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 [September 13, 2017]
The Sports Xchange
09/13/2017 NFL Note - Los Angeles Rams Hekker, Johnny
P Johnny Hekker signed a two-year contract extension, the Rams
announced. Hekker, who initially signed a six-year extension in
2014, will remain with the team through the 2022 season. The deal
gives the 27-year-old $10 million guaranteed, the most ever for a
punter, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Strief, Zach
RT Zach Strief is expected to be sidelined a few weeks after
sustaining an MCL sprain in his left knee during Monday's 29-19 loss
to the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports. An MCL
sprain typically is a four-week injury, which means Strief could be
sidelined through the team's Week 5 bye.
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NFL Note - Detroit Lions Locke, Jeff
P Jeff Locke signed with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday.
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NFL Note - Arizona Cardinals Foster, D.J.
RB D.J. Foster was signed by the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday off
the New England Patriots' practice squad.
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NFL Note - Arizona Cardinals John, Ulrick
OT Ulrick John was released by the Arisona Cardinals on Tuesday.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Newman, Terence
CB Terence Newman, a starter the past two seasons, moved inside to
nickel back and handled the bulk of the nickel reps. The 39-year-old
stepped up when second-year pro Mackensie Alexander showed that he
wasn't ready for the job on a full-time basis. Alexander got some
reps in the slot as the Vikings continue to nurture him.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Forbath, Kai
K Kai Forbath missed a PAT for the fourth time in eight games as a
Viking. But he also made all three field-goal attempts, including a
45-yarder that made it a three-score game with four minutes left.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Quigley, Ryan
P Ryan Quigley's first punt as a Viking was perfect. He crushed a
towering 52-yarder that was so high, gunner Jayron Kearse had to
wait for it to return to earth before tackling returner Ted Ginn Jr.
for no gain.
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NFL Note - Cincinnati Bengals Bernard, Giovani
RB Giovani Bernard played his first regular-season game on Sunday
since tearing his ACL in Week 10 last season. "Gio fought to get
back out there and be here for the opener, that was big for him,"
said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "We need the passion and
energy he plays with." Bernard had 40 yards on seven carries and two
catches for 39 yards on Sunday.
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NFL Note - Cincinnati Bengals Vigil, *Nick
LB Nick Vigil made his first NFL start on Sunday and finished with
five tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup in Sunday's loss.
"His first time being a starting NFL linebacker, did a good job
throughout the football game," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis.
Vigil played in all 16 games last season.
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NFL Note - Arizona Cardinals Johnson, David
RB David Johnson (wrist) was placed on injured reserve with a
designation to return. He is expected to miss 2-3 months.
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NFL Note - Arizona Cardinals Johnson, Chris
RB Chris Johnson was signed by the Cardinals to help fill the void
left by Davis Johnson's injury just 10 days after he was released.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection played in just four games for
Arizona last season due to a groin injury. He collected 95 yards on
25 carries.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Elflein, Pat
C Pat Elflein, a third-round pick, became the first rookie to start
at center in a season opener since Hall of Famer Mike Tingelhoff in
1962. The Vikings also started two rookies on offense for the first
time since 1963. Dalvin Cook was the other one. On defense, rookie
outside linebacker Ben Gedeon started.
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NFL Note - Minnesota Vikings Bradford, Sam
QB Sam Bradford's 84.4 completion percentage was the highest by a
Vikings quarterback in a season opener. The previous record was 80.0
by Joe Kapp in 1968.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Fleener, Coby
TE Coby Fleener was one of the few bright spots for New Orleans.
Fleener, who had a disappointing first season with the Saints after
signing as a free agent from Indianapolis in 2016, caught a
team-high five passes for 54 yards and scored the Saints' only
touchdown.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Anzalone, *Alex
LB Alex Anzalone started at weak-side linebacker ahead of Craig
Robertson, the Saints' leading tackler last season. Anzalone is a
rookie third-round draft choice from Florida.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Lutz, Wil
K Wil Lutz provided all of the scoring for the Saints until late in
the fourth quarter as he made all four of his field-goal attempts.
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NFL Note - New Orleans Saints Williams, *Marcus
SS Marcus Williams also got a start in his first NFL game. He is a
second-round draft choice from Utah.
