September 24, 2023

Report: Nick Chubb out for season, but injury not career-threatening

Tests show that Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb’s gruesome injury is not as bad as initially feared, and though he will be out for the rest of this season, the injury is now not considered career-threatening, according to ESPN.

Initial indications were that Chubb, 27, sustained a torn left anterior crucial ligament, but doctors now reportedly believe that although he stretched the ACL on the play, it was not a complete tear.

Chubb is now believed to have torn only his medial collateral ligament, which is not considered a career-ending injury, per ESPN. He is still expected to need six to eight months to recover.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had announced Tuesday that Chubb would undergo season-ending surgery, which reportedly is expected to take place this week.

In Cleveland’s 26-22 loss to the host Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, Chubb rushed up the middle for a gain of 5 yards with 14:14 left in the second quarter and was in the process of being tackled by Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick dropped his shoulder and ran directly into Chubb’s left knee.

The hit by Fitzpatrick caused Chubb’s leg to bend, and Chubb sat up and grabbed his knee and could be heard yelling in anguish through the field microphones.

Chubb rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries before exiting. He has 170 yards on 28 carries this season.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons, gaining a career-high 1,525 last season. Chubb had 996 yards as a rookie in 2018 before beginning his streak of 1,000-yard seasons.

September 24, 2023

New Orleans Saints place RB Jamaal Williams on IR

New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams was placed on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.

Williams, 28, left Monday night’s win against the Carolina Panthers late in the first half with a hamstring injury and missed Wednesday’s practice. He is required to miss at least four games.

Drafted out of BYU in the fourth round (134th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by Green Bay, Williams spent four seasons with the Packers before signing with the Detroit Lions for two years, where he scored 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022, a career- and league-high mark.

This offseason, he signed a three-year deal with the Saints worth $12 million.

He started both games this season, finishing with 74 yards on 27 carries, including 29 yards on nine carries before leaving Monday’s game.

When the Saints face Williams’ old team, the Packers, on Sunday in Green Bay, they’ll still be without running back Alvin Kamara, who will miss one more game on a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Tony Jones Jr. and Kendre Miller are expected to be the running backs on Sunday.

The team also announced that cornerback Paulson Adebo (hamstring) and tight end Foster Moreau (ankle) have been downgraded to out for Sunday’s game. Safety Johnathan Abram and defensive back Cameron Dantzler Sr. were elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.

September 23, 2023

Dolphins rule out WR Jaylen Waddle (concussion) vs. Broncos

The Miami Dolphins on Saturday downgraded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to out because of a concussion for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Waddle was listed as questionable and was able to practice Friday in a limited capacity. He was in concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit during the 24-17 win Sunday night over New England. Patriots rookie safety Marte Mapu was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.

The Dolphins (2-0) elevated wide receiver Robbie Chosen and linebacker Cameron Goode on Saturday from the practice squad to the active roster for the game against the Broncos (0-2).

Waddle, 24, has eight catches for 164 yards through two games. He has 187 receptions for 2,535 yards and 14 scores in 35 games (all starts) since Miami drafted him with the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama.

Chosen, 30, signed with Miami in April and spent the first two games on the practice squad. The former Robbie Anderson has played seven seasons with the New York Jets (2016-19), Carolina Panthers (2020-22) and Arizona Cardinals (2022). He has played in 111 games (86 starts), making 375 receptions for 4,956 yards and 29 touchdowns.

The Dolphins selected Goode, 25, in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of California. He played in the first two games this season.

September 23, 2023

Report: Saints sign DE Carl Granderson to 4-year extension

The New Orleans Saints are signing defensive end Carl Granderson to a four-year, $52 million extension, ESPN reported.

The contract includes $35.3 million in guaranteed money for the undrafted fifth-year player, per Saturday’s report.

Granderson, 26, has recorded 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits through the first two games this season.

He has 108 tackles, 17 sacks, 34 QB hits and four forced fumbles in 56 career games (nine starts) with the Saints.

September 23, 2023

Texans rule out Laremy Tunsil vs. Jags, put Derek Stingley Jr. on IR

The Houston Texans ruled out left tackle Laremy Tunsil for Sunday’s game against the host Jacksonville Jaguars and placed cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on injured reserve.

The Texans announced Saturday that Tunsil would not travel to Jacksonville with the team.

Signed to a three-year, $75 million contract in March, Tunsil has started one game this season for Houston.

Tunsil, 29, earned his third Pro Bowl selection in 2022 and started all 17 games. He has 95 starts in seven seasons with the Texans and the Miami Dolphins (2016-18), who drafted him 13th overall in 2016.

