NFL Player News

Always-involved Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has endorsed Joseph Randle as the team's featured back in 2015.

Jones expressed his belief to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Randle can be "the No. 1 back."

Randle must step up in the wake of the departure of superback DeMarco Murray, though an offensive line considered one of the best in the sport should help. Randle averaged 6.7 yards per carry a year ago.

The Chiefs have released running back and special teams standout Cyrus Gray, per the Kansas City Star.

The sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft carried just 24 times during his career with the team for 99 yards and one touchdown. He had eight attempts for 31 yards and that lone score in 2014.

He was out after November 11, however, with a torn ACL.

Running back/returner Storm Johnson has been placed by the Jaguars on the active/non-football illness list, the Florida Times-Union has reported.

The team has not revealed the nuture of the problem, but it arose during activities off the field.

Johnson did miss some time this offseason with a back injury.

The Cowboys parted ways with running back Ryan Williams on Tuesday, reports ESPNDallas.com. Williams has not played in a game since 2012.

Moreover, the team released linebacker Cameron Lawrence and offensive lineman Ryan Miller.

The Eagles have waived running back Matthew Tucker with a non-football injury, per ESPN.

Tucker spent the last two seasons with the team, but mostly on the practice squad. He did earn playing time in two games as a rookie in 2013, though with no rushing attempts.

Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon doesn't have a Fantasy football team, but if he did...

"If ... I could take myself, I would," he told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Never mind that Adrian Peterson has returned to the backfield. Never mind that Peterson has traditionally not yielded many carries to teammates. In 2012, for instance, he totaled 348 of his team's 401 rushing attempts.

The Vikings, however, are expected to use a more balanced approach in 2015. And McKinnon, who flashed as a starter with Peterson sidelined last season, is feeling dandy after undergoing lower back surgery in December.

"Two hundred percent," he declared in regard to his health. "If there is a 300, I feel 300. It's all good."

McKinnon averaged 4.8 yards per carry a year ago, which buoyed his confidence.

Raiders running back Latavius Murray is primed to take the lead role that awaits him for this upcoming season, per the team website.

Murray will be the Raiders' featured back after the departure of Darren McFadden, and he's eager to enter that top spot.

It’s a great feeling, but every day I have to go in there knowing I need to get better every day,” Murray said. “I need to play like it’s a new year. Last season is just last season and the year before that it was the year before that. Every season is a new year for me and it’s a year I have to go out and prove something.”

Murray rushed for 424 yards and two touchdowns last season, while also posting an impressive 5.2 yards per carry.

Jerick McKinnon had been planning to take over the featured back role full-time for the Vikings in the potential absence of Adrian Peterson.

So much for that. Peterson is still wearing a Minnesota uniform.

But that hasn't deterred McKinnon, who is still trying to prove he can be a three-down performer in the NFL. And running backs coach Kirby Wilson has noticed.

"Jerick is working on those things," Wilson told ESPN. "Trying to be three phases: a runner, protector and pass catcher and he knows it's a process. Something you have to put in the time and work ethic to get there and to his credit, he's doing that and I'm looking forward to training camp to see where he'll be when we make it real."

McKinnon thrived with Peterson out before back surgery prematurely ended his season. He averaged 4.8 yards on 113 carries and added 27 receptions.

The Broncos are confident in the skills of running back C.J. Anderson, who has solidified his role as the team's No. 1 option out of the backfield with a strong spring. 

Anderson, who rushed for 648 yards in the last six games of the 2014 regular season, came into offseason camp in much better shape than the prior season and took the most snaps with the offense in OTAs and minicamp. 

"I think C.J. has worked extremely hard," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. "Coming off of last year, he deserves that opportunity, and I think he's getting ready for that opportunity. But he knows he’s being pushed very hard."

Denver also has running backs Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman in the mix. 

Seahawks running back Christine Michael sustained a hamstring injury during Thursday's practice, reports 710 ESPN.

The injury caused Michael to leave the practice early, but the extent of the injury is not known.