NFL Player News

Colts running back Trent Richardson revealed Thursday that he played last season with a chipped collarbone and a separated AC joint, reports ESPN.com. The AC joint is where the collarbone meets the shoulder.

"Toward the end of the season I felt a lot more comfortable, but the other time I was more injured," said Richardson, who had offseason shoulder surgery.

Coach Chuck Pagano said Richardson not only is healthier, but has a much better grasp of the playbook this year.

"He’s a lot more comfortable," Pagano said. "Basically it was survival for him at first, memorization. Now he has a better understanding scheme-wise, why we’re doing things, why we’re calling certain things, how we run plays. He has a better feel for guys he’s playing with, the line, guy in front of him, the fullback. He’s obviously in a much better place."

The Browns added rookie running back Terrance West, offensive linemen Chris Faulk and Jeremiah Warren, and defensive linemen Jacobbi McDaniel to the active roster one day after placing all four on the non-football injury list.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano said he'd like to have a "bell cow" running back this season, but he's not against having a running back by committee, reports ESPN.

The Colts are expected to use Trent Richardson as the starter, but it sounds like if he struggles again then Ahmad Bradshaw or Vick Ballard could have a bigger role.

Even though Browns rookie running back Terrance West landed on the non-football injury list Wednesday because of his conditioning test, he's expected to be on the practice field Friday, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The report says West is "100 percent healthy'' and will be practicing without restrictions when camp officially opens to the public on Saturday morning.

West, the third-round pick from Towson, will battle Ben Tate for the starting running back in what promises to be a heated battle.

"The best competition might be Ben Tate and our guy from Terrance West from Towson, who I really like," coach Mike Pettine said.

Jets running back Chris Johnson (knee) was medically cleared recently by Dr. James Andrews to participate in training camp, reports ESPN. And he was back on the field Wednesday.

Coach Rex Ryan said Johnson was "flying" in the mandatory conditioning run. The Jets practice Thursday for the first time.

Johnson had surgery this offseason to repair a torn meniscus. As a precaution, the Jets kept him on the sideline in the spring. 

"I'm pretty good," he said of his knee. "I'm ready to do whatever they ask me to do."

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the team wants receiver Cordarrelle Patterson to touch the ball as often as possible, which includes continuing to return kicks, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

"We want our best players to get their hands on the ball as much as possible. We're not going to keep him from returning kicks because he is such a dangerous weapon there," Zimmer said. "He's been a very hard worker, he has improved his route running since we've been here and things are going to change for these guys in training camp when we are able to start playing bump-and-run. For him to take the next step, we're going to have to see how he gets off a jam and the things that people will try to do to take him away."

The Browns put rookie running back Terrance West on the non-football injury list, reports NFL Network. The reason was not immediately clear. West is slated to compete with Ben Tate for the starting job.

With the Buccaneers drafting running back Charles Sims to pair with Doug Martin, either Bobby Rainey or Mike James "could get caught in a numbers game," reports the Tampa Tribune.

Rainey rushed for 566 yards and five touchdowns last year but averaged 3.8 yards per carry. James ran for 295 yards in nine games, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Browns coach Mike Pettine told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the "the best competition [in camp] might be Ben Tate and our guy Terrance West from Towson, who I really like." West is a 5-10, 225-pounder who has consistently impressed in offseason drills.

Even if Tate holds off the rookie, West is in line for substantial work.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin will still be the lead runner for the team but is expected to see fewer carries than he did the past two seasons, the Tampa Tribune believes. The Bucs aren't sure who the backup will be between Mike James and Bobby Rainey but the paper thinks rookie Charles Sims will be utilized for his receiving skills. 

Martin averaged 19.9 carries per game as a rookie and 21.2 carries per game last season before getting hurt.