NFL Player News

Colts running back Trent Richardson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder following the season, reports NFL Network. Richardson is expected to be ready for OTAs.

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman was inactive for the playoffs and the Super Bowl, but coach John Fox insisted Thursday that he's not down on Hillman. Fox said Hillman was a victim of a numbers game and a lack of opportunities.

"I think he’s a tremendous talent," Fox said. "He does give us great explosion as a runner."

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the first thing Norv Turner did upon being hired as offensive coordinator was "put in 10 plays for Cordarrelle Patterson," reports NFL.com. The electrifying Patterson caught four touchdowns passes, ran for three scores and returned two kicks for touchdowns as a rookie.

He's in for a much bigger role in 2014.

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said Andre Ellington will get more work in 2014, but won't be the "featured" back as the team plans to use multiple running backs. Keim praised Stepfan Taylor's power as a nice complement to Ellington's speed.

Ellington averaged 5.5 yards per carry as a rookie splitting carries with Rashard Mendenhall, a free agent who's not expected to return.

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said there's "no rush" to decide whether to keep or release running back Chris Johnson.

"Am I optimistic he'll remain on the team?" Whisenhunt said. "It's a process you go through with everyone on your football team. Putting together the team is not an exact science. So we're under no deadline to do it. We have a lot of things to evaluate going forward. Chemistry's a big part of it. There's no rush to make a decision."

Johnson averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last season. He's owed $8 million in 2014.

The agent for running back Darren McFadden told NFL.com's Gil Brandt that he will meet with the Raiders this week to talk about re-signing him. McFadden is scheduled to be a free agent. 

It was a month ago when Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said the back would be a free agent, so a change of heart could be in play here from the organization. McFadden has struggled since entering the league with injuries and inconsistency. He has missed 29 games in six seasons and played in only 10 games in 2013, matching his 2012 yards per carry average at 3.3, which is a career-low.

Raiders running back Latavius Murray missed his rookie season in 2013 with an ankle injury, but he still has the chance to make an impact this year, reports the Contra Costa Times.

The report considers Murray a sleeper for 2014. Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings are free agents this offseason, and Murray has the chance to compete for the starting job at running back.

Titans CEO Tommy Smith said Tuesday the decision to keep running back Chris Johnson for 2014 will be made by general manager Ruston Webster and coach Ken Whisenhunt, reports the Tennessean.

Johnson, 28, is coming off a career-low 3.9 yards per carry and is owed $8 million in 2014.

The report says Smith said Johnson has been productive. But he said he wants his personnel folks to make a decision on what team does moving forward.

New Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is planning to share Ray Rice's carries with Bernard Pierce similarly to how he split up starter Arian Foster with backup Ben Tate in Houston.

"It's hard to hand it to one guy 30 times a game; they just get worn down," Kubiak said according to the official team website. "It'll take both of them. They're very talented and if we can get both of them going, the better we'll be."

Pierce didn't take advantage of his opportunities last season, rumbling for 436 yards on 152 carries with two touchdowns last year. He did add 20 catches for 104 yards. 

Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson could benefit greatly with the addition of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. It might not even matter who is throwing him the ball.

The report said "Patterson could be in line for a monster sophomore season" with Turner as his offensive coordinator given how Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon led the league last year in receiving yards with Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer as his quarterbacks.

Currently, the Vikings have just Christian Ponder under contract, but they plan to add another quarterback or two via free agency and the draft.