NFL Player News

Broncos coach John Fox warned reporters not to read into the fact that Montee Ball ran with the first team at Monday's practice. Ronnie Hillman, who has fumbled three times in the preseason, is still atop the depth chart at running back.

"It's just practice, I wouldn't read too much into anything," Fox said, via the Denver Post. "We're evaluating everybody regardless of who gets what reps at what number. So, he's a guy that we want to get some touches and we'll go from there."

Broncos rookie running back Montee Ball was promoted to the first-team offense in Monday's practice, likely due to Ronnie Hillman's fumbling problems. Hillman, who's had a fumble returned for a touchdown in two straight games, "was carrying around a football everywhere," reports the Denver Post.

Ball has run 25 times for 80 yards and a touchdown in three preseason games, adding three catches for 26 yards. Hillman has fumbled three times in the preseason.

Dolphins running back Lamar Miller, who ran eight times for 35 yards Saturday against Tampa Bay, says he believes he won the starting job over Daniel Thomas. "I do feel like I won the job," Miller told the Miami Herald.

Thomas gained 3 yards on seven carries, so it's hard to make any kind of case for him.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday running back DuJuan Harris is getting a second opinion on his injured knee. McCarthy added he isn't sure about his status for the season opener (Sept. 8) against the 49ers.

49ers running back LaMichael James left Sunday night's game against the Vikings with an elbow injury. James carried nine times for 15 yards before the injury.

The Cardinals are shopping oft-injured running back Ryan Williams ahead of the roster cutdown deadlines, reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. 

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday he doesn't have all the information yet on running back DuJuan Harris' knee injury, and that "it's up in the air," reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Harris downplayed the injury immediately after Friday's preseason game.

Ryan Mathews' last carry on Saturday was a costly fumble near the goal line. The Chargers still found a way to score on the play but it was a small blemish on what's otherwise been an outstanding preseason for Mathews. 

Over three games the rusher has 121 yards on 26 carries (4.65 avg.) with a touchdown. That's nice to see. He's running full-steam ahead between the tackles, fighting for yardage and playing tough. While it's not necessarily conducive to a back who is coming off a season with twin broken clavicles, Mathews at least is showing he's not playing scared. He's also the only real candidate the Chargers have to work at running back in non-obvious passing situations. To wit, Mathews has yet to catch a pass this preseason as other backs have done that work. 

Mathews is a candidate for well over 200 carries, and when you find him in your draft there won't be a lot of 200-carry running backs left you could look at and feel real good about. He might not be an elite back but at least he should begin the year routinely picking up 15 carries per game, maybe a few catches too, and working at the goal line. 

Part of the problem with Mathews' 2012 in Fantasy was that you needed a Top 20 pick to get him. Now it's almost a bargain -- he's pretty much a "good enough" running back worth taking in late Round 4 in deeper drafts (14-plus teams) and Round 5 in standard leagues. 

It's a risky choice, but compared to Ahmad Bradshaw, Rashard Mendenhall, Eddie Lacy and Darren McFadden, does it really matter? 

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews found the end zone but also coughed up the ball in Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals.

Mathews scored from 1-yard out in the first quarter. He then lost a fumble on the final offensive play of the first half. He played one half with the first unit and rushed for a team-high 57 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. 

"He's got to protect the football better. He knows that," head coach Mike McCoy said after the game.

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams was back in action in Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers. Williams had previously missed time due to a knee injury. 

Williams looked alright on two carries. He went for 10 yards. He also caught a pass for 6 yards on his only target.