NFL Player News

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.

Colts running back Trent Richardson got off to a good start in the preseason opener, barreling eight yards up the middle on his first carry against the Jets. But he finished with 13 yards on five carries, an average of 2.6 yards per carry.

Richardson averaged 2.9 yards per carry last season. He gave way Thursday to Dan Herron, who served as the No. 2 back with Ahmad Bradshaw sitting out.

Bernard Pierce has been the Ravens' "best running back in camp," reports ESPN.com. Pierce made a smooth transition to offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak's stretch, zone-blocking scheme after playing in a similar offense in college, the report said.

With Ray Rice suspended the first two games, Pierce has a chance to establish himself in home contests against the Bengals and Steelers.

Browns running back Ben Tate is not worried about the emergence of rookie running back Terrance West. In fact, he embraces the rookie being an option out of the backfield for Cleveland.

"I will welcome help because I don’t want to run myself into the ground," Tate said, per the team's official website. "Of course, you want to be a guy who gets in a rhythm. But I will welcome help."

The Broncos are expected to start running back Ronnie Hillman on Thursday in their preseason opener vs. the Seahawks. He's getting the opportunity since Montee Ball is recovering from an appendectomy. The Denver Post has noticed that Hillman has gotten back on track in practice and could end up competing for a decent amount of playing time this summer.

"I have seen great growth," coach John Fox said. "I think he's been a different guy in the meeting rooms with a full offseason this year and attacking it the way he did. He is starting to see the benefits of that here on the field. I have seen a drastically improved player."

Rookie Charles Sims (6-foot, 214 pounds) is the Buccaneers' most physically imposing running back, and he's "a perfect fit" for coordinator Jeff Tedford's offense, reports the Tampa Tribune.

"He's a big guy that's very elusive, has great feet, really good skills running or catching the football and running routes," Tedford told the paper. "He understands pass protections. For a young guy, he's picked that up really, really well."

Sims caught 203 passes in his college career and runs a 4.48 forty, making him one of the team's fastest players.

Expect Ravens running backs Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce to catch more screen passes this season. New offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak wants quarterback Joe Flacco to release the ball quicker, and Kubiak plans to use the screen pass to that effect.

"I was telling [coach] John Harbaugh the other night: 'You know, I think we've got a chance to be a pretty good screen team," Kubiak told ESPN.com. "Our guards are not only big and physical, but they can get out and run."

The Ravens have called 123 screen passes since 2001, fourth-fewest in the NFL over that span, the website said. In addition to Rice and Pierce, running backs Justin Forsett and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro could benefit if Kubiak follows through on his plan.

Jets coach Rex Ryan told reporters Tuesday he envisions running back Chris Johnson sharing carries with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell this season.

"I definitely think it's going to be a committee approach," Ryan said, per the New York Daily News.

Colts running back Trent Richardson has lined up his goals for the 2014 season and among them is surpassing 1,000 rushing yards, according to The Indianapolis Star.

"A thousand is not the goal. For me, it's personal. I'm going to keep it to myself. But a thousand is not it for me. It's higher," Richardson said.

Richardson averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and finished with 458 rushing yards in 14 games with the Colts following his trade from Cleveland.

"Go back and look at last year," he said. "People say our running game wasn't successful, but there were times where (defenses) were stacking nine men in the box. If you look at it like that, they respected our running game."

Richardson is counting on better production in 2014 because he believes the passing game will help open up the running lanes.

"You have Reggie (Wayne) back, you've got T.Y. (Hilton), you have Hakeem (Nicks) out there," Richardson said. "You have Da'Rick (Rogers) out there. You have guys who are fast and quick and are moving around. That opens up a lot."

Rams rookie running back Tre Mason has a long way to go to earn meaningful snaps. The team's first depth chart lists him on the fourth team, behind starter Zac Stacy, backup Benny Cunningham and third-stringers Isaiah Pead and Chase Reynolds.

A third-round draft pick, Mason shares the fourth line of the depth chart with undrafted back Trey Watts.