NFL-National Football League roundup

 


Sept 23 (The Sports Xchange) - Reports that New England Patriots third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb and likely would need surgery may have been premature.

Brissett was injured in Thursday's 27-0 victory over the Houston Texans, but multiple media outlets reported that the diagnosis is not as bad as initially feared.

CSNNE.com reported that Brissett did not sustain a complete tear of the ligament and thus would not require surgery. ESPN also updated its own report, citing a source that said: "No tear, it's fine."

New England does not play again until Oct. 2 against the Buffalo Bills.

A third-string draft pick out of North Carolina State this year, Brissett was pressed into action when backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a grade 2 AC sprain in his throwing shoulder in Sunday's Week 2 win over Miami.

Starting quarterback Tom Brady is serving a four-game suspension and is eligible to return in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.

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Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within hours of being released from jail on Friday.

Seferian-Jenkins, 23, was arrested early Friday morning and charged with driving under the influence.

"We are very disappointed in today's news," Bucs general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. "After careful consideration, we felt this was the right decision at this time."

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed rookie linebacker Devante Bond on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and re-signed linebacker Josh Keyes on Friday.

Bond, a sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma by the Bucs in the 2016 NFL Draft, hurt his hamstring earlier this year and was ruled out of the first two games this season.

Keyes played in two games on special teams for Tampa Bay this season before being waived Wednesday.

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Josh McCown played the final three quarters of Cleveland's Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a broken collarbone.

The Browns, who list the veteran quarterback as week-to-week, confirmed the injury Friday.

The 37-year-old was in the Week 2 starting lineup after Robert Griffin III was injured in Week 1 and placed on injured reserve. McCown has started games for the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Browns the past four seasons.

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Running back Adrian Peterson might not miss the rest of the 2016 season, but he won't play until at least Week 11 after the Minnesota Vikings placed him on injured reserve Friday.

Peterson had surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on Thursday, four days after leaving Minnesota's home opener against the Green Bay Packers with a knee injury.

Minnesota is planning to split carries between Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata in Week 3 at Carolina.

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Minnesota Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.

The surgery comes one day after defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee.

The Vikings placed Kalil, who has started all 66 games during his NFL career, on injured reserve Wednesday.

Floyd, the Vikings' first-round pick in 2013, has 95 tackles and 9.5 sacks in 43 career games.

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Third overall pick Joey Bosa's NFL debut won't happen in Week 3.

The San Diego Chargers ruled out their rookie top pick for the third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury, which occurred as Bosa attempted to get up to speed for Week 1. He reported to camp following a protracted contract holdout.

San Diego said tight end Antonio Gates (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game at Indianapolis.

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Injuries could sideline both starting offensive tackles for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.

Left tackle Tyron Smith is questionable with a back injury. Right tackle Doug Free is also on the injury report with a quadriceps injury.

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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler did not practice Friday and is listed as doubtful to play Sunday night in Dallas against the Cowboys because of a sprained right thumb.

The 0-2 Bears will start journeyman quarterback Brian Hoyer against the Cowboys (1-1). Quarterback Matt Barkley was added to the Bears' 53-man roster on Thursday.

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Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka blasted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other players for kneeling during the national anthem prior to NFL games, saying "if they don't like the country, they don't like our flag, get the (heck) out."

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz and cornerback Leodis McKelvin were ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ertz and McKelvin also sat out last week's win against the Chicago Bears with injuries they suffered in the season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns