NFL Player News

The Redskins coaches "really like" rookie running back Matt Jones, ESPN.com write John Keim wrote in his preview column for Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins.

Keim added the coaching staff likes Jones "more than" they liked former backup running back Roy Helu as a runner. Helu had only 40 carries as the primary backup to Alfred Morris last season, but Keim is expecting Jones to get "plenty more" carries. 

The Redskins maintain the run game will power the offense, according to Keim.

Jones rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries during the preseason. He added two catches for 28 yards. He is listed as the second-string running back on the team's unofficial depth chart.

The Raiders released their unofficial depth chart Tuesday for their Week 1 matchup against the Bengals. 

While it is of little surprise Latavius Murray is listed as the first-team running back, it comes as a bit of a shock that Taiwan Jones is listed ahead of Roy Helu on the depth chart behind Murray.

Jones was drafted in 2011 as a running back out of Eastern Washington. However, he moved to defensive back in 2013 before being shifted to running back in April.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is coming off a strong preseason, as he led the team in rushing (118 yards) and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. 

Martin has struggled the last two seasons following a breakout campaign as a rookie in 2012, but it appears he could finally be in for a bounce-back season. One Bucs player that is buying the hype is veteran wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

"I'm very excited for Doug Martin," Jackson told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday. "I promise you he has shown that spark and juice that you saw in 2012."

While Chargers running back Melvin Gordon will be an integral part of the offense this season, quarterback Philip Rivers said the team will rely on other running backs as well, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

"It's not going to be all Melvin," Rivers said.

Gordon was a first-round pick in the 2015 draft, but did struggle at times during the preseason. He will still receive first-team snaps, but Danny Woodhead will see time as the pass-catching specialist.

"As coach has always said — I'm not saying anything out of the blue — it's a running back by committee crew," Rivers said. "It's going to be a team effort in that bunch. We're going to need all of them to carry the load in the run game and to catch the ball out of the backfield."

Former Patriots running back Jonas Gray is scheduled to work out Tuesday for the Titans, according agent Sean Stellato.

Gray was released by the Patriots on Saturday. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry in eight games with New England last season. He totaled five rushing touchdowns.

The Titans acquired running back Terrance West from the Browns on Sunday, the Browns announced. The Browns will receive a conditional draft pick in 2016.

West rushed for 673 yards and four touchdowns on 171 attempts last season. The Browns used a third-round pick in the 2014 draft to acquire West. 

The Colts waived/injured running back Dan Herron, the team announced Sunday. If Herron is not claimed by another team, he will go on the team’s IR list.

The Seahawks traded running back Christine Michael to the Cowboys, a source told ESPN. Michael rushed for 175 yards on 34 attempts in 10 games last season. The Seahawks will receive a conditional draft pick.

The Cowboys have had discussions with the Browns over acquiring running back Terrance West, reports the Houston Chronicle.

The Browns are reportedly interested in trading West, who rushed for 673 yards and four touchdowns on 171 attempts last season, reports NFL.com.

The Patriots released running back Jonas Gray on Saturday, according to the Providence Journal.

Gray enjoyed one of the best individual performances of any back last season when he rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts.