NFL Player News

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."

Week 12 breakout back Latavius Murray returned to practice Wednesday for the Raiders after being sidelined several days with a concussion.

Murray rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries last Thursday against Kansas City. It remains to be seen if he's cleared to play Sunday against St. Louis.

Vikings running back Matt Asiata, who sat out Week 12 due to a concussion, said he is fine Wednesday and ready to return to action Week 13 against the Panthers, according to the Pioneer Press.

If active Sunday, Asiata will be facing a Panthers defense yielding 119.1 rushing yards per game. Minnesota has allowed 13 rushing touchdowns in 11 games.

Chargers featured back Ryan Mathews appears ready to roll for the Sunday game in Baltimore after missing some of the Week 12 game with a shoulder injury sustained in the third quarter when two Rams defenders weighing a combined 600 pounds landed on it.

Mathews, who returned late in the fourth quarter, practiced Wednesday.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the team signed running back Michael Bush because "we need a guy who's going to pound it in there and close out games for us." Bush, 30, scored 25 touchdowns over the past four seasons before getting released by the Bears.

Cardinals starter Andre Ellington has averaged under 3.0 yards per carry in three straight games and has rushed for three touchdowns this season.

Colts running back Dan Herron is currently owned in just 31 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, but that number should increase moving forward, as Jamey Eisenberg has tabbed him as one of his waiver-wire priorities ahead of Week 13.

Herron received a big workload in Sunday's game against the Jaguars, rushing for 65 yards on 12 carries to lead the team. He added five receptions for 31 yards, while playing 43 percent of the team's snaps in Week 12.

The Colts will likely still give Trent Richardson the lion's share of the carries, but  Herron is going to be a factor. If you need help at running back -- especially in PPR formats -- Herron could emerge as a starter down the stretch for you. 

The Cardinals have reportedly signed running back Michael Bush on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Bush has not played in 2014 and averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 2013. His best season occurred in 2011 when he rushed for 977 yards and scored seven touchdowns for the Raiders.

Kerwynn Williams  from the 53-man roster and Kelvin Palmer from the practice squad. The Cardinals play at Atlanta Week 13.

Despite being nowhere near as productive as his rookie season, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin said he’s still the same player as he was when he entered the league, according to ESPN.

Martin rushed for 1,454 yards in 2012 averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The following two seasons after his rookie year have seen Martin deal with numerous injuries and his average per carry dip to 3.6 in 2013 and 2.8 this season.

While Martin admitted injuries can slow players down, he still believes his ability has not wavered.

"I do believe so," Martin said, per ESPN.com. "I'm very confident in my ability."

Jets running backs Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory each ran seven times in Monday's 38-3 loss to the Bills. Johnson gained 40 yards, Ivory 31, but the Jets got away from the ground game as their deficit mounted.

Johnson caught three of four passes for 22 yards, while Ivory hauled in all three of his targets for 7 yards.

They'll face the Dolphins in Week 13.

All the Jets who were probable on the injury report are active for Monday's game against the Bills in Detroit.

The list includes running backs Chris Ivory (shoulder) and Chris Johnson (knee), guard Oday Aboushi (shoulder), linebacker Antwan Barnes (knee), guard Willie Colon (knee), wideout T.J. Graham (neck), linebacker David Harris (shoulder), safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (calf), center Nick Mangold (shoulder), linebacker Trevor Reilly (knee), receiver Greg Salas (wrist), cornerback Darrin Walls (calf) and quarterback Geno Smith (right shoulder).