NFL Player News

With Frank Gore held out and Kendall Hunter on the PUP list, 49ers running back LaMichael James worked with the first-team offense in Thursday's exhibition game against the Broncos.

James broke for five yards or more in each of his first four carries during the team's opening drive. He coughed up the ball but recovered his own fumble in the second drive. He was pulled early in the second quarter and finished with 27 yards on eight carries on the ground and was not involved in the passing game.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce limped off the field after scoring a 20-yard touchdown in Thursday's preseason opener against the Buccaneers. Fortunately, he was spotted walking on the sidelines shortly after and appears to have avoided any kind of injury.

Pierce finished the game with three carries for 21 yards, and did not appear after the touchdown. He appears to have the backup running back spot locked up for Baltimore. 

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has high hopes for running back DuJuan Harris, who remains on the active/physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury that might keep him out another week or two, reports USA Today. Harris also missed time in the offseason after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from one of his lungs.

"I'm excited to see when DuJuan Harris comes back, because I view him as our starter," McCarthy said. "I want him to get back in there and earn it like he did all of last year. He made an impact in our offense."

Raiders running back Darren McFadden will play in the preseason, reports Comcast Sports Net.

"I've seen it where guys like Darren don't play in the preseason, and I've seen it where those guys do," Allen said. "It's my feeling that guys need to play. The anticipation is we'll play him (each game). In terms of how much we'll play him, we'll evaluate that on a week-to-week basis."

McFadden likes the way the new offensive system in Oakland is coming together in training camp.

"They've done a great job of driving off the line and creating space for me to run," McFadden said. "I'm looking forward to a game situation with those guys and being able to run this offense at full speed."

" data-canon="Oakland Raiders" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> rookie running back <player idref= was back at practice Wednesday after missing nearly two weeks with an undisclosed injury, reports the Oakland Tribune.

Broncos rookie running back Montee Ball has shown "better hands in the passing game than some scouts believed he had," reports ESPN.com. Ball caught just 10 balls at Wisconsin last season while carrying 356 times.

While Ball lacks the speed and big-play ability of Ronnie Hillman, the report says Ball has "good vision" and "quick feet" and could be used more in scoring situations due to his size. Ball weighs 214 pounds, about 20 more than Hillman.

"But Ball will have to continue to progress in pass protection to see work in longer-yardage situations," the report concludes.

The Ravens might use Ray Rice as a wide receiver in certain formations, ESPN's Chris Mortensen said. "They love Bernard Pierce," Mortensen said. "There's some thought of shifting Ray Rice out to receiver."

Browns " data-canon="Cleveland Browns" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> running back <player idref= Trent Richardson " data-canon="Trent Richardson" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_PLAYER" id="shortcode0"> won't play Thursday against the Rams, reports the Plain Dealer. Richardson hasn't participated in team drills since being kicked in the right shin last Thursday, but coach Rob Chudzinski indicated Richardson could play if it was a regular-season game.

Dion Lewis is expected to start at tailback.

Rams running back Isaiah Pead's career has not gone as hoped, and he received another setback Tuesday, in his battle to emerge from training camp as the team's top running back. 

"I think Daryl [Richardson] comes back as our starter," head coach Jeff Fisher told the team's sideline reporter Tuesday. "He played significantly more last year than anybody, and so Isaiah is working himself up and competing with Daryl."

This is the first time Fisher has really indicated that one player or the other is in the lead, but it does not come as much of a surprise. Richardson entered the offseason with more playing time last season, despite being drafted five rounds after Pead in the 2012 draft. Pead rushed the ball just 10 times as a rookie, finishing with 54 yards.  

Pead has also been suspended for the first game of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and it looks like he will begin the season as Richardson's understudy. 

The Rams entered training camp with an open competition for the starting running back spot between Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead, and it looks like one has already moved into the lead.

"I think Daryl comes back as our starter," head coach Jeff Fisher told the team's sideline reporter Tuesday. "He played significantly more last year than anybody"

This is the first time Fisher has really indicated that one player or the other is in the lead, but it does not come as much of a surprise. Richardson entered the offseason with more playing time last season, despite being drafted five rounds after Pead in the 2012 draft.

Richardson ran for 475 yards on 98 carries last season, while bringing in 24 catches for 163 yards, and thinks he is ready to take on a bigger role in his second season.

"I'm a good quality back," he said. "I feel I can do it all, be an every down back".