NFL Player News

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams did nothing spectacular Thursday night at Denver. He rushed for 25 yards and a 1-yard score, but he performed well enough to lock up a roster spot. The team has decided to keep five running backs, a decision that clinched his fate.

Bruce Arians believes Williams earned a place. "I don't think there's any doubt," he told ArizonaSports.com.

Arians also expressed his confidence in the backfield depth his team has created. "We're solid. They can all play," he told the Arizona Rupublic. "You can't have enough good backs."

The Cardinals depth could be offset by their lack of a bonafide featured back. Rashard Mendenhall heads the depth chart at that position after rejoining Arians, who served as his offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. But despite his relative youth, Mendenhall has a troublesome knee that could prove problematic this season. He played in just six games a year ago.

49ers running back LaMichael James tested his elbow in Thursday's preseason finale against the Chargers, but left early with a knee injury, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

James left the game after the first quarter. He finished with two carries for minus-4 yards before the injury.

The 49ers will open the season at home against the Packers on Sept. 8.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden and tight end David Ausberry were both held out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Seahawks due to shoulder injuries.

McFadden rushed for 22 yards on eight carries in two preseason games. Ausberry finished with three catches for 43 yards in two preseason games.

The Raiders will open the season at Indianapolis on Sept. 8.

Broncos tight end Joel Dreessen (knee) and running back C.J. Anderson (knee) were both held out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Cardinals due to injury. The Broncos will open the season at home against the Ravens on Sept. 5.

Vikings wideout Cordarrelle Patterson sat out Tuesday's practice because he was sore, but coach Leslie Frazier said the rookie will play Thursday against Tennessee, reports 1500ESPN.com. Patterson has a team-high eight catches for 84 yards in three preseason games.

Titans coach Mike Munchak said Tuesday running back Chris Johnson is starting to believe more in the offensive system.

"I think there’s no doubt he’s more comfortable," Munchak said, per NFL.com. "I think the first year I was here we had the lockout, and he held out. He had never experienced that. That made that year kind of strange, the whole year. We never really got that back it seemed like. Then the system was changed. It was a different play-caller, a different way we were doing things. I think he just feels good about everything. I think he’s had a good camp. I think he’s excited about the guys around him with the offensive line, the way Dowell (Loggains) is calling the game. I think everyone sees positives there that they’re all part of it."

Munchak added Johnson appears to be running more decisively this year.

"I think the holes have been better, so I think it allows the confidence to grow and the decisiveness to be what it has been," he said. "So, that has shown I think. The first three weeks has been a cleaner look for him. He’s getting a lot more reps. He’s got a quite a few reps even though the first game he only got two. The last couple weeks he’s gotten his fair share of reps, so he’s very comfortable with what we’re trying to do."

Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said Roy Helu has secured the backup running back job to starter Alfred Morris. He added the remaining spots are "up for grabs" between Keiland Williams, Evan Royster and Chris Thompson.

"The only thing that’s been settled is Alf and Helu," Shanahan said Tuesday, per The Washington Post. "Everything else is up for grabs. We’ve got a good problem to have because I think there’s a bunch of guys there that can play in this league and that can help us. They’re gonna make us have to make a tough decision next week. And really, every play is gonna count for them."

Bucs running back Doug Martin has been limited to three carries for 4 yards during the preseason, but he said the lack of work won't keep him from being productive during the regular season.

"I practice full-speed, I practice [at] game-speed and that’s all I need," he said, per NFL.com. "The starters aren’t going to play [Thursday at N.Y. Jets], so we’ll ease our way into the regular season and get this season going."

Martin, who hasn't played since the second preseason game after taking a knee to the helmet, has some pretty big expectations to meet in 2013 after turning in a stellar rookie season, which featured 1,454 rushing yards, 472 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing). He has no doubts he will be able to meet expectations.

"Definitely," Martin said. "During the offseason, through the workouts -- I have no doubt that I am in even better shape than I was in last year, so I’m ready to go."

Browns second-year running back Trent Richardson missed all four of the team's preseason games as a rookie in 2012 while recovering from knee surgery, costing him a chance to develop timing with the offensive line. That hasn't been the case this preseason, which is an opportunity Richardson has relished.

"It’s so much better," Richardson said, per NFL.com. "Last year, I just went right into the fire. Now, it’s time to get better and better each day. The offensive line is making better communication. With the timing, it’s a big, important thing. I think it’s gotten so much better over the past few weeks.

"I feel real good about this preseason, this whole camp. I think I’ve been doing fine, especially vibing with my team, the offensive line. These guys have made a bigger impact on me in the last few weeks than they did all of last year. That’s being a team, a family. That’s chemistry."

Rookie Tavon Austin will be the Rams' punt returner, but the team is still figuring out who will return kickoffs, reports ESPN.com. Candidates include receiver Chris Givens and running backs Isaiah Pead and Benny Cunningham.

“I think we’ve got a punt returner,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “And then we’ve got Chris Givens and we know what he can do. I like what Isaiah has done on the practice field, he’s getting better at it and I’m perfectly comfortable with Benny doing it. He got 15 yards on his own, by himself the other night.”

While it's conceivable Austin could get some work on kickoff returns, the Rams would prefer not to since he's already working on offense and punt returns, the report said.