NFL Player News

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin showed some struggles and was bothered by an apparent knee injury in a Week 1 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

Making his first appearance since having shoulder surgery, Martin was limited to 3 yards on five carries in the first half. He sustained the injury early in the third quarter but was kept out for most of the game, likely as a precaution.

Martin did not get a handoff and was targeted only once after the injury. Bobby Rainey filled in for him late in the game. Martin was held to nine carries for 9 yards and one grab for a gain of 7 yards while being targeted twice in a 20-14 defeat.

Martin could pop up on the injury report next week. The Bucs will host the Rams in Week 2.

The Colts declared wideout Da'Rick Rogers, running back Zurlon Tipton, center Khaled Holmes (ankle), safety Sergio Brown (shoulder), lineback Henoc Muamba, left tackle Joe Reitz and nose tackle Montori Hughes inactive for Sunday night's game in Denver.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman and nickel corner Kayvon Webster are inactive for Sunday night's game against the Colts because they fell behind in their preparation, reports the Denver Post. Both players fell ill after the preseason finale and stayed behind in Dallas to receive treatment, the paper said.

Though they returned to practice last week, coach John Fox felt they had fallen too far behind to play Sunday, the report added. Running back C.J. Anderson will get snaps behind Montee Ball, and rookie Bradley Roby is expected to replace Webster at nickel corner.

The Broncos declared these players inactive for Sunday night's game against the Colts: running back Ronnie Hillman, wideout Nathan Palmer, defensive back Kayvon Webster, linebacker Danny Trevathan (leg), offensive linemen Michael Schofield and Ben Garland and defensive lineman Mitch Unrein.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin stepped out of Sunday's season opener against Carolina with a knee injury, according to Jennifer Hale of FOX Sports. Martin was limited to only nine carries for 9 yards before leaving the game. He also had one grab for a gain of 7 yards. He was seen on the bench fighting to get back in the game, and returned in the fourth quarter.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen had a solid all-around performance in Week 1, a 33-20 loss to the Dolphins Sunday.

Vereen was a contrubitor in both the rushing as well as the passing game, as he actually led the team in rushing yards with 36 on seven carries. He scored a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and added five receptions for 35 yards through the air.

Vereen filled his expected role in Week 1, and will look to do so again in Week 2 against the Vikings next Sunday. 

The Jets running back duo of Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory played at a high level Sunday in Week 1 against the Raiders in a 19-14 victory.

Johnson had 13 carries for 68 yards and five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown on five targets. And Ivory had 10 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 71-yard run.

The Jets play at Green Bay in Week 2.

Browns rookie running back Terrance West made certain Sunday there was no dropoff upon the departure of starter Ben Tate due to a knee injury.

West ran wild in helping his team stage a furious comeback from a 24-point deficit to tie it. He rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries for a 6.3 average in his first NFL game. His 22-yard jaunt on the first running play of the third quarter set the stage for the rally. He added a key 29-yard gain in the fourth quarter.

He will attempt to make it two strong games in a row next Sunday when the Browns debut at home against New Orleans.

The Raiders running backs had little room Sunday at the Jets in Week 1 in a 19-14 loss. Both Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden had minimal production.

Jones-Drew started and had nine carries for 11 yards and two catches for 12 yards on three targets. McFadden had four carries for 15 yards and one catch for 6 yards on one target.

The Raiders play host to the Texans in Week 2.

Redskins running back Roy Helu finished second on the team in rushing during a 17-6 loss Week 1 at Houston. Helu totaled 46 rushing yards on four carries, which trailed Alfred Morris' team-high 91 rushing yards on 14 carries. 

Helu's longest carry went 16 yards. He also had two catches for 15 yards. The Redskins are back in action Week 2 vs. Jacksonville.