NFL Player News

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin stepped out of Sunday's season opener against Carolina with a knee injury, according to Jennifer Hale of FOX Sports. Martin was limited to only nine carries for 9 yards before leaving the game. He also had one grab for a gain of 7 yards. He was seen on the bench fighting to get back in the game, and returned in the fourth quarter.

Patriots running back Shane Vereen had a solid all-around performance in Week 1, a 33-20 loss to the Dolphins Sunday.

Vereen was a contrubitor in both the rushing as well as the passing game, as he actually led the team in rushing yards with 36 on seven carries. He scored a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and added five receptions for 35 yards through the air.

Vereen filled his expected role in Week 1, and will look to do so again in Week 2 against the Vikings next Sunday. 

The Jets running back duo of Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory played at a high level Sunday in Week 1 against the Raiders in a 19-14 victory.

Johnson had 13 carries for 68 yards and five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown on five targets. And Ivory had 10 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 71-yard run.

The Jets play at Green Bay in Week 2.

Browns rookie running back Terrance West made certain Sunday there was no dropoff upon the departure of starter Ben Tate due to a knee injury.

West ran wild in helping his team stage a furious comeback from a 24-point deficit to tie it. He rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries for a 6.3 average in his first NFL game. His 22-yard jaunt on the first running play of the third quarter set the stage for the rally. He added a key 29-yard gain in the fourth quarter.

He will attempt to make it two strong games in a row next Sunday when the Browns debut at home against New Orleans.

The Raiders running backs had little room Sunday at the Jets in Week 1 in a 19-14 loss. Both Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden had minimal production.

Jones-Drew started and had nine carries for 11 yards and two catches for 12 yards on three targets. McFadden had four carries for 15 yards and one catch for 6 yards on one target.

The Raiders play host to the Texans in Week 2.

Redskins running back Roy Helu finished second on the team in rushing during a 17-6 loss Week 1 at Houston. Helu totaled 46 rushing yards on four carries, which trailed Alfred Morris' team-high 91 rushing yards on 14 carries. 

Helu's longest carry went 16 yards. He also had two catches for 15 yards. The Redskins are back in action Week 2 vs. Jacksonville.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson caught three passes for 26 yards while rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on three carries in his team's 34-6 blowout win over the Rams Sunday.

Patterson took a carry down the right side and broke a few arm tackles while making defenders miss en route to a 67-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. He also had rushes of 12 and 23 yards early in the game. Patterson became the first Vikings receiver to rush for 100 yards in a game in the win. He should remain a versatile weapon in Week 2 against the Patriots.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce got the start in Week 1 against the Bengals Sunday, but made almost no impact in the 23-16 loss.

Pierce opened the game as the No. 1 back, but found himself out of the game after his second quarter fumble. He did not touch the ball again, finishing with 14 yards on six carries, and did not factor into the passing game.

Pierce's role moving forward is now in doubt after Sunday's game, but the Ravens will still be without Ray Rice again in Week 2. They face the Steelers Thursday night. 

Bears running back Shaun Draughn is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bills due to a neck injury, the team announced. Draughn doesn't have an offensive touch in the game.

The Ravens enter Week 1 against the Bengals in great shape as far as health goes, as defensive back Lardarius Webb (back) is the only injured player among the team's inactives. Joining him out of uniform areoffensive linemen Jah Reid and John Urschel, running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, wide receivers Michael Campanaro and Deonte Thompson, and linebacker Arthur Brown.