Stingley, who sustained a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s practice, will miss the team’s next four games.

Stingley, 22, has made nine tackles and allowed four catches for 37 yards and no touchdowns on six targets this season.

The 2022 first-round pick (third overall) made nine starts as a rookie and posted 43 tackles, one interception and one sack without giving up a touchdown. He sustained a season-ending leg injury in Week 10.

Also on Saturday, the Texans signed safety DeAndre Houston-Carson to the active roster from the practice squad. Houston also elevated defensive tackle Khalil Davis and offensive tackle Austin Deculus from the practice squad.

September 23, 2023

Jets downgrade LT Duane Brown to out vs. Patriots

The New York Jets downgraded left tackle Duane Brown to out for Sunday’s game against New England.

Brown missed practice all week with hip and shoulder issues as the Jets (1-1) prepared to host the Patriots (0-2).

Brown, 38, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection with 217 career starts across 16 seasons with three teams.

Billy Turner is expected to take over Brown’s responsibilities protecting quarterback Zach Wilson’s blind side.

Backup guard Wes Schweitzer (concussion) and starting safety Tony Adams (hamstring) were also ruled out.

Defensive end John Franklin-Myers (hip) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (groin) are questionable for the AFC East clash.

September 23, 2023

Patriots downgrade CB Jonathan Jones to out vs. Jets

The New England Patriots downgraded cornerback Jonathan Jones and rookie offensive lineman Sidy Sow to out for Sunday’s game against the host New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J.

Jones (ankle) and Sow (concussion) initially were listed as questionable to face the Jets (1-1).

The Patriots (0-2) will be without three of their top four cornerbacks. Both Jack Jones and Marcus Jones previously were placed on injured reserve.

Jonathan Jones, 30, had one tackle and one pass deflection in New England’s 25-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 10 before sitting out in Week 2. He has 331 tackles, 11 interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 102 career games (44 starts) with the Patriots.

Sow, 25, was a fourth-round pick of New England in April. He started the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Eagles.

September 23, 2023

Reports: QB A.J. McCarron working out for Bengals

Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron worked out for his former team Saturday, multiple outlets reported.

McCarron, 33, was a fifth-round pick by Cincinnati in 2014 and as with the Bengals through 2017.

The Bengals could add him as further insurance with Joe Burrow dealing with a calf injury leading into Monday night’s home date with the Los Angeles Rams.

Cincinnati signed quarterback Reid Sinnett to the practice squad on Friday after losing Will Grier off the practice squad to the New England Patriots.

Backup Jake Browning could make his first NFL start Monday if Burrow can’t go.

McCarron last played in an NFL game with the Houston Texans in 2020. Playing for the St. Louis BattleHawks, the former Alabama star led the XFL with 24 touchdown passes during the 2023 season.

McCarron is 2-2 as a starter in the NFL, throwing for 1,173 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions in 17 appearances with the Bengals (2015-17), then-Oakland Raiders (2018) and Texans (2019-20).

September 23, 2023

Commanders WR Curtis Samuel, S Kamren Curl to play vs. Bills

Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel and safety Kamren Curl are expected to play in the team’s home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Landover, Md.

Samuel (hip/illness) and Curl (illness) both missed practice on Friday and were listed as questionable to face the Bills (1-1). On Saturday, the Commanders (2-0) upgraded both players.

Samuel, 27, has recorded eight catches for 73 yards to go along with two carries for 19 yards in two games for Washington.

Curl, 24, has totaled 19 tackles and one pass defensed in two games this season.

September 23, 2023

Report: Colts releasing RB Deon Jackson

The Indianapolis Colts are releasing Week 1 starter Deon Jackson and signing fellow running back Trey Sermon from the practice squad, NFL Network reported Saturday.

Jackson rushed for just 14 yards on 13 carries and gained only 14 yards on five receptions in the season-opening 31-21 loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 10.

Zack Moss got the start in Week 2 at Houston and gained 107 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches and scored on an 11-yard run in the Colts’ 31-20 victory.

With 2021 NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor still on the physically unable to perform list, Moss will remain the RB1 for the Colts (1-1) in Sunday’s game in Baltimore against the Ravens (2-0).

Jackson, 24, rushed for 281 yards and two touchdowns and caught 35 passes for 223 yards and one score in 27 games (three starts) over the last three seasons in Indianapolis. He was undrafted out of Duke in 2021.

Sermon, 24, was a third-round pick by San Francisco in 2021. He has rushed for 186 yards and one TD and has three receptions for 26 yards in 11 games (two starts) with the 49ers (2021) and Philadelphia Eagles (2022).