NFL Player News

Seahawks rookie running back Christine Michael, who missed his last preseason game with a back injury, returned with a bang Friday night against the Packers.

The rookie out of Texas A&M broke for a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He entered the game in the second quarter and played the entire second half. He rushed for a team-high 97 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. He also caught his only targeted pass for 25 yards.

Michael ran for 89 yards on 16 carries in the first preseason game against San Diego and has 186 yards on the ground through two games.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris did not seem concerned about his knee injury following Friday's preseason game against the Seahawks. He told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel his knee is fine.

Harris earned the start but only rushed for two yards on three carries and re-aggravated his knee injury on an 11-yard reception in the second quarter. He was held out of the remainder of the game as a precaution.

Raiders running back Darren McFadden is not on the field for warmups and will not play against Chicago, the Contra Costa Times is reporting. McFadden left the preseason game against New Orleans with a shoulder injury that was not deemed serious. The Raiders are likely just being cautious with their featured back.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris was forced out of Friday's preseason game against the Seahawks with an apparent right knee injury.

Harris was slow to get up and slow to walk off field after an 11-yard screen pass in the second quarter. He was checked out by trainers and had ice on his knee on the bench.

Harris rushed for two yards on three carries and caught one pass for 11 yards before the injury. His return is still questionable.

Featured back Darren McFadden is one of nine Raiders working extensively with a trainer before the game tonight against Chicago, the Contra Costa Times is reporting. The report did not elaborate as to any possible physical problems he is experiencing. McFadden has yet to break loose in the preseason with just eight carries for 22 yards.

Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright will not travel with the team for Sunday's preseason game against the 49ers, head coach Leslie Frazier told the team's official website.Wright suffered a concussion in the last preseason game.

Frazier expects to see more out of rookie Cordarrelle Paterson against San Francisco.

"He will get a number of opportunities," Frazier said. "We had that in the plans anyway. It will be just a little more action for him, and we will just watch him keep progressing."

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (head) hopes to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Dolphins, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Martin has just three carries in two preseason games and left last week's loss to the Patriots after taking a shot to the head during pass protection. Martin said his concussion tests were negative and he is 100 percent healthy and has practiced all week. However, Martin said he'd understand if the coaches hold him out as a precaution.

"I'm not sure what we're going to do with Doug right now," coach Greg Schiano said Thursday.

Neither of the Patriots' top two running backs made much of an impact Thursday, in the team's preseason game against the Lions, as both Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen finished with just 6 yards each rushing.

Vereen picked up his 6 yards on four carries, while Ridley needed nine attempts. Neither made much happen in the passing game, as Vereen finished with one reception for -2 yards, while Ridley was not a factor.

Ridley is at the top of the depth chart, and he got the first crack with the first-team offense. Vereen was largely used to spell Ridley, and he lost a fumble early in the second quarter. 

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce was able to return to action Thursday against the Panthers, after missing the team's previous preseason game with a knee injury.

Pierce received plenty of work in the game, with most of his touches coming with the first team while spelling Ray Rice. He didn't do much with his chances, however, finishing with just 7 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 6 yards.

Pierce is expected to open the season as Rice's primary backup, and may only play a few series in the team's final preseason game against the Rams Aug. 29. 

Panthers running back Kenjon Barner was forced out of Thursday's game against the Ravens after making little impact, as he suffered a foot injury and could not return for the second half. Barner finished the game with just two carries for 7 yards, as well as a reception for 10.

Barner has been in the mix as the team's backup running back, so it is not clear how this injury will impact that position battle at this time. His status moving forward is unknown.