NFL Player News

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said there's a good chance the team will use an early draft pick on a running back to join Perine, Chris Thompson (leg) and Rob Kelley (ankle) in the backfield, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan DC reports.

Thompson did a phenomenal job on passing downs until a fractured fibula ended his season after 10 games, but it was a far different story for Perine (3.4 yards per carry) and Kelley (3.1 YPC) on early downs. The only silver lining for the 2017 fourth-round pick was marking consecutive 100-yard games in Weeks 11 and 12, as he otherwise produced 3.2 yards or less per carry in each game with double-digit totes. Thompson will be locked in on passing downs if his recovery continues on schedule, whereas Perine and Kelley may end up giving way to a highly touted rookie. The Redskins don't seem inclined to add veteran help in the backfield, likely seeking an element of explosiveness that isn't available among the remaining free agents.

The Raiders traded Patterson and a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Patriots on Sunday in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round pick, Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal reports.

Patterson led the league in kick-return average in 2017 among qualifying players, reeling off 28.3 yards per return. He recorded only 31 catches for 309 yards, however, suggesting that the Patriots' acquisition of Patterson is largely meant to be a special-teams boost. Further reinforcing this suggestion is the fact that the Patriots' main kick returner in 2017, Dion Lewis, recently departed to the Titans.

Breida should remain involved in San Francisco's running back rotation following the signing of Jerick McKinnon, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reports.

The path to a starting job closed up for Breida almost as quickly as it opened after the 49ers signed McKinnon to a four-year deal earlier this week to replace Carlos Hyde, who signed his own multi-year deal with the Browns. Breida, an undrafted rookie ran for 465 yards and two scores on 105 attempts (4.4 YPC) while serving as the team's change-of-pace back in 2017. He also was successful as a pass catcher -- which is critical in a Kyle Shanahan offense -- accruing 180 yards and another score on 21 receptions. So while he remains second on the team's depth chart, Breida could still see an increase in touches due to his positive results and McKinnon's absence of experience as a full-time starter. Barrows referenced the Atlanta Falcons' 2016 backfield of DeVonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman -- who combined for 2,482 offensive yards and a trip to the Super Bowl under under Shanahan's offensive system -- when describing the type of backfield that could form next season with these two explosive running backs.

Smith was not tendered by the Dolphins and has become an unrestricted free agent, Alain Poupart of the team's official site reports.

Smith went undrafted out of Michigan in 2017 and was on and off with the Dolphins throughout his rookie season, getting waived and subsequently re-signed twice before season's end. He ultimately finished the year having appeared in five games but never received a rushing attempt in his limited offensive action. Just 23 years old, Smith has youth on his side and should be able to land another contract this offseason with a team in need of running back depth.

Murray restructured his contract with the Vikings, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Most of the contract restructures at this time of year merely convert base salaries into signing bonuses, pushing the cap hit into future seasons to free up room for the current year. Murray may actually have taken some form of pay cut, as his $5.1 million non-guaranteed base salary for 2018 feels a bit pricey for a guy who averaged 3.9 yards on 216 carries and 6.9 yards on 15 receptions last season. The Vikings do have a need for his services, given that Jerick McKinnon is signing with San Francisco while Dalvin Cook recovers from a torn ACL. Murray's likely role entering the season will depend on Cook's progression in the rehab process.

McKinnon said he is excited to work under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who believes the running back is much better than his statistics suggest, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reports. "I know the stuff we liked McKinnon on," said Shanahan. "If I could just cut up those numbers I think they would have been good numbers. But when you take the whole accumulation of things, I think they watered things down."

Shanahan said he "got lost" while watching film on McKinnon, whose work as a pass catcher -- 94 receptions the past two years -- stood out above all else on tape. The 2014 third-round pick entered the league with an elite athletic profile in terms of speed (4.41 40), strength (32 bench reps) and explosion (40.5-inch vertical, 132-inch broad jump) -- talent he displayed while averaging 4.9 yards on 165 carries as Adrian Peterson's backup in 2014 and 2015. Eventually freed up for a larger role, McKinnon slumped to 3.4 YPC in 2016 and 3.8 last season, albeit with the aforementioned receiving contributions and some big plays sprinkled in. The Niners saw enough to warrant a four-year, $30 million contract, presumably betting that Shanahan's scheme will make better use of McKinnon's rare athletic traits. McKinnon will turn 26 in May and should enter training camp as the starter, ahead of second-year players Matt Breida, Joe Williams and Jeremy McNichols. The outlook always could change if the 49ers use an early draft pick on a running back, though Shanahan's comments hint that it won't be a priority.

Zenner is signing a contract to stay in Detroit, where he figures to compete for the No. 4 running back job, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Zenner has appeared in 28 games for the Lions since catching on as an undrafted free agent in 2015, taking 119 carries for 420 yards (3.5 YPC) and five touchdowns and catching 20 of 27 targets for 207 yards. He played more snaps on special teams (155) than offense (65) last season, and he'll likely have a similar role if he sticks on the roster for another year. The Lions are trying to add a veteran -- possibly Frank Gore -- to compete with Ameer Abdullah and Tion Green for carries. Zenner's special teams acumen may eventually give him the upper hand over Green or Abdullah in a battle for one of the final roster spots.

The Raiders signed Martin to a contract Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

In his two full 16-game slates, Martin racked up 1,400 rushing yards both times, 743 combined receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. However, the other four years with the Bucs were rife with injuries, ineffectiveness and suspensions, setting up his release from the team on Feb. 20. With his next destination determined, Martin can focus on a bounce back, but it may be difficult in a backfield populated by Marshawn Lynch, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.

Toussaint will re-sign with the Steelers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Toussaint will reprise his role as a depth option behind star back Le'Veon Bell and 2017 third-rounder James Conner. In limited work with the Steelers last season, Toussaint carried six times for 25 yards and added two catches for nine yards, while suiting up for six games.

The Lions didn't tender Zenner a contract for the 2018 season Wednesday, making him an unrestricted free agent, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Zenner was often a healthy inactive during his three seasons in Detroit, only seeing the field when injuries hit tailbacks above him on the depth chart. The South Dakota State product finished the past campaign with only 26 yards and one touchdown on 14 rushing attempts, though his abysmal 1.9 yards per carry is likely a reflection of his deployment as a battering ram in short-yardage situations. The 26-year-old could draw interest from a number of teams in need of a goal-line bruiser.