NFL Player News

Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon was unable to practice again on Friday, placing him danger of missing out Sunday's game against the Panthers, ESPN reports. McKinnon received the bulk of the carries in a Week 12 loss to the Packers. He has 538 yards on 113 carries this season.

Cowboys backup running backs Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar were barely used in Thursday's loss to the Eagles. Randle ran twice for 6 yards and caught one pass for minus-1 yard. Dunbar rushed twice for 15 yards, including a 14-yard gain.

They'll visit the Bears next Thursday.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (shoulder) and wideout Eddie Royal (toe) practiced fully Thursday and appear set to play Sunday at Baltimore.

Raiders running back Latavius Murray, who suffered a concussion Week 12, was limited in practice for the second straight day Thursday. He must get cleared by an independent neurologist to play Sunday at St. Louis.

"He still has one step to go," coach Tony Sparano told the San Francisco Chronicle. "We're not there yet."

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) and running back Jerick McKinnon (low back) missed practice Thursday. It was the second straight day they sat out.

The Vikings host the Panthers Week 13.

Raiders running back Latavius Murray is "feeling better every day," according to CSN.

Murray was able to return to practice on Wednesday, but has not been cleared to return from his concussion just yet. Despite that, Murray seems optimistic about his status. "I’ve felt fine, and I’m feeling better each day," Murray said. "With these kind of things you have to take it one day at a time and follow the right procedures." Murray was on his way to a huge game before leaving with the injury Week 12. 

Raiders running back Latavius Murray may have returned to practice on Wednesday, but he hasn't been cleared to play on Sunday just yet, according to CSN.

Murray is dealing with a concussion. While he appears to have made progress with the injury, he still has to pass medical tests before he's formally cleared to play. Murray was on his way to a huge game Week 12 before exiting with the injury. Murray was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.

Colts running back Dan Herron will likely to continue starting over Trent Richardson when the team plays Washington on Sunday.

It had been reported that Herron started in Week 13 because Richardson was dealing with the flu, but it was in reality because he outperformed him in practice, according to ESPN. He then produced more on the field against Jacksonville, averaging 5.4 YPC on 12 attempts and adding five receptions while Richardson managed 42 yards and a touchdown in 13 tries.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) and running back Jerick McKinnon (lower back) were held out of practice Wednesday. The Vikings are preparing to play the Panthers in Week 13.

The Buccaneers have struggled to run the football in 2014, and coach Lovie Smith knows it too well. The Bucs have rushed for fewer than 100 yards in eight of their last nine games and rank second to last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (84.0 ypg).

"A defense can just tee off on you if you can’t run the football," Smith said, per The Tampa Tribune. "When you can’t run the ball consistently in this league, it hurts."

The Bucs did rush for more than 100 yards in each of their first two games. Since then, they are averaging 73.8 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry.

The Bucs are averaging 21.7 run plays per game, which is the second-fewest in the NFL. Only one time this year has a Bucs' running back carried the ball more than 20 times. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo admits it might be time to change that, and get running backs Doug Martin, Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey more carries.

"We haven’t tried that yet," Arroyo said when asked if the solution might be as simple as calling 30 or more rushing plays per game. "Maybe that is the answer."