NFL Player News

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas had surgery for a knee injury suffered late last year, the Miami Herald reports. Thomas is expected to be ready for offseason workouts. He had 325 rush yards, 156 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2012.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen piled up 124 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns during New England's 41-28 rout of Houston in the AFC Divisional Playoff game Sunday. Vereen, who entered the game with just five career touchdowns, became the third player in postseason history to have two receiving touchdowns and one rushing score in the same game, according to Elias Sports Bureau. On the ground, he chewed up 41 yards on seven carries and reached the end zone on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. Vereen was also one of three Patriots players with at least 80 receiving yards as he posted five catches for 83 yards. His touchdowns came on passes of 8 and 33 yards from quarterback Tom Brady.

Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries during Sunday's 30-28 Divisional Playoff game win vs. Seattle. Rodgers got most of his yards on a 45-yard carry. He added two catches for 8 yards.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris failed to see enough carries but still managed to find the end zone for the second straight playoff game during Saturday's NFC Divisional Playoff game at San Francisco. Harris rumbled in the end zone from 18 yards out during the first quarter to give the Packers the only lead of the evening. Harris saw only 11 carries and rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown in a 45-31 defeat. He was also targeted four times and finished with two catches for 11 yards in the loss.

After rushing for over 100 yards his last time out against Indianapolis, Baltimore running back Bernard Pierce was held in check during Saturday's AFC Divisional Playoff game at Denver. He took a backseat to starter Ray Rice who stole the show and rushed for a team-high 131 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Pierce was held to just 14 yards on five carries in a 38-35 double overtime victory.

Baltimore running back Bernard Pierce (knee) is active for Saturday's AFC Divisional Playoff game at Denver. Pierce was able to return to practice during the week after dealing with a knee issue. Pierce has led the Ravens in rushing the past three weeks, totaling 315 yards since Week 16, including 103 last week against the Colts in the Wild Card game.

Rob Chudzinski has been named the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The former Panthers and Browns offensive coordinator has an illustrious history as a coach who produces high-stat players but not necessarily victories. He's overseen the running backs in Carolina the past few years and worked as the offensive coordinator with the Browns while Jamal Lewis was there in 2007-08. In Carolina, Chudzinski's running backs totaled basically 300-plus carries and another 50 catches each year. In Cleveland, Lewis had 279-plus carries and 300-plus touches each year under Chudzinski. Those numbers bode well for Trent Richardson, who had 267 carries for 950 yards with 11 touchdowns and another 51 catches for 367 yards and a score in 15 games as a rookie.

The Baltimore Sun reports that running back Bernard Pierce (knee) returned to practice Thursday. Pierce, the team's leading rusher during the past three weeks, has rushed for 315 yards since Week 16, including 103 yards on 13 carries in Sunday’s 24-9 victory over the Colts in the Wild Card round. He is expected to play in the Divisional round at Denver.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce missed practice Wednesday with a knee injury. He is expected to play in the Division round of the playoffs at Denver. Pierce appeared fine in the Wild Card round against the Colts with 13 carries for a game-high 103 yards.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Raiders coach Dennis Allen still has faith in running back Darren McFadden, whose 3.3 yards per carry was the lowest average ever for a Raiders running back with at least 150 carries in 2012 due in part to recently fired former coordinator Gregg Knapp's zone-blocking scheme. McFadden is due to make $5.6 million in the last year of his contract. "I like Darren. I think he's a good running back," Allen said. "He's an explosive player, and I think he can continue to produce in the future."