NFL Player News

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. 

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson was sent home from practices Saturday, as he is still dealing with lingering issues from his concussion, reports USA Today.  

Anderson still has head aches from the concussion suffered Thursday, and has yet to clear the league's concussion protocol. He will continue to be monitored in the coming days. 

Bears running backs Ka'Deem Carey and Michael Ford got their first chances to battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart Friday, in the preseason opener against the Eagles.

Neither player stood out, though Carey appears to be ahead on the depth chart as he saw most of his action in the first half.  He rushed the ball 10 times for just 23 yards while failing to bring in the one pass thrown his way, while Ford had just 15 yards on his five carries. 

Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas checked into Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons, but did not record a stat during his time on the field.

Thomas was not among the five players to record at least one rushing attempt, and did not have a pass thrown his way. Thomas is expected to be a reserve back for the Dolphins, if he makes the team, but the Miami Herald reports he is at risk of not making the team this season. 

Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew made his debut and got the start over Darren McFadden during Friday's preseason opener against the Vikings in Minnesota.

Jones-Drew worked the first two series with the first team offense and finished with two carries for 10 yards. He also caught all two of his targeted passes for 14 yards. McFadden made the best out of his lone touch of the night. He had one carry for a gain of 23 yards in the second quarter and was not targeted in the passing game.

Dolphins running back Damien Williams was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury during Friday's preseason opener against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

Williams, who is fighting for a roster spot, sustained the injury in a collision with linebacker Jacques Smith late in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with six carries for two yards and three catches for 18 yards prior to the injury. Williams will likely be further evalauted moving forward.

Eagles running back Matthew Tucker found the end zone twice but was forced out of Friday's preseason opener against the Bears at Soldier Field with a hamstring injury.

Tucker scored on a 4-yard run and a 1-yard dash in the second quarter. He finished with eight carries for 40 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for a gain of 15 yards. He'll look to shake off the injury bug Friday at New England.

With Steven Jackson sidelined, Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith both worked ahead of rookie runner Devonta Freeman during Friday's preseason opener against Miami.

Rodgers got the start and made his impact felt on the opening drive, which ended on a 2-yard touchdown run. He rushed for 20 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. He was not targeted in the passing game.

Antone Smith broke free for a 76-yard touchdown in the second series with the second-team offense, but had the play called back because of a holding penalty. He finished with three carries for 5 yards and one catch for 5 yards.

Freeman made his first appearance early in the second quarter and did not disappoint. The rookie totaled 107 yards of offense in his first preseason game. He rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries and caught one of his two targeted passes for 57 yards.

The Colts have been impressed with the way running back Dan Herron has played during training camp, and he kept that up in the team's preseason opener against the Jets Thursday.

Herron served as the team's primary backup, and saw plenty of action as the first team saw little of the field. He rushed the ball seven times for 26 yards, and was a factor in the passing game, hauling in all six passes thrown his way for 36 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown that accounted for the team's lone trip to the end zone.

"Boom's been practicing really well. He's had a great camp until this first preseason game so I'm not surprised at all that he played the way that he played," head coach Chuck Pagano told the team's official site. "We always talk about you play like you practice, and he's been doing great. He's been having a great camp and you could see the results tonight in what he did on the football field."

The Colts are expected to utilize their running backs more in the passing game this season, so Herron's big role there doesn't come as much as a surprise. He is likely to enter the season as the No. 3 back, behind Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw. 

Ravens reserve running back Lorenzo Taliaferro played well in his first preseason action Thursday against the 49ers, working mostly with the second team.

Taliaferro led the team in rushing, though he did not see the field until the second half. He rushed the ball 13 times for 71 yards, but did not add a reception to his line.

Taliaferro is buried on the depth chart at the start of the preseason, and will likely be limited to second half action for the most part. He was the team's fourth round pick in this year's draft.