LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[September 12, 2016] Sept 11 (The Sports Xchange) - San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen left the field at Arrowhead Stadium on a cart after suffering a knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chargers announced Allen would not return to the game and the NFL Network reported that San Diego fears that Allen suffered a torn ACL in his right knee based on initial diagnosis.

Allen caught six passes for 63 yards in the first half when he went down with 1:53 left to play before halftime.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton absorbed multiple hits to the head in the season-opening loss at Denver, and Broncos' players said in the aftermath of Thursday's game that hitting the reigning MVP was key to the game plan.

Now the NFL and NFL Players Association are investigating the response by medical personnel during the game.

One specific hit -- helmet-to-helmet contact initiated by Broncos safety Darian Stewart -- prompted the compliance investigation.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he is 100 percent certain he got it right in his handling of Deflategate and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension.

Goodell was interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer that aired during the Today show on Sunday.

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me as the commissioner of the NFL that you feel 100 percent certain that you got this right?" Lauer asked.

"Yes," Goodell answered, "because we went through a very exhausting process with this. We had an independent investigation. We had a federal judge who ruled against it. It went to an appellate court. The appellate court at that point in time said, 'Listen, there is compelling if not overwhelming evidence here.'

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During the playing of the national anthem before the start of the Kansas City-San Diego game at Arrowhead Stadium, all Chiefs players, coaches and staff stood for the national anthem and locked arms.

When the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins gathered on their sideline three hours later at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the Seahawks locked arms and stood for the performance.

Cornerback Jeremy Lane knelt for the anthem during Seattle's final preseason game. Several prominent defensive players for the Seahawks foreshadowed the show of unity before the opener.

Four players knelt for the anthem on Miami's sideline, including running back Arian Foster.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Ivory was admitted to the hospital Sunday morning with what the team is describing as a general medical issue and won't play against the Green Bay Packers.

According to the team, Ivory is doing well and is expected to be released from the hospital in the next day or two. No additional details were immediately available on Ivory's condition.

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Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing suffered a right knee injury on the first defensive series and did not return in Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears.

Cushing, who played just 12 games total over the 2012 and 2013 seasons following significant knee injuries, was examined by team physicians before departing for the locker room early in the first quarter.

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Buffalo Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn left the game with an ankle injury Sunday and did not return.

Buffalo's highest-paid blocker, Glenn also missed more than three weeks of practice with an ankle sprain. It was unclear if the latest injury is related to that setback. Glenn has started 61 games over the last four seasons and the Bills are relying on his experience.

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Cyrus Kouandjio, second on the depth chart, took over at left tackle.

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Tampa Bay Bucs reserve defensive end Jacquies Smith was carted off the field in the first quarter of the opener against the Atlanta Falcons after injuring his right knee.

The third-year veteran from Missouri, who backs up William Gholston, was hurt on a punt.

The Falcons lost starting defensive end Brook Reed when he injured a shoulder later in the first quarter.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas underwent an MRI on the hip he injured in Thursday night's opener and the results will be sent for a second opinion, according to a report by ESPN.

There is concern within the Broncos organization that Thomas could miss some time. The Broncos next play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 18, then have road games at Cincinnati and Tampa Bay.

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Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, who was out for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, reportedly has a small fracture in his left hip.

A source told ESPN that the three-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to undergo a CT scan this week and could miss another week or two depending on the results of the test.

The 27-year-old Pouncey had surgery on the right side of his hip during the offseason.

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Chicago Bears Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long will be playing this season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, a source told ESPN.

Long, who signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension this past week, tore his labrum last month and was limited in practice this past week

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Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry was in the starting lineup for the Chiefs when they hosted the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Berry missed all the offseason work and all but the last three days of the preseason due to contract considerations with his status as Kansas City's designated franchise player. He reported two weeks ago and was activated from the NFL exempt list on Saturday.

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New Orleans Saints running back C.J. Spiller was a surprise inactive for the season opener against the Oakland Raiders.

Spiller was not listed on the team's injury report. His status was not injury-related, according to reports.

Spiller is in the second year of a four-year deal he signed with the Saints as a free agent last year.

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New York Giants linebacker J.T. Thomas suffered a sprained knee late in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Thomas was carted off the field and taken to the locker room and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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