LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[August 29, 2016] Aug 28 (The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Sunday that quarterback Tony Romo will wear a back brace during his recovery time from the compression fracture in his vertebra.

Romo is expected to be sidelined anywhere from six to 10 weeks after he suffered the L1 compression fracture during Thursday night's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.

"We've gotten a lot of different timetables for when he can return," Garrett told reporters Sunday.

"We also know that he's played with a broken bone in his back before, so there's no reason for me to stand up here and put a timetable on this. I think a lot of other people outside of this building have suggested they know what the timetable is. That's not the world we live in. We live in the world day by day, do what you can to get yourself better and we'll update you as we go."

Romo's fracture was diagnosed on Friday after he had an MRI exam.

Garrett said Romo's rehab will consist of rest and immobility but the coach refused to rule him out for the Sept. 11 season opener against the New York Giants.

The 36-year-old Romo underwent a pair of back surgeries in 2013 and he missed most of last season with a twice-broken left collarbone. Garrett said the injury is not related to the surgeries Romo had in 2013.

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Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry reported to the team's facility and signed his one-year franchise tender worth about $10.806 million.

Berry, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and the Chiefs couldn't come to an agreement on terms on a multi-year contract before the July 15 deadline. That left Berry with no other option but to sign the Chiefs' one-year offer if he wanted play this season.

Reid expects Berry to be available for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the San Diego Chargers.

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The Atlanta Falcons signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson to bolster the depth in their secondary.

Goldson, 31, worked out for the team on Saturday after the Falcons learned they will be without rookie starting strong safety Keanu Neal, their 2016 first-round pick, for at least the first two regular-season games with a right knee injury. Neal is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on Monday.

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The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent running back Stevan Ridley.

The Colts are searching for a backup behind starter Frank Gore. Ridley was released by the Detroit Lions last week.

Meanwhile, the Colts trimmed their roster prior to Tuesday's league-mandated deadline of 75 players, including waiving offensive guard Eric Herman. The Colts also waived wide receiver Justin Berger, safety Alden Darby, defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin, tight end Mike Miller, running back Chase Price, cornerback Winston Rose, defensive end Delvon Simmons, wide receiver Josh Stangby and inside linebacker Junior Sylvestre.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers cut their roster to 79 players, including placing fourth-round rookie offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins on injured reserve.

Hawkins injured his shoulder a few weeks ago and tried to rehab it unsuccessfully. He will sit out the season. Hawkins was a three-year starter at right and left tackle for LSU.

The Steelers also waived/injured quarterback Dustin Vaughan on Sunday. Vaughan broke a bone in his right thumb in the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In addition, the team released linebackers Jordan Zumwalt and Mike Reilly, wide receivers Issac Blakeney and Levi Norwood, tight end Michael Cooper, defensive end Giorgio Newberry, defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith and cornerback Julian Whigham.

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The Carolina Panthers waived wide receiver Stephen Hill and 10 other players.

Hill, a former second-round pick of the New York Jets, was attempting to make the team after recovering from a serious knee injury that sidelined him all of last season.

The Panthers also released recently signed offensive tackle Willie Smith, who has played in 29 games (11 starts) with the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

Carolina also waived linebacker Jared Barber, receiver Avius Capers, tight end Braxton Deaver, center Reese Dismukes, defensive tackle Ray Drew, offensive tackle David Foucault, defensive end Tom Lally, center Matt Masifilo and receiver Miles Shuler.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived last year's punter Jacob Schum and released veteran safety Major Wright.

The Bucs also waived defensive tackle Travis Britz, cornerback Daniel Davie, wide receiver Andre Davis, offensive lineman Taylor Fallin, linebacker Jeremiah George, defensive end Martin Ifedi, running back Storm Johnson, defensive tackle Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, safety Kimario McFadden and tight end Tevin Westbrook.

Bryan Anger appears to be the team's punter in 2016. The Bucs signed him to a one-year deal during the offseason.

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The Buffalo Bills added a fourth quarterback to the roster, signing Austin Trainor.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Trainor, undrafted out of West Georgia in 2015, will be making his second stint with the Bills after participating with the team on a tryout basis during the 2015 rookie minicamp. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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