NFL Player News

The Cowboys will start Darren McFadden at running back for their Week 1 matchup against the Giants on Sunday.

McFadden will be making his debut with Dallas after spending his first seven seasons with the Raiders.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington had to be helped off the field during Sunday's game against the Saints after sustaining a right knee injury, reports The Arizona Republic.

Ellington left the field on a cart and he did not return. After the game, coach Bruce Arians said Ellington suffered a PCL injury, reports Fox Sports 910. He will receive an MRI on Monday. 

Raiders running back Roy Helu is a healthy scratch for the season opener Sunday against Cincinnati. His inactive status comes as a bit of a surprise.

Helu signed a two-year contract with Oakland in the offseason after averaging a fine 5.4 yards per carry with Washington a year ago. But he fell behind both Latavius Murray and Taiwan Jones on the depth chart during the presesaon.

The Cowboys are expected to start Joseph Randle at running back Sunday night against the Giants, sources told ESPN.

Although Randle might get the start, the Cowboys have been insistent on splitting carries between Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar.

Still, Randle received the majority of first-team snaps when he and McFadden were healthy during the preseason.

There is not a lot of optimism Rams running back Tre Mason will be able to play Week 1 against the Seahawks, according to ESPN. Mason is questionable due to a thigh injury.

If Mason is sidelined, then Benny Cunningham will start in his place.

The Ravens have ruled running back Lorenzo Taliaferro out for Week 1 against the Broncos, according to CSN.

Injuries to fellow Rams running backs Todd Gurley and Tre Mason has all but sewn up a starting job for Benny Cunningham in the season opener against Seattle on Sunday, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The third-year undrafted free agent had his per-rush average fall from 5.6 to 3.7 last year, but he did score three touchdowns.

Mason, who was their leading rusher in 2014, is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, but is unlikely to play because he hasn't practiced all week.

Lions rookie running back Ameer Abdullah didn't receive that many reps during the preseason, but that is slated to change during the regular season, per ESPN.com.

Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said that Abdullah will likely play a major role in the team's offense on Sunday against the Chargers.

“He’s going to get a chance to run the ball and he’s going to be used extensively in the pass game,” Lombardi said. “So, like a lot of running backs, he’s a well-rounded player, which makes it easy. People call them three-down backs, and he is certainly a guy that can do it all, so he’ll be rotated in there and we expect good things from him.”

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Thursday that Alfred Morris will remain the lead back heading into Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins, but added he will work backup running back Matt Jones into the mix.

“We’ll see how the game goes," Gruden said. "A lot depends on how the game goes. We’re going to work Matt in there obviously. It’s still, Alfred’s the bell cow, so to speak. We want to keep him fresh for 16 weeks. If he gets 12-20 carries, Matt Jones gets 8-10, I don’t know how that’s going to work or play out.

"I think a lot is going to depend on our drives. Do we have 12-play drive, do we have a three-and-out? If we have a bunch of three-and-outs, then I don’t imagine Alfred is going to get taken out too much. We’ve got to try and get some drives, keep them alive and that way we’ll get a good look at both of them.”

While Ameer Abdullah is technically listed as the third-team running back, Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi clarified Thursday the team will find touches for the talented rookie, per MLive.com.

"He's going to get a chance to run the ball, and he's going to get a chance to be used extensively in the passing game," Lombardi said.