NFL Player News

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. 

Ryan Mathews got the first carry for the Chargers and ended up with five total in their preseason debut vs. Dallas on Thursday. Accumulating 19 yards on the ground, Mathews' worst moment came in the first quarter when a Cowboys defender got his helmet on the football and popped it out when Mathews dove for the end zone. He didn't play again after that mistake, but neither did the Chargers' first-team offense. 

Splitting playing time with Danny Woodhead on the Chargers' first drive, Mathews' first three carries were solid gains for 5 to 7 yards each. He didn't show exceptional cuts or burst but was still very effective against a very bad defense.

Chargers coach Mike McCoy told NFL Network that he intends to keep feeding Mathews the ball despite the fumble. 

Mathews will play again at the Seahawks on Aug. 15. 

Chargers running back Branden Oliver made the best out of his opportunity during Thursday's preseason game against the Cowboys. 

The undrafted running back out of the University of Buffalo shared the workload with Donald Brown in the second quarter and ripped a 16-yard run for a touchdown. He rushed for a team-high 64 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. He was not targeted in the passing game.

With DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar sidelined, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle earned the start and played well in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers in San Diego.

Randle saw the bulk of the load on offense, racking up all 13 of his carries in the first two series of the game. He rushed for 50 yards and was held without a catch despite being targeted once in a 27-7 defeat.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman got the start and found the end zone during Thursday's preseason opener against the Seahawks.

Hillman ripped a 1-yard touchdown run on Denver's second series of the night in the first quarter, his final touch of the night. He finished the game with six carries for 15 yards and a touchdowns. He also caught one pass for a gain of 5 yards.

With Marshawn Lynch sidelined, Seahawks running backs Robert Turbin and Christine Michael shouldered the load during Thursday's preseason opener against the Broncos in Denver.

Turbin got the start but didn't make much of an impact. He played two series with the first-team offense and finished with four carries for 5 yards. He also caught one pass for a gain of 3 yards.

Michael didn't get his first touch with the first-team offense until the start of the second quarter and scored on a 1-yard run on that same drive. He played into the first series of the third quarter and finished with seven carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 12 yards.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson told 102.3 ESPN Radio in Denver through a text message that he is feeling fine after leaving Thursday's game against Seattle in the second quarter.

Anderson was checked out for a concussion and the team kept him out of the remainder of the game as a precaution. He finished with a 5-yard carry and two catches on three targets for 9 yards.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson took a big hit from Seahawks linebacker Brock Coyle in Thursday's preseason opener. Anderson left the game with what the team called concussion-like symptoms.

Anderson finished with a 5-yard carry and two catches on three targets for 9 yards.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce ran 10 times for 37 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown, in the preseason opener against the 49ers. Pierce and Ray Rice shared time with the starters.

Pierce's longest run went 8 yards. Baltimore is prepping Pierce to start the season's first two games while Rice is suspended.

Chris Johnson was primarily used as the passing-down back while the Jets' starters were in the game Thursday against the Colts. Johnson caught two passes for 16 yards, including a 10-yard gain on a checkdown, but had a drop.

When starter Chris Ivory exited with a rib injury, Johnson cashed in a goal-line carry for a 1-yard touchdown. He gained 2 yards on four carries.