|
 General manager John Dorsey said Friday that Houston was ahead of
schedule in his rehab from ACL surgery in mid-February to repair his
left knee.
"I'm not a medical expert, but I can tell you Justin Houston will be
playing this season," Dorsey told reporters. "When is a good
(question). Not being a medical expert, I really can't definitively
tell you that answer. But our doctors have reassured us that he will
play this season."
A month ago, the Chiefs revealed that the sixth-year linebacker out
of Georgia had surgery to fix the anterior cruciate ligament.
Houston suffered a hyperextended left knee in Nov. 29 game against
the Buffalo Bills.
- - -
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said the team's goal is
to re-sign free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"Our focus has always been Ryan," Maccagnan said Friday at his
pre-draft news conference.
 "We like Ryan and that's (the contract) we're trying to facilitate.
... It'll work itself out."
Fitzpatrick and the Jets remain far apart on reaching a deal. The
Jets reportedly have offered Fitzpatrick between $7 million and $8
million per year and the veteran is thought to be seeking twice that
amount.
- - -
Veteran free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer completed his visit with
the Denver Broncos after talking to the New York Jets earlier in the
week.
According to Pro Football Talk, Hoyer's current plan is to head home
for a few days before talking some more with the Jets and Broncos.
Four or five other teams reportedly are interested in talking to the
30-year-old Hoyer.
Hoyer was released by Houston on Monday, becoming expendable when
the Texans signed Osweiler and Brandon Weeden this offseason.
- - -
The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team lined up for a chance to
visit with free agent cornerback Josh Norman.
Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said he has contacted
representatives for Norman, who became available on the open market
when the Carolina Panthers surprisingly rescinded his franchise tag
on Wednesday.
The All-Pro cornerback was scheduled to visit with the Washington
Redskins on Friday.
Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman pulled the plug when
contract negotiations fell apart and Norman found little interest
after the Panthers granted him permission to seek a trade. Gettleman
said Thursday at his pre-draft press conference that $13.9 million
was just too much, and that the Panthers came to that realization
through a series of staff meetings.
- - -
Cornerback Desmond Trufant will earn more than $8 million in 2017
after the Atlanta Falcons picked up his fifth-year option.
Trufant, the 22nd pick in the 2013 draft out of Washington, made his
first Pro Bowl in 2015 and has six career interceptions in 48 games.
[to top of second column] |
The younger brother of former Seattle Seahawks first-round pick
Marcus Trufant has started every game since entering the NFL and is
the Falcons' No. 1 cornerback.
- - -
The Los Angeles Rams, already making a splash with their move to Los
Angeles, acquired the No. 1 pick in next week's NFL Draft as a
"purely football" decision.
That's according to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who said the team
traded up based entirely on getting better on the field and not
building buzz around a new franchise.
The Rams are expected to draft a quarterback, either Cal's Jared
Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz.
Kroenke credits Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead
with making the call last week to acquire the top pick in a trade
- - -
The Philadelphia Eagles signed wide receiver T.J. Graham to a
one-year contract.
Graham, 26, tried out during the team's three-day minicamp this
week.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Graham was a third-round pick by the
Buffalo Bills in the 2012 draft out of North Carolina State. He has
61 catches for 794 yards and four touchdowns in 47 games over four
seasons with the Bills, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.
- - -
The New England Patriots announced that they signed linebacker Tony
Steward and long snapper Christian Yount.
- - -
The NFL and Canadian Football League announced the formation of a
joint officiating development program that includes NFL officials
working CFL games this summer.
Beginning this season, a group of NFL officials will have the
opportunity to work as part of CFL crews during preseason and
regular-season games in June and July, the leagues announced Friday.
The NFL officials will work CFL games prior to starting their NFL
season at the league's annual officiating clinic in late July.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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