NFL Player News

Drake (hamstring) is recovering from injury, but coach Adam Gase expects him to be "ready to go" when training camp starts, Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Drake injured his hamstring while taking part in a punt blocking drill during the second of three Dolphins' minicamp practices and was unable to participate in the team's final session back in June. The specifics of the injury were never released but it doesn't appear to be too serious. The rookie back will likely compete for reps behind presumed starter Jay Ajayi and on special teams once camp begins.

Oliver (toe) was looking quick and fluid during the final days of the Chargers offseason minicamp, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Oliver was placed on IR after Week 8 thanks to a turf toe injury, but the undrafted back from Buffalo looks to be healthy heading into his third training camp with the team. While Oliver isn't expected to receive a majority of the carries to start the year, he's still in line to be the primary backup for starter Melvin Gordon (knee) and versatile receiving threat Danny Woodhead (ankle). Oliver is expected to see some competition for the role in the form of Dreamius Smith and Kenneth Farrow, but it remains to be seen how many running backs the Chargers will keep on the roster heading into the new year.

Abdullah (shoulder) will have every opportunity to earn most of the Lions' rushing workload, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official site.

Abdullah missed the Lions' offseason program while recovering from January surgery to repair a torn labrum, but there doesn't seem to be any concern within the organization about his availability for training camp. Though not of much use to fantasy owners, Abdullah's rookie campaign wasn't a lost cause from his perspective, as he led the team in carries (143), rushing yards (597) and YPC (4.2), showing notable improvement along with the rest of Detroit's offense after Jim Bob Cooter replaced Joe Lombardi as the offensive coordinator mid-season. Abdullah averaged 10.7 carries for 51 yards (4.8 YPC) over the final six weeks, albeit with just one touchdown and 63 receiving yards (11 catches) while facing a soft part of the schedule. The 2015 second-round selection also did a better job taking care of the ball as the season progressed, with only one of his five fumbles occurring after Week 6, though it was still somewhat alarming to see his fumbling issues from college (23 on 980 touches) re-emerge. Assuming he returns to full health and mostly holds onto the ball, Abdullah doesn't have anything standing between him and the lead-back role, as Detroit's other running backs are either plodders (Stevan Ridley, Zach Zenner), pass-catching specialists (Theo Riddick) or special-teamers (George Winn). While easily the most explosive runner of the bunch, Abdullah is unlikely to surpass Riddick as the primary passing-down back -- a crucial role on a Detroit team that attempted 600+ passes each of the last six years. Further adding to Abdullah's workload concerns, Zenner and/or Ridley may take on most of the goal-line and short-yardage carries, with one of the two possibly even pushing for something akin to Joique Bell's role from last season. Even so, Abdullah offers an intriguing ceiling for prospective fantasy owners, entering his second NFL season with a clear path to lead-back status, assuming the shoulder checks out.

McFadden (elbow) could miss three months, ESPN.com reports.

The Cowboys haven't provided any hints about McFadden's timeline since June 14, when head coach Jason Garrett said the veteran running back will miss "a couple months" after having surgery on his fractured elbow, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Early reports suggested that McFadden is expected to return at some point during training camp, which would likely give him a shot to be ready for Week 1. Subsequent reports have been a bit more pessimistic, suggesting McFadden will miss 2-3 months, with his rehab process potentially stretching closer to the regular season. Alfred Morris figures to take most of the second-team reps when training camp begins, but sixth-round rookie Darius Jackson could push for a role.

Helu has yet to practice this offseason as he recovers from hip procedures, CSN Bay Area reports.

That said, the East Bay Times notes that coach Jack Del Rio expects Helu to be ready to go by training camp, at which time the change-of-pace back will have to contend with rookie DeAndre Washington and veteran Taiwan Jones to a lesser degree for complementary work behind the Raiders' top back, Latavius Murray.

Barner may find himself on the roster bubble, according to ESPN's Phil Sheridan.

Rookie UDFA Byron Marshall, also from the University of Oregon, has a skillset similar to Barner's as a fleet-footed scatback with potential to contribute in the return game. The Eagles also used a fifth-round pick on WVU product Wendell Smallwood, who joins a backfield that already had Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles. It thus seems Barner will have to fight for a roster spot, though it is worth nothing that Mathews has a lengthy injury history and Sproles just turned 33. A 2013 sixth-round selection, Barner has just 34 career carries for 131 yards, with 11 receptions for 29 yards.

Randle has been charged in Sedgwick County (Kansas) with one count of criminal threat for allegedly threatening a jail deputy last month, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Per ESPN.com, Randle is due back in court on July 6. The running back, who was released by the Cowboys this past November, also has preliminary hearings in two pending felony cases (also in Sedgwick County) on July 26.

Gaskins has signed a two-year contract with the 49ers.

Gaskins was on the 49ers' practice squad in 2014 and at the beginning of 2015 before being pulled up to San Francisco's active roster around midseason. Playing in the final nine games last year, he recorded 38 yards on 16 rushes and 69 yards on eight receptions, but his major contribution was on special teams, where he played 35 percent of the team's snaps. Now that he's been signed once again, the third-year running back will be looking to make the roster, but it seems unlikely that he becomes relevant in any fantasy format unless injuries force him into a larger role on offense.

Taliaferro mostly worked behind Terrance West throughout the Ravens' offseason program, ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley reports.

A 2014 fourth-round selection, Taliaferro has often served as Baltimore's goal-line/short-yardage back when healthy, but a foot injury limited him to just three games last season. He now finds himself on the roster bubble, with Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen and Kenneth Dixon all locks to make the team. Taliaferro's chances got a slight bump when it was announced that Trent Richardson (knee) needs arthroscopic surgery, but it appears West might be the real winner from that development. In any case, the two are likely just competing for the No. 4 spot on the depth chart, which means the battle could be determined on special teams.

West worked ahead of Lorenzo Taliaferro during the offseason program, ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley reports.

West, Taliaferro and Trent Richardson (knee) were expected to compete for (possibly) one roster spot, but it appears the latter may have fallen out of the competition after having arthroscopic surgery. It's actually a bit surprising that West worked ahead of 2014 fourth-rounder Taliaferro, who often served as the Ravens' short-yardage/goal-line back when healthy his first two seasons. Granted, foot/ankle injuries have limited Taliaferro to just 16 appearances, and West is reportedly in the best shape of his career. This isn't a high priority battle, as fellow running backs Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen and rookie Kenneth Dixon are all considered locks for the final roster. The competition between West and Taliaferro might ultimately be decided on special teams.