NFL Player News

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who ran for two scores when the Falcons last played Week 5 against the Jets, couldn't find any running room Week 7 against the Buccaneers, picking up just 16 yards on a team-high eight carries. So instead, he made his presence known as a receiver, leading the team with nine targets even on a day when wide receiver Harry Douglas broke through with a career-high 149 receiving yards.

With Julio Jones (foot) and Roddy White (hamstring) both inactive, Jacquizz Rodgers emerged as quarterback Matt Ryan's primary short option while Douglas went long. And though Rodgers had just 46 yards on his season-high eight catches, he caught two of Ryan's three touchdown passes -- a 19-yarder in the second quarter and an 8-yarder in the fourth.

Of course, Rodgers is only the Falcons' primary backfield option for as long as Steven Jackson is out with a hamstring injury, but assuming Jackson doesn't return Week 8 at Arizona, Rodgers figures to contribute in one facet or another.

Jets running back Tommy Bohanon carried the ball six times for 21 yards in the team's 30-27 win over the Patriots. The carries and yards were both career highs for Bohanon, a rookie out of Wake Forest. 

The Jets are on the road in Week 8, traveling to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. 

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin, who left just after halftime and didn't return Week 7 at Atlanta, told the Tampa Bay Times after the game that X-rays on shoulder were negative and did not reveal a separation. Martin's arm was in a sling, however.

"We're still evaluating what it is," Martin said, adding that he wasn't sure if he would play in Thursday night's game against Carolina. "Just have to hope for the best," he said.

Martin took a hard hit attempting to haul in a pass near the goal line in the third quarter. He was off to a good start before the injury, finding some running room with rookie quarterback Mike Glennon establishing a connection with star wide receiver Vincent Jackson. He had 47 yards on 11 carries and 7 on one catch.

Mike James took Martin's place in the lineup, finishing with 45 yards on 14 carries and 8 on three catches. He would likely get the majority of the workload if Martin is unable to play in what figures to be a tough matchup Week 8 against the Panthers.

Cowboys rookie running back Joseph Randle made his first career start Week 7 at Philadelphia with starter DeMarco Murray sidelined by a knee injury. Randle performed well, rushing for a team-high 65 yards on 19 carries and added three catches for 28 yards.

"It felt really good and I got more comfortable as the game progressed," Randle said, per ESPN. "First half was a little slow but then we got moving well on offense. I think I ran the ball well North to South down the field but there are always things you would like to do better." 

Randle's longest carry went for 12 yards and his longest catch went for 13 yards. Unfortunately, backup Phillip Tanner had the team's only rushing touchdown Sunday -- a 1-yard score in the third quarter.

"I think Randle can really early the openings in the line and he understands his responsibilities more and more every week," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "I thought he played really well today."

The Cowboys are back in action Week 8 at Detroit. Murray's status is week-to-week, so Randle might be called on to make another start Week 8.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews finally crossed the goal line this season as he scored his first touchdown in the Week 7 game at Jacksonville Sunday. Mathews scored on a 3-yard carry in the fourth quarter to ice the win.

Mathews ran for his second consecutive 100-yard game as he had 21 carries for 110 yards and the score in the game. He averaged 5.2 yards per touch of the football on the ground.

The RB was not targeted in the passing game. He's rushed for 212 yards in his last two contests and heads into a bye week on a roll. The Chargers return Week 9 to play in Washington.

Rams running back Daryl Richardson's role continued to shrink in Week 7 against the Panthers, as he finished with just four touches in a 30-15 loss.

Richardson ran the ball just three times for 9 yards, while adding a single catch for 9 yards as well.

Richardson is clearly the backup for St. Louis,  as he has just eight touches over the last two games. That trend should continue in Week 8 against the Seahawks. 

The Dolphins changed things up at the start of Sunday's game against the Bills in Week 7, as Daniel Thomas received the start over Lamar Miller.

Thomas, who has struggled to get going this season, actually looked well suited for the role, as he outperformed Miller. He ran the ball 12 times for 60 yards, both of which were team-high totals, while hauling in one catch for -2 yards.

Thomas had just 11 combined carries in his previous three games, so it will be interesting to see if his role continues to grow in Week 8 against the Patriots. 

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden carried the ball eight times for 36 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Jets. It was Bolden's first touchdown on the season, and the eight carries were his most this year. Bolden also caught a pass for seven yards. 

Bolden had most of the early-game work for the Patriots, with three carries by the end of the first quarter (to zero for Stevan Ridley). He was stuffed on a goal-line run in the first, then given the next opportunity and scored. By the end of the game, Bolden only had three fewer carries than Ridley, the presumed starter. 

The 36 rushing yards were the second-most for Bolden this season. 

The Pats return home to face the Dolphins in Week 8. 

Redskins running back Roy Helu saw eight fewer carries and 54 fewer rushing yards than did starter Alfred Morris in the Week 7 home win over Chicago. But while Morris did not score in the game, Helu crossed the goal line a career-high three times. 

Helu scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter to make it 10-10 at the time. He scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter and won the game with the go-ahead 3-yard TD run in the fourth with less than a minute to play. 

In the end, Helu rushed 11 times for 41 yards and the three scores. He also caught a pass for 5 yards and saw two targets. He has four rushing touchdowns on the year and all four have come in the last three games. The Redskins play at Denver Week 8.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin took a hard hit to the shoulder trying to haul in a pass near the goal line early in the third quarter and had to leave the game. He was taken to the locker room moments later and is questionable to return. Mike James took his place in the backfield.

Martin had 11 carries for 47 yards and one catch for 7 yards before leaving.