NFL Player News

The following players will not suit up for the Eagles Friday night against New England: wide receiver Riley Cooper (foot), wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), cornerback Nolan Carroll (hamstring), running back Chris Polk (hamstring), running back Matthew Tucker (hamstring), running back David Fluellen (calf), cornerback Jaylen Watkins (hamstring), linebacker Jake Knott (hamstring) and center Julian Vandervelde (back).

The Buccaneers have said all offseason that the envision more than one running back doing most of the damage against opposing defenses, but those plans took a hit when rookie Charles Sims suffered an ankle injury that will cost him at least the first nine weeks of the NFL season. 

The injury should open the door for Mike James and Bobby Rainey to compete for a spot in the rotation with starter Doug Martin in Tampa Bay. Through one preseason game Rainey has 25 yards on six carries and James has 12 yards on three carries. James has a 20-yard catch while Rainey hasn't caught a ball yet. Both backs had experience running the ball last season with the Bucs and each caught a few passes, but James got the chance first and played well until getting hurt. Then Rainey came in and did well to close out the season. 

It's too soon to pick one of these guys as a handcuff to Martin for Fantasy but because Rainey saw playing time before James in their first preseason game we'd give him the nod for now. 

The loss for at least half the season of promising Buccaneers rookie running back Charles Sims will likely result in more carries for Doug Martin. Sims had been considered a threat to take attempts away from Martin, who is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued 2013 season.

Martin was deemed the featured back by Lovie Smith in June. The Sims injury could cement his status, though it could also result in increased work for fellow backs Bobby Rainey and Mike James. Both flashed last year in the absence of Martin. Rainey achieved two 100-yard performances before tailing off late while James rushed for 158 yards against Seattle, no less, and averaged a team-best 4.9 YPC on the season.

The biggest strike against Doug Martin headed into the season was that a running back the Bucs new coaching staff drafted, one with the same skill set as Martin, would cut into his playing time. That was Charles Sims, and he had the look of being at least a passing downs back for Tampa Bay.

But now that Sims is out until at least Week 10 because of an ankle injury, Martin is back in the saddle as the guy the Buccaneers have to lean on. Mike James and Bobby Rainey will probably spend the rest of the preseason competing for the spot vacated by Sims, but the team has to be more comfortable leaning on Martin. The threat of someone cutting into his carries is gone. Martin will start to pick up steam as a borderline No. 1/No. 2 Fantasy rusher in the coming days. 

Buccaneers rookie running back Charles Sims is set for surgery on his right ankle and will miss more than half the regular season, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Sims was taken in the third round of the draft.

Bears backup running back Ka'Deem Carey didn't perform particularly well Thursday, but managed to pick up a touchdown. 

Carey finished with 13 carries for 36 yards. He averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. Carey did manage to find the end zone in the fourth quarter, plunging in a 1-yard touchdown. 

Buccaneers cornerbacks Alterraun Verner, Mike Jenkins and running back Charles Sims will not play against Miami on Saturday, according to the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday.

Buccaneers running back Charles Sims missed practice Thursday due to a sprained ankle. He was spotted on the sidelines with a walking boot on his right leg, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson was cleared for practice Thursday, according to The Denver Post. He suffered a concussion last week.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden told reporters Thursday he's most comfortable with Roy Helu in pass protection out of all the team's running backs, according to The Washington Post.