NFL Player News

49ers running back LaMichael James was carted off the field during Sunday's practice after sustaining an apparent left arm injury in a pass-blocking drill, the Bay Area News Group reports.

Along with rookie running back Carlos Hyde, James could see an increased role as the backup running back after Kendall Hunter went down with a torn ACL. James carried the ball just 12 times in 2013.

The 49ers will open their preseason Aug. 7 at Baltimore.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce returned to practice Sunday after leaving Saturday's practice with an illness, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Seahawks running back Christine Michael sat out the second half of Sunday's practice with a shoulder injury, reports the Seattle Times. "He just banged his shoulder a litlte bit," coach Pete Carroll said. "They think that he will be ready to go on Tuesday."

Browns running backs Ben Tate and Terrance West both had their moments in Sunday's practice, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. But West "continued to look more explosive and seemed to dole out more punishment," the paper said.

The two are vying for the starting job. While Tate said he has no doubt he's the team's best option, the paper noted "people watching training camp on Sunday may not feel the same."

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said receiver Cordarrelle Patterson "probably will stay with the walkthroughs" Sunday. It would be Patterson's third missed day of practice.

He injured his foot working out in California before training camp but is said to be close to being ready.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said the team won't change its run-first philosophy, regardless of how long Marshawn Lynch's holdout lasts. Seattle ran the ball a league-high 54.8 percent of the time last year.

"I think our plan has been pretty successful," Bevell told the Seattle Times. "We play great defense, we take great care of the football and we run the football, and that keeps us in games and allows us to exert our will on the opponent, that physical toughness that we like to do ... That’s our style and our philosophy and we are going to continue to do that."

Lynch's contract holdout isn't expected to last too long. In the meantime, Christine Michael and Robert Turbin are the team's top two backs.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said running back Andre Ellington is "ready to be a bell cow" in this offense, reports the team's website. Ellington added about 10 pounds in the offseason to prepare for a bigger workload.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said it "won't be long" before receiver Cordarrelle Patterson returns from the foot injury that caused him to miss the first two days of practice, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Patterson suffered the injury Wednesday. He has not commented on it.

"He's improving every day," Zimmer told the paper. "I saw him do some stuff (Saturday). ... I'll be surprised if it's long (that Patterson is out)."

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Patterson, who missed practice Friday and Saturday, is "champing at the bit" to get going.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce has tweeted incredulously that simply because he was walking with a trainer that does not mean he's hurt.

Bernard left practice early with a doctor. His status has not been confirmed by coaches or trainers.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce left practice early and departed with the team doctor. Gary Kubiak said after practice that he didn't have enough information to elaborate.

Pierce is expected to assume the featured back duties for the first two games of the regular season during the Ray Rice suspension.