NFL Player News

Mike Zimmer has expressed optimism that underachieving Vikings wideout Cordarrelle Patterson is gaining a better understanding of route-running and the nuances of playing the position in the NFL, which would allow his talent to result in greater productivity.

Patterson took a step back in 2014 after a mediocre rookie year. He played in every game, but managed just 33 receptions for 384 yards and one touchdown. He has since stated that 2015 is his make-or-break year and is apparently acting like it in the offseason.

"He's done real well," Zimmer told Fox Sports North. "He's running routes good. He's working hard. So we just need him to continue to do those things and continue to keep getting consistent and keep improving. I've been impressed."

The Cowboys are in the market for another running back with Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle as their top three guys at the moment. 

Therefore, Dallas could be looking to add another. According to The Baltimore Sun and National Football Post's Aaron Wilson, the Cowboys worked out running back Daniel Thomas on Thursday. 

Thomas was with the Dolphins the previous four years and totaled 1,480 career yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Cowboys also worked out Ben Tate and Felix Jones. 

The Cowboys have far more to consider than talent on the field in regard to the possible featured back status of Joseph Randle.

Randle could earn that distinction with DeMarco Murray gone, but his recent arrests on shoplifting and drug charges have given the team much more to think about.

"I think Joe really has to make sure he takes care of everything on and off the field," running backs coach Gary Brown told the Dallas Morning News. "We want to trust Joe, we like Joe, but we want to make sure he's going to be with us at all times.

"I think he's maturing up and he's getting better and he understands the opportunity he has in front of him and I think he'll take full advantage. I think those days are behind him and we're looking forward to working with Joe. ... He and I have sat down and had one-on-one conversations about his future and I think he wants to go in the right direction."

Randle, would could face discipline from the NFL for his indescretions, averaged an impressive 6.7 yards per carry last season.

The Panthers have announced the signing of fifth-round running back Cameron Artis-Payne. Only second-rounder David Funchess remains unsigned among their 2015 draftees.

Artis-Payne thrived in his last season at Auburn, rushing for 1,608 yards on 303 carries and scoring 13 touchdowns. But his per-carry average fell from 6.7 in 2013 to 5.3.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has declared that the presence of Darren McFadden is the reason his team did not draft a running back despite having lost stud DeMarco Murray to the rival Eagles.

McFadden signed a two-year deal with Dallas. It calls for just $200,000 in guaranteed money, but could be worth as much as $5.85 million, per ESPN.

The scatback has been a disappointment in the NFL. In seven years with Oakland, he exceeded 1,000 yards rushing just once and has 25 touchdowns. He has not averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry since 2011, but the change of scenery and far better surrounding offensive talent could give his career a jump-start.

At least Jones believes so.

"McFadden made a big difference here," he said. "His availability - make no bones about it - we didn't know that McFadden was going to be available when we initially started to think about this year and in our decision regarding that. ... It might have been a little different story had we not had McFadden on our roster in this draft."

Free-agent running back Chris Johnson recently said he'd love to join the Cowboys. Though the Cowboys aren't in any rush to add another running back, Johnson isn't too far off the team's radar. 

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked about Johnson in a conference call with season-ticket holders. Via the team's website, Jones said the team has at least some interest in Johnson. 

“We haven’t visited with Chris, and we can’t talk about him because he’s a free agent. But right now we’re looking at the guys that we have on our roster,” Jones said. “He is somebody that is on a short list of ours that we think could ultimately come in and do some good things for us if we asked him to. But I wouldn’t say it’s a priority right now.”

After running for 2,006 yards in 2009, Johnson has been unable to live up to expectations since. With the Jets a year ago, Johnson only totald 663 yards and one touchdown while notching just one start. 

The Cowboys added Darren McFadden this offseason after DeMarco Murray left for Philadelphia. Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams are the other backs on the roster. 

Running back Chris Johnson is still looking for a place to play next season. After being cut by the Jets at the end of 2014, Johnson believes he could be the answer to what the Cowboys need at running back after letting DeMarco Murray go to Philadelphia and not drafting a running back, according to the Dallas Morning News.

"I'd fit good in Dallas," Johnson said to TMZ. "They need it. Yeah. That's what we're trying to do. Cowboys, come holler at me."

Dallas signed Darren McFadden to a two-year deal in the offseason worth up to $5.85 million. Johnson had the worst rushing season in his career in 2014, totaling 663 yards on the ground with one touchdown.

The Buccaneers will not pick up the fifth-year option on running back Doug Martin, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2016, per the Tampa Tribune. 

Martin rushed for 1,454 yards in 2012, but since then has battled injury and ineffectiveness, falling short of 500 yards in each of the last two seasons. 

Martin remains in line to be Tampa Bay's No. 1 rusher at the start of 2015, but he will have to prove himself in order to be rewarded with a new contract. 

Cowboys running back Darren McFadden could see an expanded role next season, as a kick or punt returner, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Wide receiver Dwayne Harris left during the offseason for the Giants, leaving a vacant spot in the return game.

"We have some guys we feel who can go return right now both punt returners and kickoff returners," coach Jason Garrett said. "And hopefully we'll get a chance to bring some guys in college free agent type guys we targeted as well. We like the guys we have and we feel like we can go play right now with them and also create some competition with some younger guys."

McFadden was a kick returner for the Raiders in 2014 where he had three returns for 59 yards.

"He certainly could," Garrett said. "He's done it in his past."

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after his team drafted running back David Johnson in the third round that Andre Ellington is expected to continue in his same role next season, ESPN.com reports.

"I think Andre will continue his same role," Arians said. "We’ll keep him healthy and let him continue to develop as a player, but the nice thing David can do is he can do everything Andre does, so you don’t have to change if there was an injury."

Ellington served as a three-down back for the Cardinals last season, but averaged just 3.3 yards per carry while racking up 660 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also gained 395 yards on 46 receptions while scoring two touchdowns through the air. After racking up eight carries of at least 20 yards in just 118 attempts in his rookie season, Ellington managed just four carries of 20-plus yards while receiving nearly twice the workload in 2014.