NFL Player News

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews believes he'll bounce back from what was a frustrating 2012 season that began and ended with missed games caused by broken clavicles in his shoulders. Mathews tells U-T San Diego he's talked with a number of trainers and plans to apply their advice to his workouts this offseason in an effort to be a more complete player. He'll need to become just that as the story on Mathews adds that some in the Chargers organization do not believe he'll be a true workhorse running back in the league. "It's time for me to show them why they bumped up all the spots they did to draft me," Mathews said. "I've shown greatness at times, and I've shown I can be the worst player at times. You've got to be consistent, and that’s what I plan to do, Just be a little more consistent player and just be the guy they knew when they drafted."

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he believes running back DuJuan Harris is a 'Transformer' for the team, giving the offense a decent punch from the backfield. Not bad for a guy who was selling cars in Jacksonville a few months ago before landing on the Packers' practice squad. Since then he's worked his way onto the roster and their starting lineup; last week Harris had 100 total yards in the squad's first playoff game against the Vikings. "He's kind of a Transformer," Rodgers said last week. "You have to give him a lot of credit. He's learned the offense the last few weeks and studied, obviously, and the package for him is just going to continue to grow."

The Colts had difficulty stopping Ravens rookie running back Bernard Pierce Sunday. Pierce averaged 7.9 yards per carry and rushed for a team-high 103 yards during a 24-9 Wild Card playoff victory. Pierce's longest gain went 43 yards and Sunday was the second time in the last three games Pierce surpassed 100 rushing yards.

Packers running back DuJuan Harris did something that he failed to do in Week 17 at Minnesota -- find the end zone. Harris scored on a 9-yard run in the first quarter and totaled 100 yards in Saturday's NFC Wild Card contest at home against the Vikings. He had 17 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown in a 24-10 victory. He also came up with a team-high five catches for 53 yards. He was targeted six times in the win.

The Titans have dismissed running backs coach Jim Skipper, making him the third running backs coach to get fired from the team since Chris Johnson joined them in 2008. Johnson might not be to blame as he finished the 2012 season with 1,243 rushing yards and 232 receiving yards to go with six rushing scores.

Last week it was Packers running back DuJuan Harris leading the way on the ground for Green Bay against the Vikings. Harris had 70 rush yards on 14 carries and two catches for 17 yards. Harris will take on the Vikings again at Lambeau Field in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota's run defense has come up big over the last three weeks, giving up 317 total yards to running backs with no touchdowns.

The Denver Post reports that after fumbling in the first quarter Sunday against the Chiefs, Broncos rookie running back Ronnie Hillman was benched by coach John Fox the rest of the game. "I made a mistake, I'm living with it," Hillman said. "I'm not going to be mad about it. What he did was justified." Although it was Hillman's only lost fumble of the season, he was replaced in the backup role by veterans Lance Ball and Jacob Hester, who combined for 111 yards on 22 carries against the Chiefs. Hillman finished his rookie season with 330 yards rushing on 85 carries, a 3.9-yard average. "I have to win coach Fox's confidence back, my teammates," Hillman said. "I let them down at that point, but I have to do something to work hard this week and move forward and try not to let it happen again."

The Chargers official team website reports that running back Ryan Mathews sees this offseason as a way to heal and come back stronger next season after suffering a season-ending broken clavicle (his second of the year) in Week 15. “Just getting my body ready,” Mathews said. “Last year, I did the same thing. Just working out, just staying here, being able to work out with coach and just being around the facility and everything. I live in San Diego. I might go home to Fresno or Bakersfield a couple times, but that’s just a three-hour drive. It ain’t much. Just get ready. (There’s) a lot of stuff I need to work on, stuff I need to get better, but I have what it takes to reach that next level and that’s what I plan to do.” As far as his clavicles are concerned, Mathews said they are “pretty stable right now” and though he missed the last two games of the season, he feels good.

The Jaguars added depth to their ailing backfield Friday, claiming running back Jonathan Grimes off waivers from the Texans. Grimes was released by Houston earlier this week after suiting up for just six games with the team after being dropped by the Jets.

The Colts placed running back Robert Hughes (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.