NFL Player News

Ronnie Hillman was the Broncos' primary first-team running back during practice Tuesday, a day after rookie Montee Ball filled the role.

"I don't even know yet, so I don't know how you all know," coach John Fox told the Denver Post when asked who will start the season opener. "They'll both carry a big load for us this season, knock on wood. Whether it's '1A' and '1' or however you want to list it, they're both very capable and we're very pleased with both."

Hillman had been the No. 1 back every day in practice until Monday. But he was coming off consecutive games in which his fumbles were returned for touchdowns. Coaches made Hillman carry a football in between reps Monday and Tuesday, the Post said.

"I'm going to do what they want me to do," Hillman told the paper. "I've never had fumbling problems before. I just can't let it get in my head and handicap me. I have to go out there and continue to play."

Ball got some first-team snaps Tuesday, but Hillman took more, according to the report.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday running back Kenjon Barner is day to day after suffering an ankle injury Thursday against the Ravens.

"It was a pretty good sprain," Rivera said, per The Charlotte Observer. "He's in a boot walking around. As we get into next week we'll have better feel."

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase said the team will use its running backs "by committee" and that "we've never shied away from that," reports ESPN.com. Rookie Montee Ball worked with the first team Monday, but coach John Fox warned reporters not to read too much into that.

The committee includes veteran Knowshon Moreno and second-year back Ronnie Hillman, who's fumbled three times in the preseason but is still listed atop the depth chart.

Eddie Lacy is set to start the year as the Packers primary running back following the season-ending knee injury for incumbent starter DuJuan Harris. Of the rushers behind Lacy, only James Starks has been consistently good in practice. 

It suggests that Lacy could hog the playing time in the Green Bay backfield, something the team may not have envisioned when they drafted him. 

Lacy doesn't have much experience as a bell-cow running back -- just once did he go over 200 carries in college. But that's because he was behind two excellent rushers at Alabama (Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson). It doesn't mean he can't do it ... in fact it might be construed that he has fresh legs. He had just 355 carries over three seasons (Montee Ball had 356 carries just last year). 

A strike against Lacy is an injury history. The list includes a knee, ankle, chest, big toe, elbow, left hand, knee (again) and hamstring -- with two surgeries performed. This is what scared off many NFL teams (including the Steelers) from taking him in the draft. But if we're being fair he played in 12 of 13 games as a sophomore and all 14 as a junior in college. 

The other strike against Lacy is the team he's on: Green Bay loves to pass. They've averaged 405.3 carries over their last three seasons, topping out at 433 carries last year. Stunningly, that was good enough to finish in the middle of the NFL in rush attempts, though it includes Aaron Rodgers' 54 rushes (he's averaged 59.3 carries per season). 

But if Lacy gives the Packers a rushing presence much like Harris did last postseason, there might actually be more balance in the game plan from week to week. Remember, no one's really been worthy of taking pass attempts away from Rodgers the past three years. 

We're at a point in Fantasy drafts where running backs go from "great" to "not bad" to "Oh my gosh I have to pick from these people?!?" pretty quickly. Lacy's going to be a popular pick no matter what I write but the truth is that his negatives are no worse than those of Ryan Mathews and Darren McFadden. His positives are better than theirs. You should consider Lacy as a No. 2 running back to begin the year. 

The Raiders put rookie running back Latavius Murray (ankle) and cornerback Joselio Hanson (groin) on injured reserve, ending their seasons.

Murray underwent ankle surgery recently. Hanson played in all three preseason games and made an interception last Friday against the Bears.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced Tuesday running back DuJuan Harris will miss the 2013 season because of a knee injury. McCarthy then expressed disappointment about losing Harris since he said he planned to form a "1-2 punch format" with Harris and rookie running back Eddie Lacy.

"He’s a young player I felt would be an important player for us on offense. It’s a tough blow for him. DuJuan was a big part of my individual focus for the season,” McCarthy said, per NFL.com.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced Tuesday running back DuJuan Harris was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

"It's a tough one. He would have been impactful player, but we need to get him healthy," McCarthy said, per the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Monday running back Ryan Williams will get the majority of carries during Thursday's preseason finale against the Broncos. Williams, who missed most of the preseason with a knee injury, said he came out of his preseason debut Saturday against the Chargers unscathed. 

"Since I injured my knee (in 2011), that’s the best I’ve felt on the field," Williams said, per NFL.com. "I wasn’t hesitant to cut off my right leg, I wasn’t hesitant to run up in there or get contact. I was getting hit and I wasn’t thinking about grabbing my knee or protecting my knee. I was thinking about protecting the ball."

Williams is excited to see heavy playing time Thursday.

"To be able to show the world what I can do," Williams said. "We’ll see how that goes."

Browns running back Trent Richardson said Tuesday he weighs about 225 pounds and wants to maintain that weight all season. He said he weighed 237 pounds last season and he feels quicker now he's lost weight.

Richardson is averaging 4.9 yards per carry through two preseason games, totaling 13 carries for 64 yards. His longest carry has gone 17 yards.

Broncos rookie rusher Montee Ball took first-team reps on Monday, a sign that the coaches are going to give him a chance to earn the starting job. That's after second-year back Ronnie Hillman fumbled the ball away for the second time this preseason, right near the goal line against the Rams last week. 

Through 25 carries Ball has 80 yards and a score with 26 yards on three catches and no fumbles. Hillman has 22 carries for 77 yards, three catches for 15 yards and three fumbles (two lost) with no scores. 

I'm not wired into what the Broncos are thinking, but here's an educated guess: If Ball and Hillman are both weak pass protectors and neither one has stood out as a flashy rusher -- see the stats -- then the one who doesn't fumble should have an edge. Ball is deserving of the first-team reps for now and shouldn't lose them until either Hillman cleans up his act or the Broncos tire of Ball whiffing on blocks.

But if Ball's working with the starters it gives him the chance to protect Peyton Manning and thus improve. 

Ball is the back to go with in Denver, that much is now certain. Hillman should still figure in their plans but it might be less work for him than it looked like roughly a month ago. As such, Hillman looks more like a Round 7 through 9 pick while Ball is firmly in the Round 5-6 conversation.