NFL Player News

Arizona CardinalsCardinals running back <player idref= will get a second opinion on the right knee problem that forced him from practice Sunday, reports CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. Williams tore his patellar tendon in that knee two years ago.

Though coach Bruce Arians didn't make the injury out to be severe, he did indicate that this is a make-or-break season for Williams. The third-year back has played just five games over the first two years of his career. 

CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco visited Chris Johnson at Titans camp over the weekend and heard straight from the workhorse's mouth: A 2,000-yard season is in reach. 

"It's doable," Johnson said of his goal of 2,000 rush yards, his other goal being to be on a playoff team. "Of course, it's doable. I can't do it getting 11 carries a game. What motivates me is I want to get to 2,000 yards again. Be the first back to do it. I've been to the playoffs once, and I want to get back there."

Johnson lamented over the last two seasons, not quite pinning his lack of success on his offensive line but almost hinting that it was a detriment. 

"I've never been the guy who complains about the line or anything like that. You just roll with it," Johnson said. "But look at the other backs in this league -- Adrian, (Arian) Foster, (Jamaal) Charles. Look at their tapes, they have room to run."

Johnson's offensive line was a nightmare but the Titans have addressed it this offseason, adding first-round pick Chance Warmack and free agent guard Andy Levitre. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is set to dedicate much of the offense to Johnson as well. 

Prisco writes, "Johnson thinks if he can get 22 carries a game -- 25 is too many he said -- he has a real chance. But it would mean his 4.5 per-rush average from a year ago would need to be a lot higher."

Johnson averaged 5.6 yards per carry over 358 carries in his 2,006-yard 2009. He's averaged 4.3, 4.0 and 4.5 yards per carry in the three years since, all of which saw him fall under 320 carries. 

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier already likes what he sees from rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

"In particular, carrying the football, he's dynamic," Frazier said. "He has the vertical speed to get behind defensive backs. That won't be an issue. That’s going to give us a dimension we didn't have a year ago. But where he's electric is when you get him the ball on a bubble screen or a reverse or a hitch or a slant. He's pretty special."

The report says the Vikings face two challenges with Patterson: getting a player with one year of major college experience to learn an NFL offense, and deciding how much to use him.

"He's hungry," Frazier said. "And I think he's maturing in some areas. It’s still early, but for these first couple of days, I like what I'm seeing."

Bernard Pierce, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie, has gotten bigger and faster entering his second season, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

"He's done a great job with his offseason conditioning program,” Harbaugh said, via the Baltimore Sun. “He looks good, and I'd say the first two days of practice, he's a better player now than he was last year even at the end of the season."

The 6-foot Pierce bulked up to 228 pounds but maintained his lean build, according to the report.

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams watched practice Sunday with an ice pack on his right knee. Guard Daryn Colledge left practice with a leg injury, according to the team's website.

Chargers coach Mike McCoy isn’t featuring Ryan Mathews as the unquestioned lead back, instead rotating him with Danny Woodhead and Ronnie Brown.

 “I’ve been raised with (Denver head coach) John Fox in this league,” McCoy said, via FoxSports.com. “We always played with a couple of backs. It doesn’t matter who’s in there. Keep them fresh.

“That’s the big thing. Play the hot hand while you roll. If you’ve got to tap out for a play or two, we’ll put the next guy in.”

While Cordarrelle Patterson has the inside track to the primary kick returner, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier says that will not limit the first-round pick’s offensive role, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Patterson has impressed coaches early in camp.

"It wasn't like starting from zero like we thought it might be," Frazier said. "That encourages all of us. Now take that with a grain of salt. We've got a lot more football to go, but we like what we see so far."

Patterson returned kicks Saturday, lined up often as a first-team wideout and took a pitch from Christian Ponder on an end-around, according to the report.

“I don’t think we’ll have that much of a concern,” Frazier said when asked about Patterson’s ability to handle double duty.

Redskins running back Roy Helu appears in the lead for the No. 2 job behind starter Alfred Morris, reports the Washington Post.

The report says the order for the running backs behind Morris are in this order: Helu, Evan Royster, Keiland Williams, Tristan Davis, Chris Thompson, Jawan Jamison. Morris is the unquestioned starter, and the rest are all battling for that backup/third-down back role.

Ryan Mathews has called himself an "average back" because of his underwhelming numbers over the first three years of his career. But the Chargers rusher told CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist Clark Judge that year four will be different. 

Judge believes 2013 is a make-or-break season for Mathews. 

Mathews has shed around 10 pounds because he felt too bulky and has changed his outlook on the game, aiming to just enjoy himself and not put any expectations on his shoulders. 

"I just think I put too much pressure on myself where I came in and tried to be what I wasn't," he said. "There was a great guy who led the way for me, LaDainian Tomlinson, and I thought I had to be him and do what he was doing. Instead, I got away from who I am. I got away from having fun and put too much pressure on myself. So now I just want to go back to the basics, run the ball and have fun."

Mathews believes he can be a Top-5 back in the league if he can prove to be consistent. 

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden was back on the field for the start of training camp after missing offseason workouts with a sprained ankle, according to ESPN.

The report said "he looked spry and back to full strength." Bolden is trying to be the No. 3 running back behind Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.