for me.” Johnson wasn't as pleased with the addition of Greene. “I didn’t like the move, I didn’t think it was a smart move,” Johnson said. “[But] that’s because of being too quick to say things and not really knowing the whole objectives of things. Once the offseason started, being here, being in the playbook and seeing the type of things they’re trying to do, I don’t think it was really a bad choice. I’m not worried about him taking any carries.” Johnson said he'll deal with any loss of touchdowns. “At the end of the day you want to stay in there,” he said. “[But] I’d rather have 2,000 yards than have 20 touchdowns, so you got to take the good with the bad.”

Titans coach Mike Munchak told ESPN he's planning on Chris Johnson catching plenty of passes this season, just as he did in 2009 (50 catches) and 2011 (57 catches). "We need to get back to that," Munchak said. "The fact is he is a weapon not only when you hand him the ball but also when you throw him the ball. We have to get more out of that phase of the offense, and he’s a big part of that. ... That’s a big weapon that we really haven’t used the last couple years as much as we need to and get some of those easy completions, easy yards that we really haven’t gotten that other teams have gotten on us. That’s a phase we need to get much better in and we can’t drop any balls, let alone something like that."

On the same day ESPN Cleveland reported that the strained muscle behind Trent Richardson's right shin would sideline him until August, Browns coach Rob Chudzinski told the media that he not only expects his prized running back to be ready for training camp on July 26 but that he could have practiced during the team's minicamp. "He could have went these next couple days if necessary, but we are just being real precautionary about it," Chudzinski said. "We don’t want the muscle strain to get any worse."

While Marshawn Lynch sits out some of the Seahawks OTAs, rookie running back Christine Michael has picked up a lot of extra work and has taken advantage of it. He's shown some incredible speed, explosiveness and change of direction on handoffs and seemingly has a good understanding of what's being asked of him according to coach Pete Carroll. Michael knows there's much to be done. "I want to become a better blocker, a better inside runner, goal-line runner -- improve my game in all aspects," Michael told the Tacoma News Tribune. Being a great pass protector is part of being a complete back -- protecting the quarterback, blocking the big linebackers; you've got to work at it."

Trent Richardson is not expected to practice again until training camp after suffering an injury to the muscle behind his shin. In the wake of ESPN Cleveland speculating that the Browns have added multiple running backs this season in part because Trent Richardson has an injury history, we took a look back at his last five years to pinpoint just how many games he's missed. As a rookie in 2012 Richardson missed one game and was pulled from two others with less than 10 carries while playing through most of the year with two broken ribs. He still managed to total over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. In college Richardson didn't miss a game as a junior, posting under 15 carries just twice. A left knee injury did cost him two games as a sophomore while he split time with Mark Ingram. The same knee stalled out both his combine work and preseason action in 2012 and has required multiple surgeries. As a freshman at Alabama he played sparingly and didn't get hurt. It's also worth noting that he missed his sophomore year in high school with an injury but obviously bounced back.

The outlook for Rams running back Daryl Richardson to be the starter in Week 1 got a little better Friday following the suspension for Isaiah Pead. He was suspended without pay for the first game of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Pead will be eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, Sept. 9 following the team’s Sept. 8 opener against the Cardinals. Pead is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. With Pead out for Week 1, this should allow either Richardson or Zac Stacy to start against the Cardinals.

Rams running back Isaiah Pead has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Pead will be eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, Sept. 9 following the team’s Sept. 8 opener against the Cardinals. Pead is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. With Pead out for Week 1, this should allow either Zac Stacy or Daryl Richardson to start in Week 1 against the Cardinals.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Vikings rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson might not make much of an impact early in his rookie season. The report says "in the first month of his NFL career, the team’s front office and coaching staff has kept its expectations tempered, issuing frequent reminders that Patterson’s earliest significant contributions will likely come as a kick returner. His climb to become a big-time receiver will take longer with so many nuances of the position still to be learned and the Vikings, in turn, needing to find the simplest ways to get him the ball initially." Said coach Leslie Frazier: "We don’t want give him too much early. We want to make sure we do enough to get him on the field and really go to his strengths. There are some things that we have in mind. But everything that I’ve seen, we’ll be able to utilize his talents. He’s a gifted young man.”

Browns running back Trent Richardson isn't concerned about his latest injury and doesn't believe he's injury prone. Richardson did not practice again Thursday because of a strained muscle in his right shin that could sideline him for an extended period. He worked on his conditioning off to the side, but it wasn't his choice. "It ain't no biggie," said Richardson, who sustained the injury recently while running during practice. "It ain't nothing to worry about. I could be out there, but they want to be cautious about it to make sure I'm healthy and be right for camp." Richardson also missed last week's workouts and coach Rob Chudzinski said there's a chance the second-year back could miss next month's minicamp. "It's not going to be like last year, being hurt and injured," Richardson said. "Injury-prone is not going to be me. I just can't wait to get back out and running."

The Kansas City Star reports that much has been made about the many fumbles committed by rookie running back Knile Davis in college last season when he played for Arkansas. The report says a true test for Davis and will come in training camp when the Chiefs practice in pads and in the preseason games. But though the Chiefs are practicing without contact for now, Davis declared the problem has already been corrected. “It’s fixed," said Davis, a third-round draft pick. “I think I’ll never fumble again. I’ve got it under control. It’s not really that big of a deal. I had two bad games last year where I fumbled a lot. It was just me not focusing on it."