NFL Player News

The Raiders' first depth chart lists Maurice Jones-Drew as the starting running back and Darren McFadden as the backup. Latavius Murray is on the third team.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews described the backfield as a "three-headed monster," reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. He'll share the workload with Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead.

The paper still calls Mathews "the workhorse." Woodhead is "the versatile guy who can run and catch," and Brown is "sort of a hybrid of the two." The team also drafted running back Marion Grice.

"There is no such thing as a featured back any more," running backs coach Ollie Wilson said.

The Jets listed Chris Ivory atop their running back depth chart, followed by Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell, reports the New York Daily News. The paper cautions not to read too much into the initial depth chart.

Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage was the first live full-contact work for Jets running back Chris Johnson since he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason. He played a few drives with the starters, rushing five times for 14 yards, reports the New York Daily News.

"I got a lot out of it," Johnson told the paper. "(There were) butterflies ... just going out there wanting to test my knee out against full contact. I came out feeling good. ... I was a little nervous, but after the first play, I was OK."

Johnson, who had a pair of 5-yard gains, said he ran with "no hesitation."

The Colts held out running back Trent Richardson early in camp due to a slight hamstring injury. The wait paid off as Richardson "had an impressive week of practice" last week, reports ESPN.com.

"He’s getting back to 100 percent, so I think some of those runs you’re starting to see, the hard work, the full offseason, the comfort with the scheme, the terminology, being around the offensive guys, the guys that are lined up in front of him blocking and seeing him starting to put a foot in the ground, see a hole, burst through the line of scrimmage, all that stuff is coming," coach Chuck Pagano said. "It’s only going to get better, too, as he gets closer to 100 percent, health-wise. Again, he’s on track, he’s on track."

Richardson is obviously more comfortable in Indy's system, the report said. "He’s gone from thinking too much after taking the handoff to running off his natural instincts and with explosion."

The website says Richardson is "definitely" on his way to a better year after averaging 2.9 yards per carry last season.

"The comfort level is so much better now," Richardson said. "I know the plays and I’m not playing so tight. I’m really comfortable with the offense, and the timing with the offensive line is coming. I know all my cuts and reads before snap."

Rams running back Benny Cunningham has "held on firmly to the primary backup role" behind Zac Stacy, reports TurfShowTimes.com. Cunningham, who averaged 5.6 yards per carry last year, is holding off third-round pick Tre Mason.

"But things could change once the preseason begins," the report said. "The Rams didn't draft Mason not to play him."

CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora wrote in his analysis on the Colts that he's not banking on a bounceback season from running back Trent Richardson.

"At this point he probably is who he is," La Canfora continued. "The Colts will give him every opportunity to show otherwise, especially with [Vick] Ballard out, but will the explosion ever be there?"

La Canfora even floated the idea of Indy trading a tight end for a running back like Buffalo's C.J. Spiller.

Richardson averaged 2.9 yards per carry last season while rushing for three touchdowns and fumbling twice.

Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, who had been bothered by a minor neck injury, returned to practice Friday, reports the team's website.

Patriots rookie running back James White "has opened eyes with how many quality reps he's getting and looks like he’ll be a significant part of the team’s attack -- on all three downs," reports ESPN.com. It's the latest in an avalance of positive reports about White, who's expected to cut into the workloads of Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

Despite the likely loss of David Wilson to a neck injury, Giants coach Tom Couglin indicated he'll use a running back-by-committee approach. Rashad Jennings is the starter, with rookie Andre Williams, veteran Peyton Hills and Michael Cox and Kendall Gaskins also in the mix.

"I think we have some talented guys at that spot," Coughlin told The Star-Ledger on Thursday. "I think Rashad has done well. I think the young kid (Williams) has come along the more we have given him to do. Michael Cox has had his spots.

"Gaskins did some pretty good things today. We’ll let this thing play out. It’ll be some kind of combination of people involved. They’ll have plenty of opportunities in the preseason to show us what they can do and where they fit."