NFL Player News

Eagles running back Ryan Mathews only received three rushing attempts in Monday's loss to the Falcons, but he was able to reach the endzone.

Mathews scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. He finished the contest with four rushing yards on three attempts. Mathews was also targeted four times and caught three receptions for 24 yards.

With starting running back Andre Ellington nursing a knee sprain, Cardinals running back Chris Johnson says nothing will change in his preparation, reports ESPN.com.

"I'm always preparing myself like I'm getting 20, 25 touches a game," Johnson said Monday. "With me, [my mindset ] don't change at all. Practice hard every week, study a lot, and just, even though when you're not the starter, you still have to go in there like you're going to have to play. They're still going to need you and knowing that I'm going to have a role on this team, I can't sit there and not prepare like a starter even though I'm not the starter. I got to prepare the same way."

With running backs frequently subject to vicious hits and injuries, Johnson said he's always stays ready to contribute.

"That's always a possibility as a running back," Johnson said. "We get hit every single play. It's probably the most physical position on the team."

In Week 2, the Cardinals will take on the Bears, who surrendered 133 rushing yards to the Packers in Week 1. 

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said running back C.J. Anderson is OK and after rolling his ankle Sunday against the Ravens and is expected to play Thursday against the Chiefs, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Anderson totaled 29 rushing yards on 12 carries Week 1. Backup running back Ronnie Hillman led the team with 41 rushing yards on 12 carries.

The Texans totaled 98 rushing yards against the Chiefs in Week 1.

The Dolphins announced Monday they released running back LaMichael James. To take his spot on the roster, tight end Jake Stoneburner was promoted from the practice squad.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians confirmed running back Andre Ellington has a mild PCL sprain. He didn't put a timetable on Ellington's return, but indicated it could be 1-3 weeks.

In a strange twist, Arians also wouldn't rule out Ellington for Week 2. He said if Ellington practices Friday, he could play Sunday.

ESPN was first to report Ellington suffered a Grade 1 PCL sprain in his right knee. A source estimated his return at 2-3 weeks.

Arians said after Sunday's game if Ellington has to miss time, veteran Chris Johnson will take over as the starting running back and rookie David Johnson will assume the backup role. He reiterated that position Monday.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday after injuring his right knee in Sunday's opener against the Saints.

General manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday that Ellington said he "felt pretty good" and the team is optimistic his injury is not serious, per the team's official website.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after Sunday's game if Ellington has to miss time, veteran Chris Johnson will take over as the starting running back and rookie David Johnson will assume the backup role.

The Cowboys played their first regular-season game Sunday against the Giants in the post-Demarco Murray era. While the run game had their moments, Dallas netted just 80 rushing yards and 3.5 yards per carry in the 27-26 win.

After much speculation, Joseph Randle started at running back for Dallas. He had only 39 rushing yards on nine attempts and one catch for 6 yards by halftime, but he was a key factor in the second half. Randle would finish with 65 rushing yards on 16 attemps and three catches for 42 yards.

Darren McFadden didn't get a lot of opportunities. He rushed for 16 yards on six carries and had one catch for 19 yards.

Lance Dunbar, however, was a major factor in the passing game. He led Dallas with 70 receiving yards on eight catches.

All in all, Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan seemed pleased with how the running backs played.

“I thought when we ran the ball it was efficient,” Linehan said, per NFL.com. “We’d like to pop a few long runs, but I didn’t think that our running game was a concern at all. There were some things that were there. It was just a weird game.”

The Cowboys lowest rushing total in 2014 was 92 yards on 25 carries. 

“We got the dirty yards we needed to win the game,” Randle said of Sunday's performance.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians seemed pleased with how running backs Chris Johnson and David Johnson responded after starter Andre Ellington left Sunday's season opener against the Saints with a knee injury.

Chris Johnson became the primary back after Ellington hurt his knee, rushing for 37 yards on 10 carries. David Johnson was more of a factor in the passing game, which included a 55-yard touchdown reception to cap the scoring late in the fourth quarter at 31-19.

“David did a heck of a job of hitting the jets and scoring,” Arians said, per ESPN.com. “It wasn’t designed to score. It was designed to get us a first down.”

If Ellington has to miss time, Arians appears to be comfortable with his current backfield situation.

“I thought Chris looked good,” Arians said. “He’ll get more touches and we will feel very confident if he is our lead dog, and then David has been backing him up.”

Quarterback Carson Palmer echoed Arians' sentiments.

“It doesn’t change a ton,” Palmer said. “They’re similar in a lot of ways, and a little bit different in their receiving ways just because Andre is so used to this offense and Chris hasn’t been in a system like this.”

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington got off to a fast start to the season Sunday against New Orleans. But a torn PCL could interrupt that season, at least temporarily.

He will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Ellington did lead the team with 12 carries for 69 yards before going down. He also scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and added a catch for seven yards.

Arizona plays at Chicago in Week 2, but it appears unlikely that Ellington will participate.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson said he suffered a sprained toe during his team's Week 1 win over the Ravens.

Anderson was limited to 29 yards on 12 rushes in the victory. Denver will face the Chiefs Week 2.