NFL Player News

Vikings forgotten wideout Cordarrelle Patterson stated Thursday that he had a "heart-to-heart" talk with Mike Zimmer, but declined to get into specifics, per ESPN.

Patterson played just one offensive snap Sunday against the Jets and three the week before after fumbling the opening kickoff. He has just five catches over the last five weeks.

"Just getting that talk out of the way, it makes me have less pressure on me," Patterson said. "It feels good to sit down and talk to him."

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews didn't practice Wednesday due to a right ankle injury, U-T San Diego reports.

Mathews was limited to just two carries in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Patriots after suffering a leg injury late in the first half. His availability for Week 15 will be determined by how the ankle fares over the next few days.

"There's no doubt we're better when (Mathews is) out there," quarterback Philip Rivers said Wednesday. "At the same time, we have confidence in Donald, Branden (Oliver) and Ronnie (Brown) when they're in there as well. But when he's rolling and we're balanced, that's when we're at our best."

Mathews has played just six games this seaosn, gaining 330 yards on 74 carries and scoring three touchdowns.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, who is dealing with an ankle injury, missed practice Wednesday.

"It feels really good to be honest with you," Anderson told the Denver Post. Anderson was in and out of Week 14's game against the Bills with the ankle injury, but still managed three touchdowns on 21 carries.

The Broncos face the Chargers in Week 15. 

With Denard Robinson done for the season, coach Gus Bradley said Wednesday Toby Gerhart will likely start for the Jaguars against the Ravens. He also said Storm Johnson will play a bunch. 

Gerhart has 211 yards on 73 carries this year, while Johnson has 64 yards on 20 carries.

Running back Ryan Mathews and tight end Ladarius Green were not seen during the open portion of Chargers' practice Wednesday. 

Mathews is dealing with a leg injury after being tackled on play where the defender was called for tripping. He came back but quickly came back out with what the team called an ankle injury. 

Green is dealing with a concussion when he was hit hard during Sunday's game against the Patriots. 

The Ravens were without wide receiver Torrey Smith (knee), running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (foot), and tight end Crockett Gilmore (back) for Wednesday's practice.

Smith, who was held out of Week 14's game aganist the Dolphins, has been dealing with knee swelling over the past two weeks. 

Taliaferro saw his first carries in three weeks against Miami when he had seven carries for 35 yards and one catch for 20.

The Ravens face the Jaguars in Week 15. 

The Redskins were without Barry Cofield, Jason Hatcher, Roy Helu, and Keenan Robinson during Wednesday's practice to get ready for Week 15 against the Giants. 

Coefield, who is dealing with an illness, has only appeared in five games this year and has six tackles. Helu suffered a toe injury in Week 14 and is unlikely to play Sunday. 

Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton said he wasn't surprised by running back Kerwynn Williams' breakout game Week 14. Williams, who had never before gotten an NFL carry, ran 19 times for 100 yards in the win over Kansas City.

Williams is a 5-8, 198-pounder out of Utah State who went in the seventh round of the 2013 draft to the Colts. With Andre Ellington (hernia) out for the season, Williams and Stepfan Taylor are Arizona's top two backfield options.

"We're trying to get [Williams] in space and give him the ability because he has that home run-hitting capability," Stanton said. "Within that, you try and get him in space. You try to give him the opportunity to go out there and showcase his ability. He’s so smooth in and out of cuts and makes stuff look easy.

"Can get into top-end speed very quickly. He can take them to that next gear just coming right out of a cut, which is a great advantage to have. He’s just another example of one guy goes down and an opportunity presents itself and he steps up and answers the bell."

Williams visits the Rams on Thursday.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson told reporters Tuesday his injured ankle is nothing to worry about, reports ESPN Denver.

"I'm fine," Anderson said. "I feel good and I’ll be ready Sunday."

Anderson injured his ankle during the third quarter of Week 14’s win over Buffalo, but he was able to return in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos play at San Diego Sunday.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington underwent season-ending hernia surgery in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to his social media account.

Ellington was placed on injured reserve on Monday after failing to play Week 14 against Kansas City due to an assortment of injuries. His 2014 campaign ends with 201 carries for 660 yards and three touchdowns. He caught 46 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns.