NFL Player News

Hightower, an unrestricted free agent, will visit with the 49ers on Thursday, ESPN.com's Mike Triplett reports.

Hightower was one of the better stories of the 2015 season, returning from a three-year absence to play a big role in the New Orleans offense late in the year. He then handled a complementary role for most of 2016, taking 133 carries for 548 yards (4.1 YPC) and four touchdowns, with another 200 yards and a touchdown on 22 catches (26 catches). While lacking in explosiveness, the 30-year-old could garner a reasonably strong contract due to his competence as a power runner, pass blocker and receiver. Hightower could slide right in as Carlos Hyde's top backup in San Francisco, potentially getting the majority of passing-down snaps.

Minnesota signed Murray to a three-year deal early Thursday, the Vikings' official site reports.

The Vikings have officially moved on from the Adrian Peterson era with the move. During his three-season stint with the Raiders, Murray recorded a 1,000-yard campaign in 2015, while ranking fifth in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns last year. His contract with the Vikings can be voided after one season, per Field Yates of ESPN, so Murray in essence received a prove-it deal.

Sims (pectoral) will return as a key component of the Tampa Bay backfield, while teammate Doug Martin (suspension) faces a more uncertain future, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Martin's suspension cost him $7 million in guarantees, making it more palatable for the Buccaneers to simply release him in the wake of an ineffective season that was plagued by both injuries and the suspension. Even if he sticks around, Martin will miss the first three games, and then may have to re-prove himself to the team. Sims also saw his 2016 campaign marred by injuries, limiting him to 75 touches (24 catches) in only seven games. He landed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury prior to Week 17, but there's been nothing to suggest the ailment will be a factor for the upcoming season, which means Sims should be locked into his usual role as the passing-down back. He'll have the potential for a bit more than that -- especially if Martin is released or ineffective -- but the Bucs also have Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber in the mix for carries. Given Sims' injury history, Rodgers' middling track record and Barber's inexperience, the Bucs may also look to upgrade via the draft.

The Broncos have committed nearly $24 million in guarantees to free agent offensive linemen Ronald Leary and Menelik Watson, 9News Denver reports, with both moves potentially paying dividends in the way of rushing lanes for Anderson this coming season.

Much has already been made of Denver's decision to move away from Gary Kubiak's zone-blocking attack this season, with new head coach Vance Joseph's confirming that the team will instead employ a mix of gap and zone schemes. The real issue last season was mediocre talent along the offensive line, with Denver's front ranking as the sixth worst in the NFL in terms of yards before contact, according to Pro Football Focus. Leary, who played left guard in Dallas, should join center Matt Paradis and guard Max Garcia, PFF's highest-ranked Broncos linemen in 2016, to form a quality interior line. Expect Watson, whose athleticism earned him a 2013 second-round selection, to be a part of the open competition at both left and right tackle, provided his injury woes don't follow him from Oakland. With further upgrades likely coming in the draft, Denver's line should give Anderson more room to work with in 2017.

Taliaferro (hamstring) could get a look in the fullback/H-back role vacated by Kyle Juszczyk, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Taliaferro seems to be buried on the depth chart at running back, leaving him with no clear path to the final roster unless injuries hit the Baltimore backfield hard during training camp. It would thus make sense to at least give the 225-pounder a look at fullback/H-Back, which along with work on special teams might give him a real shot at making the roster. A 2014 fourth-round selection, Taliaferro has flashed some promise as a power runner when given the opportunity, but lower-body injuries cut each of his three professional seasons short. While last season's hamstring injury probably won't linger into this season, it's a stretch to think Taliaferro can actually replace Kyle Juszczyk, who parlayed his versatility into a four-year, $21 million deal with the 49ers. Even if there's little reason to believe Taliaferro can match Juszczyk's contributions as a lead blocker or pass catcher, it is possible a poor approximation could be enough to warrant one of the final roster spots.

Patterson said his decision to join the Raiders was partially motivated by a belief that the team can help him improve as a receiver, ESPN.com reports.

The 2013 first-round selection also expects to have a big role in the return game, which is where he really shined during his four-year tenure with the Vikings. Patterson did regain some offensive relevance last season after catching only two passes in 2015, but he's yet to reach 500 receiving yards in a campaign. He may have to settle for another limited offensive role in Oakland, where Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts formed a highly effective wideout trio the past two seasons. Patterson might get a shot to push Roberts for the No. 3 role, but the incumbent would probably have the edge in such a competition. While Patterson's two-year contract does include $5 million guaranteed, it can be voided after the first season, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

The Cardinals are expected to use Ellington as more of a wide receiver than a running back in 2017, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ellington was on the sideline for 1,001 of the Cardinals' 1,151 offensive snaps during the 2016 season, but the impetus was the heavy usage afforded to do-it-all running back David Johnson. If Ellington is indeed utilized as a wideout in the fall, he would remove the shackles placed upon him by the presence of Johnson. Helping Ellington's cause is a career catch rate of 67.8 percent, which indicates that success in such a role is plausible. Moreover, the cupboard is suddenly a bit more bare at the position behind perennial top option Larry Fitzgerald.

Rawls will have to compete for work in a backfield that includes C.J. Prosise (shoulder) and recent free-agent signing Eddie Lacy (ankle), The Seattle Times reports.

Rawls looks like the odd man out at first glance, as Lacy signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with $3 million guaranteed, while Prosise offers an element of pass-catching and quickness that the other two running backs can't match. However, Prosise and Lacy were limited to just 11 combined games last season while battling injuries, with the latter also carrying major concerns regarding his weight. The addition of Lacy is undoubtedly discouraging for Rawls' 2017 prospects, but it's far from a death blow.

Although he feels good about Rob Kelley serving as the team's lead back, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said he hasn't given up on Jones, the team's official website reports. "Nobody's given up on Matt Jones," said Gruden. "He's got a long life ahead of him in the NFL, see how it goes."

Jones entered 2016 as the team's lead back, but he was a healthy scratch by the end of the season, unable to regain his standing after dealing with a knee injury, poor ball security and general ineffectiveness. Rob Kelley (knee) currents projects as the starter in 2017, with Chris Thompson handling most of the work on passing downs. However, Jones could work his way back into the mix with a strong showing in training camp and the preseason -- or else in the event of an injury to Kelley. The team also may take a long look at running backs in the opening rounds of the upcoming draft, as Kelley was solid but unspectacular down the stretch last season. 2016 seventh-round selection Keith Marshall (elbow) also could be in the mix, offering raw athleticism unmatched by the team's other runners.

Murray is slated to visit the Vikings on Tuesday, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Murray's name had been associated with the Seahawks, but with Eddie Lacy having signed with Seattle, Murray could potentially land a deal with the Vikings, who allowed Adrian Peterson to hit the open market. Meanwhile, the report notes that the Raiders have not made retaining Murray a priority. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder, who turned 27 in January, is coming off a 2016 campaign in which carried 195 times for 788 yards and 12 TDs, to go along with 33 catches for 264 yards in 14 games for Oakland.