NFL Player News

The Cardinals don't want to take chances with starting running back Andre Ellington. According to the team's website, Ellington might see a little more work in the second preseason game but the overall goal is to get him to the regular-season opener fresh and healthy.

"Andre is not going to see a whole lot of action this preseason," coach Bruce Arians said. Ellington had two carries in the preseason opener.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien clarified the competition at backup running back. Jonathan Grimes is in the lead, and Andre Brown is barely in the discussion. As of now it's Grimes, Alfred Blue and Brown, in that order, behind Arian Foster.

"Grimes’ experience overall probably has him a little ahead of Alfred," O’Brien told the Houston Chronicle. "But Alfred’s doing a good job for a guy that just got here."

Asked about Brown, O'Brien said: "He’s battling out there. … He’s out there. He’s involved with special teams and things like that. But that’s a challenging position, it’s a competitive position."

Jaguars rookie running back Storm Johnson has a legitimate chance to overtake Jordan Todman for the No. 2 job behind Toby Gerhart, reports Fox Sports. Neither was overly impressive in the preseason opener.

Johnson ran nine times for 21 yards (2.3 ypc) and was targeted once without a catch. Todman gained 5 yards on five carries and caught his lone target for 6 yards.

Raiders second-year running back Latavius Murray underwent two surgeries on his ankle as a rookie, and only felt normal again in May, reports CSNBayArea.com. Murray feels "light years better" than last season and is poised to make an impact, the report said.

"It was a long road back," Murray said. "I'm so happy to be playing like myself again."

The 6-3, 225-pounder runs a 4.38 forty. He'll receive significant snaps if Maurice Jones-Drew or Darren McFadden get hurt.

"Now that he's back to being healthy, I think we're seeing a little bit more the type of back that we felt we were going to get when we drafted him," coach Dennis Allen said. "I think, to this point in camp and really through the first preseason game, he's done well."

Ravens rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro displayed his bruising style in the preseason opener against the 49ers, reports ESPN.com. His 71 yards gained, on 13 carries, led all rookie backs.

"It felt good to just get out there and bang around a little bit," the 6-foot, 226-pounder said. "It's always better when you're live, because a guy my size, that's all they speak about is can you get the ball downhill, can you go north and south, and you can't really do that too much in practice."

Taliaferro could be the go-to guy in short yardage and goal-line situations, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce got "blown up in individual pass protection drills against the 49ers' linebackers, beaten badly three straight times and left doubled over, while [coach John] Harbaugh happened to be standing literally right next to him watching," reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora.

La Canfora made the observation at a joint Ravens-49ers practice. La Canfora believes Ray Rice will get the bulk of the carries upon his return from a two-game suspension.

With Arian Foster and Andre Brown both sidelined, Texans running back Jonathan Grimes got the start against Arizona and rookie Alfred Blue entered the game in the second quarter. Grimes finished with 39 yards on 10 carries. Blue rushed for 30 yards on five carries and caught two passes for 14 yards.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington was limited to two touches during Saturday's preseason opener at home against the Texans.

Ellington got the start and worked only one drive. He had a 1-yard run in the first play of the game and then broke for a 6-yard run. He finished with two carries for 7 yards.

Browns running back Terrance West received the bulk of the carries with the backups during Saturday's preseason opener against the Lions.

West worked behind Ben Tate and saw his first work of the night in the third drive with the first-team offense. He received a team-high 10 carries for 22 yards on the ground. He also caught his lone pass late in the third quarter for a gain of 8 yards. It was his only target in the passing game.

Redskins running backs Roy Helu (knee) and Chris Thompson (ankle) were limited to side work Saturday at practice, according to CSNWashington.com. Both players have been bothered by injuries in recent days while battling for the third-down back role.