NFL Player News

The Union-Tribune of San Diego reports that former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said the team needs to find a complementary option for Ryan Mathews. Last year, Mathews broke his right clavicle on his first preseason carry. In Week 15, he broke his left, ending his third NFL season. "I think that's another thing the Chargers really need to correct is getting another guy to go with Ryan Mathews," Tomlinson said. "I think, at this point, Ryan has shown it's hard for him to stay healthy in the type of workload that he's had. So now, get somebody to help him. I still think he's a tremendous talent, but he needs some help in taking some of that workload off of him. ... I was one of the fortunate players to never really get seriously injured. Yeah, I had some cracked ribs, AC joints, sprained MCLs and things like that, but nothing serious that I had to miss a lot of time for. At this point, I'm sure Ryan Mathews is evaluating himself. What can he do to get better? For me, I just think Ryan Mathews needs to continue to focus on just being a football player by trying to stay healthy, taking care of his body and doing everything possible to make sure he's able to play every Sunday."

Bruce Arians said his familiarity with Virginia Tech Hokies football has given him a good working knowledge of ex-Hokie and current Cardinals running back Ryan Williams. "I know that Ryan [Williams] can flat run the football," the new Cardinals head coach told FOX Sports. "I'm a Hokie. I know all about Ryan and I love him."

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Friday at a news conference that he was impressed with rookie running back LaMichael James all season prior to getting him active at the end of the year. James scored his first NFL touchdown in the NFC Championship Game at Atlanta. "His work ethic, No. 1, was really evident," Harbaugh said. "He was taking as many reps as he possibly could. And predominately, they were on the scout team. But, he would do it as a running back. He would do it as a receiver. And really improved his hands a great deal. And route-running ability with all the thousand reps he took on the scout team. But, just great work ethic and deep desire to improve as football player and get on the field. And he’s gotten on it from the first time he’s stepped on the field. He’s been dynamic.”

Raiders coach Dennis Allen went on NFL Network and said he's looking forward to using running back Darren McFadden the right way in 2013. McFadden has a new offensive coordinator in Greg Olson, and Allen said McFadden's strengths will be utilized. “That’s one of the things that we’re going to look at when we get back to Oakland is we’re really going to look at the things that Darren McFadden does really well and we’re going to try to ask him to do those things as much as possible, limit the times that we ask him to do some of the things that he may not be as good at," Allen said. "All of us as players have strengths and weaknesses, and we want to try to play to our best players’ strengths as much as possible.”

The Browns have hired Norv Turner as the new offensive coordinator, and he has a great weapon to work with in running back Trent Richardson. Turner, who has coached five running backs to the NFL rushing title, said he is thrilled to have Richardson on the roster. "He's an amazing player," Turner said Wednesday. "He made an amazing, explosive run against us (in October).'' Turner, the former coach of the Chargers, faced Richardson in Week 8 in Cleveland, and Richardson had 24 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce finished with nine carries for a team-high 52 yards during Baltimore's 28-13 victory over New England in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. Pierce, who was active for the game after being considered questionable with a knee injury, posted four more yards than starter Ray Rice despite receiving 10 fewer carries. He also added an 8-yard reception on his lone target from Joe Flacco.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen, who took the start last week against Houston, took a backseat to Stevan Ridley throughout most of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against Baltimore. He participated in just two series, even after Ridley was knocked out of the game with a head injury. Vereen rushed for just 16 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 22 yards in a 28-13 defeat.

Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers couldn't get going during Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Rodgers was held in check throughout the first half as he was held to two carries for minus-1 yard, but managed to bounce back in the second half. He rushed for a team-high 32 yards on 10 carries in a 28-24 defeat. He was also involved in the passing game but could not come up with a grab despite being targeted three times in the loss.

San Francisco running back LaMichael James was able to reach the end zone for the first time in his career during Sunday's NFC Championship Game against Atlanta. James scored from 15 yards out on the ground in the second quarter to help spark a 28-7 run to erase a 17-point deficit in the game. He rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown on five carries in a 28-24 victory. He was the second-leading rusher on the team behind starter Frank Gore, who rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

After being listed as questionable on the team's injury report, Baltimore running back Bernard Pierce (knee) is active for the AFC Championship Game against New England on Sunday. Pierce was a limited participant in practice Friday and was also limited Wednesday with a knee injury he re-aggravated during the third quarter of the Ravens' double overtime win against the Broncos last Saturday.