NFL Player News

Contrary to earlier reports, Cardinals running back Ryan Williams has not ruled himself out for a preseason premiere against the Chargers Saturday. Williams made it through practice for the first time in over three weeks Thursday, and thinks he can play in the team's third preseason game.

"I will be out there" Williams told the team's official website Thursday. "I don't know how many reps I'll get, but I will be out there. Hopefully I can get some plays and get in the end zone."

Williams has been limited by a knee injury, but said he felt fine in practice. He indicates that his confidence level is high after getting through practice, a good sign for him heading into a possible return to game action. His performance in a walkthrough Friday could be the determining factor in whether he is able to get on the field.

"Every evaluation is critical for him now," coach Bruce Arians said. "He's missed so much. I want to see how he does in practice before I put him in a game. Hopefully he'll do as well as I think he will and he can get out there and play full speed (Saturday), get tackled."

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase called the team's four turnovers against Seattle "unacceptable." Running back Ronnie Hillman fumbled twice in Saturday's game, losing one on the goal line that was returned for a touchdown.

“The ball security – when the ball is in your hand, the ball cannot be on the ground,” Gase told the team's website. “What happened the other day? I’m telling you – unacceptable. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen anymore.

“We’re not going to put the ball on the ground, or else they’re not going to carry it.”

After reviewing the first-team reps of the Dolphins offense at Houston last week, the threat of Daniel Thomas to Lamar Miller's workload is very real.

Miller started the game and did show flash on a couple of plays -- a run off right tackle for 8 yards and a run for 10 yards deep in the Dolphins' territory -- but they were negated by penalties and didn't show up in the final stat line. Had they, Miller would have finished with a respectable 28 yards on seven carries. 

But we saw some of the Dolphins' frustration with Miller when he bobbled and dropped a pass right in front of coach Joe Philbin. Philbin dropped his shoulders and shook his head in disgust. The very next series belonged to Thomas. 

Later on, Thomas was on an entire drive for the Fins until he asked for a break following a 27-yard gain on a shovel pass deep in Texans territory. Miller scored from 5 yards out two plays later and both backs were done for the night. 

Miller is faster than Thomas, but he's not as good of a pass protector and both of them looked as if they were a shade slow getting out of their cuts. Thomas is also bigger. He offers a legitimate change-up. Miller hasn't proven he can be an every-down player this summer, so the Dolphins have little choice but to utilize Thomas. 

I would still expect Miller to start but for Thomas to take at least one series for every two Miller has. I don't think they'll rotate based on down and distance but it's possible. Anything's possible here, which makes Miller a scary draft proposition with a Top 30 pick.

He's a good pick just after 30th overall -- the later you can get him the better. Spending a late pick on Thomas as a handcuff/potential starter for Miller also wouldn't hurt.  

Raiders rookie running back Latavius Murray had arthroscopic ankle surgery Tuesday, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The timetable for his return is unclear.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said running back DuJuan Harris "looks fully recovered" from his knee injury, adding that Harris "ran the ball hard" and "practiced like he was supposed to" Wednesday, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Harris is expected to start Friday against Seattle.

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told ESPN.com the running back job is "absolutely" still open, as the team has yet to settle on one of Daniel Thomas or Lamar Miller as the starter.

"I think they both had a productive camp, and there is still more to be played before we make a final decision," Philbin said.

Neither player has really stood out in the preseason in limited chances, though Miller is the only one of the two to have scored in the first three games. Miller has rushed for 37 yards on nine carries, while Thomas is at 49 yards and 12 carries.

When asked whether the starting position was just a symbolic position, Philbin did not agree with that assertion.

"We want to reward the guys we feel earned positions on the football team, so obviously it will be important who the starter is," he said. 

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, coming back from surgery on both ankles, will miss his third straight preseason game Thursday and might end up on the PUP list, reports the Associated Press.

"At this point anything is an option," coach Ron Rivera said after Tuesday's practice. "What you're hoping is you can get him on the football field and we'll see once the doctor gets a chance to look at him."

Rivera said Stewart will meet with the team doctor soon to evaluate his status.

Stewart is working with trainers on the side of practice. If he goes on the PUP list, he'd miss at least the first six games. In Stewart's absence, rookie Kenjon Barner is getting increased reps behind starter DeAngelo Williams.

Rivera also isn't ruling out Stewart for the Sept. 8 season opener. 

"You'd love to have him but we'll have to wait and see how it goes," Rivera said. "It's going to take a little time."

Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman continued to insist Tuesday that the race for the starting tailback spot is close. "I think Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are competing neck-and-neck," Sherman said.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that he thought Daryl Richardson "would probably take the first snap against Arizona," effectively naming him the starting back. But he had an interesting take on the race to back up Richardson. 

"As far as who’s going to come in (second), that remains to be seen," Fisher said. "We still have some more evaluating to do. ... It's consistency, and it's not just the game. It's consistency on the practice field, understanding, first and foremost, probably how to play without the football. For us, that's more important than how he plays with the football. By that I mean, is getting to the right place in the passing game? Is he proficient, and does he know exactly what to do in protection? Once you get that down, then we'll evaluate the run skills."

Isaiah Pead and rookie Zac Stacy are competing for the spot. Pead underwhelmed in the Rams' second preseason game and fumbled the ball away in the first. He's also suspended for the team's Week 1 game against the Cardinals. Stacy averaged 3.3 yards over seven attempts in the Rams' first preseason action but missed the second game with a leg injury. 

Pead had every opportunity to close the door on Stacy last week and didn't do it. If he doesn't do it against the Broncos on Saturday then Stacy -- or perhaps another back on the roster -- could leapfrog him. Whoever helps Richardson with the rushing workload is worth a late pick in Fantasy drafts. 

Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner wants running back Trent Richardson "to be prepared to play every down," reports ESPN.com. Turner is planning to give Richardson 300 carries and targeting him for 60 catches, the report said.

In 15 games last season, Richardson got 267 carries and caught 51 passes.

"It's hard for a tailback now to play every down the entire game, but they have to be prepared to play every down," Turner said. "If we're in a two-minute situation, I don't think any of us want Trent standing on the sidelines." 

The Browns don't have much behind Richardson, as Dion Lewis broke his leg last week.