NFL Player News

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden got the early work out of the backfield Sunday at Houston with Stevan Ridley a healthy scratch. However, Bolden hardly made an impact in a 34-31 win Week 13.

Bolden got the first carry of the game for New England and had three carries on the first two drives, but he would touch the ball just one more time as LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen got most of the work the rest of the way. 

Bolden finished with just three carries for 2 yards and had one catch for 18 yards. The Patriots host the Browns Week 14.

The decision to promote Donald Brown to the featured back spot ahead of Trent Richardson seemed to have backfired for the Colts through most of their game Sunday against Tennessee. But it certainly paid off in the end.

Brown had just 8 yards on eight carries well into the second half, but exploded in the game-clinching touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. He carried the ball six times for 46 yards and scored from 4 yards out to give his team a 22-14 lead. He finished with 54 yards on 14 attempts and two catches for 10 yards. His first half was a disaster with seven rushes for five yards.

He will try to get off to a better start next Sunday in Cincinnati.

Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey, who had only 35 yards on 18 carries last week after breaking out for 163 on 30 in Week 11, couldn't get anything going again Week 13 at Carolina, accumulating 63 yards on 17 carries and 8 on two catches.

He did pick up the pace a little in the second half after rushing for just 17 yards on nine carries in the first, breaking off runs of 16, 9 and 11 yards on the Buccaneers' first two drives, but for the most part, the Panthers' third-ranked run defense swallowed up holes before Rainey had a chance to find them.

Rainey was again the Buccaneers' primary ball carrier, with no other running back getting a single carry. He'll look make better use of that workload with a much more favorable matchup Week 14 against the Bills.

The hot streak appeared to be over for Titans featured back Chris Johnson for much of the game Sunday at Indianapolis. But he caught fire in the second half of the defeat.

Johnson had a mere 21 yards on eight carries at halftime, but he got the ball often and proved effective after intermission. By the middle of the third quarter he had 39 yards rushing and four catches for 28 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown from Ryan Fitzpatrick that gave his team a short-lived lead. He finished with 69 yards on 18 carries and six receptions for 32 yards.

He now has at least 69 yards rushing in four of his last five games and has scored five touchdowns during that stretch. Johnson will attempt to maintain his momentum next Sunday at Denver.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen contributed a second-half touchdown Sunday, as New England rallied for a 34-31 win Week 13 at Houston. Vereen finished with 10 carries for 38 yards, while adding five catches for 37 yards and one touchdown.

Vereen, who has missed most of the season because of a wrist injury he suffered in the season opener, posted his first touchdown with a 9-yard reception in the third quarter. Vereen was wide open a few yards shy of the goal line and just walked in for the score.

Vereen came very close to a three-touchdown game Sunday. Vereen took a 12-yard catch on the opening drive of the second half down to the 1-yard line. He was pushed out of bounds before he got a chance to stretch the football across the goal line. One play later, James Develin had a 1-yard touchdown run.

In the fourth quarter, Tom Brady threw a perfectly placed pass to Vereen in the end zone, but the 15-yard touchdown went through Vereen's hands and bounced off his chest for an incomplete pass.

The Patriots are back in action Week 14 vs. Cleveland.

Little-used reserve Dolphins running backs Mike Gillislee and Marcus Thigpen saw their roles increase in Week 13 against the Jets, with Daniel Thomas sidelined by an ankle injury.

Gillilslee played for the first time in his career Sunday, picking up six carries for 21 yards to finish third on the team. Thigpen received the largest workload of his career with four carries, but rushed for just 10 yards, while adding one reception for 0 yards.

Both players will likely continue to split time behind Lamar Miller moving forward. The Dolphins' next game is set for Week 14 against the Steelers. 

The Broncos have made RB C.J. Anderson, OG Chris Kuper, OT Chris Clark, DL Derek Wolfe, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, C J.D. Walton and QB Zac Dysert inactive Week 13 against the Chiefs.

Kuper, Clark and Walton were all listed as probable on the injury report. Rodgers-Cromartie came into the week listed as questionable.

The following injured San Diego players were ruled active for Week 13 against the Bengals: tight end Antonio Gates, running back Ryan Mathews, wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu,defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, defensive lineman Corey Liuget and defensive back Darrell Stuckey.

The Rams have listed the following players as inactive for Week 13 at San Francisco: offensive lineman Barrett Jones, offensive lineman Mike Person, defensive end Gerald Rivers, running back Daryl Richardson, defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo, linebacker Daren Bates and guard Harvey Dahl.

In addition to running back Andre Ellington, who is out with a knee injury, the Cardinals' list of inactives for Week 13 at Philadelphia includes quarterback Ryan Lindley, running back Ryan Williams, linebacker Dontay Moch, offensive lineman Earl Watford, tight end Kory Sperry and defensive back Ronald Talley. All are healthy scratches.