NFL Player News

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said in an interview with CBSSports.com that he's excited for running back DuJuan Harris heading into this season. "I wish we would have had DuJuan earlier," McCarthy said. "Once he got ready I felt great about the way DuJuan finished the season. I’m looking forward to having him for an offseason and getting good things from him." McCarthy said Harris has the chance to start in 2013. "He’s going to play for us next season," the coach said. "That’s his responsibility if he wants to be the starter."

Bucs coach Greg Schiano said in an interview with CBSSports.com on Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix that he doesn't want to overwork second-year running back Doug Martin, but he also wants to use him more on third downs. "You like to maybe take a little load off him," Schiano said. "But you like to get him more involved in some things that he does well. He wasn’t in the game on third down. Maybe he gets some of those plays because he’s such a good pass receiver and a good blocker. We have some thoughts on how to best utilize him. We just have to figure out how it fits with the rest of the team."

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said in an interview with CBSSports.com that running back Roy Helu, who ended last year on injured reserve with turf toe, is doing well in his recovery. "I’m hoping Helu can come back and be the guy that he was at certain times before the injury," Shanahan said. "It looks like he’s doing quite well with the injury. For a while there it didn’t look like he was making progress, but all of the sudden it just happened and he’s feeling quite better. He can help us out a lot in the third-down package."

Chargers coach Mike McCoy said in an interview with CBSSports.com on Tuesday at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix that he's still counting on running back Ryan Mathews this season to play a prominent role even with the addition of Danny Woodhead. "Ryan’s had some bad luck with collarbones," McCoy said. "That’s all part of the game. You can’t do anything about that. I don’t know how you strengthen your collarbones. He’s had some bad luck the past couple of years. He’s going to be a great fit for this system. Give him the ball as many times as he can carry it in a game. And get him more involved in the passing game in certain areas and certain ways."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen said in an interview with CBSSports.com at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix on Tuesday that he "would jump and down excited" if he knew running back Darren McFadden would play 16 games this season. "You tell me I’m going to get 16 games out of one of our most explosive players, that’s a good thing," Allen said. But Allen realizes that injuries are just part of the equation with McFadden, and the Raiders need a plan in place for when McFadden goes down. "Darren is an extremely explosive player, and we need to use him in that regard," Allen said. "What we’ve got to do is create some depth behind him so if and when Darren has to miss any time we’ve got a capable guy that can go in there and play at a starter’s level."

Broncos coach John Fox said in an interview with CBSSports.com at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Tuesday that second-year running back Ronnie Hillman has the chance to play a bigger role this season. "Our young guy is getting better," Fox said. "We’re really pleased with him. ... I thought for a rookie — if Ronnie Hillman went to a place where they just called a play and ran it, his transition would have probably been quicker than a guy that’s probably going to call one in 10 plays and nine of them are going to be passes and they’re exotic protections that are changed right there for a rookie to look at. Our style of offense didn’t help him much. I think it takes a year to develop a pro body. He is a guy at the end of the season weighed 189 pounds. He needs to be bigger and stronger and needs a full year to develop and train what I call a pro body. I think that will only help him.”

Former Browns legendary running back and Hall of Famer Jim Brown told CBSSports.com at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix that he's fond of second-year running back Trent Richardson. "I'm very high on Trent," Brown said. "I know he was hurt (last year), and that hindered his performance. But I think he's a real fine back. He's going to be much better. He has a great attitude. I'm looking forward to whatever input I can have with him to do it." Richardson had a productive rookie season with 267 carries for 950 yards with 11 touchdowns and another 51 catches for 367 yards and a score despite playing through a knee injury and bruised ribs, but Brown is expecting big things for Richardson in his sophomore campaign. "He's going to have a chance to prove himself," Brown said. "I don't want to make any predictions, but he has the goods. He has the speed, the quickness, the power and the attitude. He's willing to listen. He's a positive."

The Titans signed running back Shonn Greene on Wednesday, signaling a modest shift in how they're approaching running backs in 2013. The Titans' brass has said they intended to add another back to the mix with Johnson and did so with a physical inside rusher who can convert short-yardage situations. Greene figures to cut into Johnson's workload a little bit more than previous running backs have and also serves as an insurance policy just in case Johnson comes out cold like he has each of the last two seasons.

The Cardinals released veteran running back Beanie Wells before the start of free agency, helping pave the way for Ryan Williams to get a legitimate chance to contribute on a larger basis in 2013. Though the Cardinals are still expected to add another running back Williams has been the prized pupil of new head coach Bruce Arians thus far. In February, Arians made no qualms about Williams' athletic ability, adding he needs to stay healthy to truly make an impact. General manager Steve Keim chimed in, adding that the team is "expecting big things out of Ryan moving forward."

With the news of Michael Turner's release Friday, many Fantasy owners are hopeful the Falcons will give the starting running back job to Jacquizz Rodgers. Not so fast -- while Falcons head coach Mike Smith talked him up as being a guy who could be a three-down running back, the team still is going to look at other running back options. They've already been linked as a possible destination for veteran Steven Jackson.