NFL Player News

Cowboys running back Darren McFadden has become optimistic that he could make his training camp debut as early as Saturday after feeling no pain running and cutting over the last few days, per the Dallas Morning News.

He added that he wanted to test out his strained hamstring again before finalizing a timetable for joining the team.

An ankle injury to fellow running back Lance Dunbar, which was sustained Wednesday, makes the return of McFadden more imperative.

The loss of featured back Arian Foster for at least half the regular season to a groin injury has Jonathan Grimes thrust into a primary role for the Texans. Foster will be missed, but Bill O'Brien isn't complaining.

"Grimes has had a good training camp," O'Brien told the team website. "He's strung about three good practices in a row here. He's done a good job. He's a smart player. He's one of our core special teams players. He's a guy that really knows our offense well. He plays a lot on third down, but now with Arian out, he's playing more on first and second down in certain packages. Really dependable guy."

Grimes has stepped up in the absence of Foster in the past. He has rushed for 226 yards in 60 attempts over the past two seasons with Houston.

Running back Trent Richardson, whom the Raiders played on the non-injury list before the start of training camp with was activated by the team Thursday and practiced, per NFL.com. 

The Raiders never specified why Richardson wasn't ready, but reports suggested that the back did not come to camp at the team's expected weight. The former first-round pick will have to make an impression to land a starting job, with Latavius Murray turning heads with his speed out of the backfield. 

Doug Martin will be the number one running back for the Buccaneers this season, coach Lovie Smith said on Monday. 

"We talked about being able to establish the run," Smith said, per TampaBay.com. "Doug will be the lead guy doing that, so it's very important that we open up some holes and let him do his thing."

Martin had 494 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 11 games last year. 

Redskins running back Matt Jones is being evaluated after sustaining a knee injury during Sunday's practice, reports The Washington Post.

Jones was a third-round draft pick in the 2015 draft and is expected to compete for the starting running back role.

Browns running back Terrance West had his left calf wrapped in ice during Saturday's practice, reports the Akron Beacon Journal.

West rushed for 673 yards and four touchdowns on 171 attempts in 14 games last season.

The Cowboys expect Joseph Randle to win out the battle for the top running back spot this offseason, as a matter of fact, they believe it's his job to lose, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Randle has the vision and explosiveness that is rare among running backs, giving him the edge over oft-injured Darren McFadden.

Randle rushed for 343 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games for Dallas last season.

After being placed on the Non-Football Injury list on Wednesday, Jaguars running back Storm Johnson said he expects to return to the field next week, reports Jacksonville.com.

Johnson and coached Gus Bradley declined to discuss the nature of Johnson's injury, but Bradley said he is considered day to day.

"I'd rather talk about it when I get back on the field," Johnson said.

The Raiders assigned wide receiver Rod Streater and running back Trent Richardson to the Non-Football Injury list on Friday, the team announced.

Moreover, the team placed defensive tackle Stacy McGee and wide receiver Trindon Holliday on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List.

The Cowboys opened training camp with two contributors on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. 

Running back Darren McFadden is still returning from a hamstring injury and will open camp on PUP. McFadden signed with the Cowboys in the offseason after spending the first seven years of his career with Oakland. 

In addition, linebacker Rolando McClain was also placed on PUP, as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. 

Both players can be taken off PUP at any time during camp, after they're medically cleared. McClain will have to serve a four-game suspension for substance abuse policy violation, however.