NFL Player News

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams should return to practice Thursday after it was determined he does not need a second opinion on his knee, according to the team's website. The team is off Wednesday.

Williams' knee "flared up" Sunday, according to coach Bruce Arians, but an MRI came back negative.

New England's offensive overhaul could set up running back Shane Vereen "for a breakout season," reports the Boston Herald. While Vereen has never rushed for 50 yards in a game, his speed, elusiveness and receiving ability will lead to more opportunities this fall, according to the paper.

“I’m getting more comfortable with the offense, the more we practice, the more I play in it,” Vereen said. “With more repetitions and more practice, the more comfortable we get, the better we execute.”

Vereen flashed his potential in the playoff win over Houston, running seven times for 41 yards and a touchdown and catching five balls for 83 yards and two more scores.

Titans running back Chris Johnson has "warmed to the idea" of letting Shonn Greene handle short-yardage carries, reports the Tennessean. The paper notes Greene went 11-for-11 in converting 3rd-and-3 or less for the Jets last season.

“I’m OK with it,” Johnson said. “I never really get any short-yardage plays, so it doesn’t really matter. … That’s just another piece of this offense -- continue to keep the drive going and run more plays.”

The paper expects Greene to be a major upgrade over Javon Ringer and Jamie Harper.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that running back DuJuan Harris will remain out at least another 2-3 weeks, reports the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Harris (chest) is on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a cyst on his lung. When healthy, he should compete for playing time in a crowded backfield with Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin, Alex Green and James Starks.

The Broncos used all three running backs -- Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno with the first team Monday, reports the Denver Post.

The report says the competition at running back "appeared to remain open."

This is the first report of Moreno working with the starters. Previously only Hillman has worked with the first group.

The initial MRI on Ryan Williams' right knee was "clean," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told the Arizona Republic.

“Ryan’s going to get a second opinion,” Arians said. “We’ll see when he comes back. It just flared up. There’s no injury; the MRI’s clean.”

Williams tore the patella tendon in his right knee nearly two years ago. Arians said the 23-year-old running back, who watched Sunday's practice with the knee wrapped in an ice pack, looked good in earlier practices.

“I was kind of surprised it flared up," Arians said.

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.