NFL Player News

Though Vikings starting running back Adrian Peterson is still working his way back from foot and groin injuries that sidelined him in Week 15, neither Toby Gerhart nor Matt Asiata got a single carry Week 16 at Cincinnati.

Gerhart is considered Peterson's backup, but he was also inactive for Week 15 because of a hamstring injury. Asiata filled in for both in Week 15 and scored three touchdowns, but he averaged just 1.7 yards on 30 carries.

Gerthart is the more likely of the two to contribute going forward, but both look like bench players heading into Week 17 against the Lions.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden looked fresh on his 5-yard touchdown run Week 16. It was one of four carries McFadden received in the loss at San Diego.

McFadden, who missed the previous two games with an ankle injury, gained 8 yards on the ground and added an 8-yard reception on three targets. He'll likely get limited touches again when Oakland hosts Denver in the regular-season finale.

The Patriots lost running back Shane Vereen to a groin injury during Sunday's win over the Ravens in Week 16.

Vereen managed to get in the end zone before leaving the game. He caught 4-yard pass from Tom Brady for a touchdown in the opening quarter. He had two carries for 6 yards and one grab for 4 yards before getting hurt. He pulled up following an incomplete pass intended to him on the penultimate play of the first quarter.

Vereen was taken back to the locker room for treatment before returning to the sidelined in the second half. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who had caught a touchdown pass in back-to-back games coming into Week 16 at Cincinnati, wasn't much of a factor in the passing game on a day when quarterback Matt Cassel threw for only 114 yards, catching three balls for eight yards. He showed off his big-play ability out of the backfield, though, turning a simple toss play into a 35-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

In all, Patterson had 54 yards on three carries, so the Vikings were willing to get creative to get the ball in his hands. It's not like they didn't try in the passing game. He led the team with seven targets.

With an average of 7.5 targets in his last six games, Patterson figures to remain an instrumental part of the passing game Week 17 against the Lions.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews fell one yard shy of his third straight 100-yard rushing game, carrying 25 times for 99 yards  and a touchdown in the win over Oakland. He established a career high with 1,111 rushing yards this season.

Mathews' 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his third rushing score in three weeks, sixth in the past nine games. On the play, Mathews spun away from a hit at the line of scrimmage. Mathews is up to seven total touchdowns, tying the career high he set as a rookie in 2010.

Mathews gained 28 yards on 13 carries before halftime, then broke off a 34-yard run in the third quarter. He caught three of five targets for 20 yards.

Mathews exited in the second half with a left ankle or foot injury, but was able to return. However, he wore a protective boot on that foot after the game. His status for Week 17 vs. the Chiefs will be updated throughout the week. 

Even on a day when his backup set season highs with 19 carries and 91 rushing yards, Titans running back Chris Johnson still had a bounce-back performance with 22 carries for 90 yards Week 16 at Jacksonville. Both were his most since he had 23 carries for 150 yards Week 9 at St. Louis. He had averaged 15.3 carries for 57.3 yards in six games since.

The Titans went run-heavy in this one, but because of the way they distributed the carries, Johnson's production didn't suffer at all. Shonn Greene became the primary back on three of the team's possessions, getting only one carry otherwise. Johnson shouldered the load on the other eight. In addition to the 22 carries, he had one catch for 3 yards.

Clearly, the Titans still showed a preference for Johnson despite the contributions of Greene. He'll look to build off the performance Week 17 against the Texans.

The Eagles listed these players as inactive for the game vs. Chicago: quarterback Matt Barkley, safeties Colt Anderson (knee) and Kurt Coleman (hamstring), cornerback Curtis Marsh, running back Matthew Tucker, and offensive tackles Matt Tobin and Dennis Kelly.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews left the game vs. Oakland in the second half with a left ankle or foot injury, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, but he was able to return. Mathews' 7-yard score in the second quarter was his sixth rushing touchdown in nine games.

Chiefs running back Knile Davis fumbled on his first and only carry Sunday against the Colts, a play that led to a score for the other team. 

We'll see if Davis can get his backup role back in Week 17 at the Chargers. 

Cyrus Gray of the Chiefs caught his only target against the Colts Sunday for 7 yards. 

Gray will attempt to do better than this in Week 17 at the Chargers before gearing up for the first round of the playoffs.