LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[September 07, 2016] Sept 6 (The Sports Xchange) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick enters the regular season as a backup but his No. 7 jersey has been the top seller on NFLShop.com, according to NFL.com.

Kaepernick's silent protests during the national anthem during preseason games have brought him headlines across the nation.

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The Minnesota Vikings released their first official depth chart for the regular season, and Shaun Hill is listed as the first-team quarterback with Sam Bradford listed on the second team.

It appears Hill, and not Bradford, will be the Vikings starting quarterback when they open the season on the road against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

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Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is slated to undergo major knee surgery on Thursday.

ESPN reported Bridgewater will undergo the operation to repair the ACL in the left knee that he also dislocated on Aug. 30 during practice. He will be sidelined all of this season and his availability for the 2017 campaign will be determined at a later time.

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Quarterback Jared Goff, the first overall pick in this year's draft, will be inactive for the Los Angeles Rams' season-opening game versus the NFC West-rival San Francisco 49ers, coach Jeff Fisher announced.

Quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start Monday's contest against the 49ers and Sean Mannion will serve as his backup. Punter Johnny Hekker will be the team's emergency third-string quarterback, Fisher told the NFL Network.

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The New England Patriots acquired cornerback Eric Rowe from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for offensive lineman Josh Kline and a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft choice.

However, Kline could again be on the move. ESPN reported the Eagles are in "deep discussions" to trade him to another team.

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Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott will not face charges in conjunction with the multiple domestic violence allegations made by his former girlfriend.

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"After reviewing the totality of the evidence, the City Attorney's Office, Prosecutor Division is declining to approve criminal charges in this matter for any of the alleged incidents," the City Attorney's Office wrote in a release Tuesday.

Despite having the charges dropped, Elliott could still face punishment from the NFL.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and waived wide receiver Evan Spencer.

Shorts, who was released by Houston on Saturday, reeled in 42 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with the Texans last season.

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The Buffalo Bills signed return specialist Brandon Tate less than a week after the 28-year-old receiver was released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tate played five seasons with the Bengals and is the franchise's all-time leader with 1,415 punt-return yards. He also ranks second in kickoff return yardage with 3,517.

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The 49ers announced the signing of outside linebacker Tank Carradine to a one-year extension.

Carradine, 26, was scheduled for free agency after the season but the extension, which includes a $1.25 million signing bonus, keeps him with the 49ers through the 2017 campaign.

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The New Orleans Saints released veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan and kicker Kai Forbath, according to multiple reports.

Pro Football Talk also reported that rookie kicker Wil Lutz was signed to New Orleans' 53-man roster. Lutz had been signed by Baltimore and released at the end of last month. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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