NFL Player News

Second-year Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman is playing at around 195 pounds, compared to his 178-pound rookie weight, reports ESPN.com. Hillman bulked up so he could better protect Peyton Manning.

"We all know we have to keep Peyton from getting hit," Hillman said.

Sharing first-team reps with rookie Montee Ball, Hillman is "the most explosive runner the Broncos have, the big-play threat in an offense that wants more big-play runs this time around," the report adds.

Roy Helu is solidifying his status as the Redskins' third-down back, reports ESPN.com. "He’s done a decent job in pass protection and he remains their best receiving threat out of the backfield," the report said.

While the Broncos list running back Ronnie Hillman as the starter, he continues to share first-team reps with rookie Montee Ball, reports the Denver Post.

"I've most definitely seen (the depth chart), but I think that's right, because Ronnie's done a great job this camp," Ball said. "He most definitely deserves it right now, but I'm going to try to take it."

Browns running back Trent Richardson returned to practice Monday after missing a few days with a bruised right shin. While it looks like he'll be fine for the regular season, coach Rob Chudzinski isn't sure if Richardson will play Thursday vs. St. Louis. 

"It was good to have him back out there," he told the media, "but I have not decided anything about Thursday night in regard to Trent. Yes, we want to work him back in, but we are going to be smart with him, just like we've been saying all along."

Running back Ryan Williams has missed four more days of practice than expected with a right knee injury, and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said the absences are costing Williams.

“It’s hurting him extremely not to be on the field competing for the job, because those other guys are doing so well,” Arians told the Arizona Republic, referring to Alfonso Smith and rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington.

Projected starter Rashard Mendenhall also has missed practice lately with knee tendinitis, but his status does not appear in any jeopardy.

Running back Shane Vereen "is going to get a lot of touches from the look of things" in Patriots camp, reports SI.com's Peter King. Vereen should be a big factor in the passing game due to all the personnel changes in New England.

Vereen caught five balls for 83 yards and two touchdowns in the Pats' playoff win over Houston.

The Redskins released their first depth chart Monday, and Roy Helu was the No. 2 running back behind Alfred Morris, reports the Washington Post.

The depth chart reads Morris, Helu, Evan Royster, Keiland Williams and Chris Thompson as the Top 5 running backs. Helu has earned plenty of praise so far in training camp in his comeback from an injury-filled 2012.

Some within the Rams organization are concerned about running back Isaiah Pead's pass protection, reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. "There is still much debate about whether or not he can get it together at this level," La Canfora wrote.

Fellow second-year back Daryl Richardson could benefit from concerns about Pead.

The report adds that rookie Zac Stacy "looks like a good fit in a lot of the one-back stuff [offensive coordinator Brian] Schottenheimer wants to run to spread the field and attack defenses." Stacy "has explosion and could be a sleeper who emerges as a rookie."

Raiders rookie running back Latavius Murray is missed the past week of work with an undisclosed injury according to Comcast Sportsnet. Fellow backup Rashad Jennings has taken the second-team reps in his place. Darren McFadden remains the Raiders' starter. 

Murray's current injury isn't known but in June minicamps he hurt his foot. 

The " data-canon="San Francisco 49ers" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> look at running back <player idref= "as a trusted agent back there to field punts and kickoffs," coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters. James will get a chance to earn the return specialist job starting Thursday in the preseason opener against Denver.