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NFL Note - Philadelphia Eagles Elliott, Jake
K Jake Elliott will be signed by the Philadelphia Eagles off the
Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad to replace fellow kicker Caleb
Sturgis, according to the NFL Network. Elliott, who lost a
competition to Randy Bullock this summer, was selected by Cincinnati
with a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft. He made 21 of 26 field
goal attempts last season with Memphis, including two of three from
outside of 50 yards.
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NFL Note - Philadelphia Eagles Sturgis, Caleb
K Caleb Sturgis will be placed on injured reserve/designation to
return after the kicker sustained a hip flexor injury in
Philadelphia's season-opening 30-17 victory over the Washington
Redskins on Sunday. Sturgis was injured early in Sunday's win but
was able to stay in the game. After the contest, coach Doug Pederson
said it was why the Eagles went for a two-point conversion following
their last touchdown. Sturgis converted field goals of 50, 42 and 37
yards in Sunday's game.
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Watt, J.J.
DE J.J. Watt is dealing with a broken finger but plans to play
Thursday at Cincinnati.
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NFL Note - Detroit Lions Redfern, Kasey
P Kasey Redfern was placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL,
MCL and part of the patellar tendon in his kicking leg in Sunday's
season-opening 35-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
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NFL Note - Detroit Lions Cleary, Emmett
OT Emmett Cleary was signed by the Detroit Lions on Tuesday. Cleary
finished last season with the Dallas Cowboys and was in camp with
the team this year.
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NFL Note - Detroit Lions Robinson, Corey
OT Corey Robinson was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Robinson was inactive Sunday and spent the entire preseason on the
physically unable to perform list.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Wolfe, Derek
DE Derek Wolfe played for the first time since suffering a sprained
ankle Aug. 12, but said he felt winded after the game because he
wasn't all the way back in terms of conditioning. Wolfe briefly left
Monday's game because of a cramp, but returned one series later.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Stewart, Darian
S Darian Stewart did not play late in the fourth quarter because of
a groin injury, but expects to play next Sunday against the Cowboys.
Rookie Jamal Carter saw additional playing time while Stewart was
sidelined.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Anderson, C.J.
RB C.J. Anderson led the Broncos with 81 yards on 20 carries Monday
night. Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said he wants Anderson to
continue to be the "bell cow" among their running backs.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Kerr, Zach
DE Zach Kerr could return to practice this week after missing the
Chargers game because of a knee bruise. His status for the Cowboys
game remains up in the air.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Langley, Brendan
CB Brendan Langley is being evaluated after suffering a knee injury
in the second half Monday. Langley worked on special teams during
the regular-season opener. He walked off the field under his own
power after being injured.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Barrett, Shaquil
OLB Shaquil Barrett started and recorded a sack Monday, but Broncos
head coach Vance Joseph said Barrett "probably played too many
snaps" in his return from an offseason hip injury. Barrett would be
relieved by Kasim Edebali in spots if the Broncos watch his
repetitions carefully next weekend.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos Fowler, Bennie
WR Bennie Fowler's two touchdowns Monday night matched his season
total for last year.
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NFL Note - Denver Broncos McManus, Brandon
K Brandon McManus signed a three-year contract extension Monday that
will keep him on the team through 2020. McManus is the most accurate
kicker in Broncos history and has also ranked in the league's top 10
in kickoff touchback percentage for three consecutive years.
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NFL Note - Los Angeles Chargers Wiggins, Kenny
RG Kenny Wiggins suffered a sprained ankle during the game. But head
coach Anthony Lynn was upbeat about Wiggins' availability on Sunday.
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NFL Note - Los Angeles Chargers Hayward, Casey
CB Casey Hayward led the NFL with seven interceptions last year.
This year, he's starting in the opposite direction. He had one
potential pick-six slip through his hands and he got beat on several
big plays as well.
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NFL Note - Los Angeles Chargers Henry, *Hunter
TE Hunter Henry is expected to play a big part in the offense. But
he wasn't targeted in the opener.
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Fiedorowicz, C.J.
Texans starting tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz was placed on injured
reserve Tuesday in the wake of suffering a pair of concussions
during the past few weeks.
