NFL Player News

Bears running back Shaun Draughn "appears to have solidified the No. 2 spot" behind starter Matt Forte, reports ESPN.com. Draughn continues to run ahead of rookie Ka'Deem Carey.

Draughn ran three times for 33 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards last Thursday against the Jaguars. Carey carried 13 times for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce ran with "power and decisiveness" against the Cowboys on Saturday, and he's been very consistent through two preseason games, reports ESPN.com. Pierce is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Nearly half of his 17 rushes have produced more than 4 yards.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson entered after Ronnie Hillman in Sunday's game against the 49ers, but Anderson got some snaps with the starters too. Anderson ran nine times for 29 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and caught both his targets for 11 yards.

Hillman started in place of Montee Ball, who's recovering from an appendectomy.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced that running back Isaiah Pead tore his ACL in Saturday's preseason loss to the Packers. Pead suffered the non-contact injury on a kickoff return.

With Montee Ball recovering from an appendectomy, Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman received his second straight start Sunday against the 49ers. He ran four times for 19 yards (4.8 ypc) and caught a 6-yard pass among two targets.

The 49ers will be down five players when they face Denver on Sunday in their second preseason game. Not dressed are defensive tackles Glenn Dorsey and Ian Williams, running back LaMichael James, defensive end Justin Smith and offensive tackle Anthony Davis.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden ran eight times for 27 yards (3.4 ypc) and a touchdown Saturday against the Lions. To coach Dennis Allen, it was a very impressive performance.

"I think Darren is probably running the ball as well as I've seen him run it since I've been here," Allen told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I think he's probably more explosive than I've seen him since I've been here."

However, Allen is keeping Maurice Jones-Drew as the official starter. "Both those guys are going to get significant playing time and both those guys are guys that are going to help us," Allen said.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris hurt his chances for meaningful regular-season snaps with a third-quarter fumble against the Rams Saturday night, reports ESPN.com. "The Packers like Harris as a change-of-pace back, but if ball security is an issue, they have other options," the report said.

Harris led Green Bay with 32 yards on seven carries. He's behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks on the depth chart.

Colts running back Trent Richardson gained 21 yards on nine carries against the Giants, adding a 4-yard catch on his only target. He's averaged 2.4 yards per carry through two preseason games.

Richardson, who averaged 3.0 yards per carry last season, will try to get going Saturday in the third preseason game against the Saints.

Texans running back Jonathan Grimes led his team in rushing Saturday, gaining 42 yards on nine carries and catching three passes for 25 yards in his team's 32-7 preseason win over the Falcons.

Grimes is the favorite to open the season as Arian Foster's direct backup, and though he started off slow Saturday, he broke off a 22-yard run in the second quarter that was Foster-esque for his balance and cutback ability. Grimes mixed in with rookie Alfred Blue throughout the first half, giving the team a good look at the presumed depth chart behind Foster this season.