The concern with Fiedorowicz surrounded how he sustained two
concussions during a short span of time with his latest happening
during a 29-7 loss Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Under NFL rules governing injured reserve, Fiedorowicz can be
designated to return. He's eligible to return to practice in six
weeks and can play again after spending eight weeks on injured
reserve.
Fiedorowicz had a concussion in the preseason, but passed the
mandatory baseline neurological exam before being cleared to play in
the season opener.
Fiedorowicz recently signed a three-year, $21.5 million contract
extension that included $10 million guaranteed.
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Baylis, Evan
Rookie TE Evan Baylis is expected to be signed from the practice
squad after C.J. Fiedorowicz was placed on reserve/injured Tuesday.
Baylis is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound undrafted free agent from Oregon.
"He did some good things," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said.
"He's a smart kid, caught the ball well, worked very hard. He's a
little bit light, but he blocked OK for what we asked him to do. So,
I think he's a promising young guy."
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Allen, Jeff
Starting RG Jeff Allen will miss the game against the Bengals due to
an ankle injury. Allen could miss as many as a few games due to the
severity of the injury sustained Sunday, according to sources not
authorized to speak publicly.
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Mancz, Greg
G Greg Mancz will start at guard opposite Xavier Su'a-Filo Thursday
night with jeff Allen sidelined. Mancz is a gritty former undrafted
free agent from Toledo who performed capably last season as an
18-game starter at center when Nick Martin was ruled out for the
year with an ankle injury. Mancz replaced Su'a-Filo at left guard
Sunday, and moved to right guard when Allen got hurt.
"He's a very bright guy," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said of
Mancz. "He can play all three inside spots. He's a really tough guy.
He's come back from a lot of different injuries. He's played through
injuries. There's a lot that I like about Greg."
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Strong, Jaelen
WR Jaelen Strong was gratified to be back in his routine. Strong
served a one-game suspension last week, a punishment stemming from a
violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy.
"I'm just happy to be back, glad to be back with my teammates," said
Strong, whose suspension cost him a $40,294 game check from his
$685,000 base salary. "It was a long week, but I'm glad to be back
and glad to be back at work."
The Texans need a boost at wide receiver. DeAndre Hopkins was the
only Texans wide receiver to catch a pass Sunday.
Strong remained in Houston during his suspension, working out with
local trainer Leo Johnson.
"It was hard not being here the whole week, but that's in the past,"
Strong said. "It's time to move forward and go to work with my
guys."
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Foreman, *D'Onta
RB D'Onta Foreman isn't accustomed to watching and waiting for his
turn. The Texans' rookie running back did plenty of that, though, in
his first NFL game Sunday. Foreman was limited to one carry for four
yards.
Now, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Foreman will have an
increased workload going forward.
"In college, I was the guy and was able to carry the ball a lot of
the time," Foreman said. "I feel like I'm a good player. I feel like
I can contribute and help the team out. Whatever they ask me to do,
I'm ready to do it. It's a great feeling."
A Doak Walker award winner and third-round draft pick from Texas,
Foreman led the nation with 2,028 rushing yards last season. The
Texas City native averaged 184.4 yards per contest before declaring
early for the draft.
Foreman said he's 100 percent now after dealing with a groin injury
during the preseason.
"I'm always ready," Foreman said. "Whatever they need me to do."
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Watt, J.J.
DE J.J. Watt can take comfort in some small things after an ugly
loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars to open the season. For instance,
the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year's dislocated finger
remains intact along with his sense of humor.
"Better, it's inside my body," Watt said. "That's all that matters.
It's still attached."
Watt was limited to one tackle and one quarterback pressure in his
first game back since undergoing a pair of back surgeries last
season. Watt can't wait for the Texans' next game Thursday night at
Paul Brown Stadium.
"We're looking forward to going out there and playing a game," Watt
said. "You just want to get back out there and put a good
performance together so you can get this taste out of your mouth."
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Blue, Alfred
RB Alfred Blue (high ankle sprain) will miss his second consecutive
game.
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NFL Note - Houston Texans Fuller, Will
WR Will Fuller (broken collarbone) will miss his second game in a
row.
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