National Football League roundup

[May 02, 2017]  May 1 (The Sports Xchange) - The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Blake Bortles' contract for the 2018 season on Monday as the team is hoping he has a rebound season.

Bortles, the Jaguars' first-round selection (third overall) in 2014, would make approximately $20 million -- the average of the top 10 highest-paid quarterbacks -- in the last season of his rookie deal.

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The Minnesota Vikings informed injured quarterback Teddy Bridgewater that the team will not pick up the fifth-year option on his contract for the 2018 season.

Bridgewater, who dislocated his left knee and tore the ACL during a late August practice, is rehabbing and trying to make it back from the catastrophic injury. He has been participating in voluntary conditioning work with teammates.

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Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill was suspended for the first two games of the 2017 regular season for violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse.

Hill will miss the first two games of the regular season but will be able to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. He is eligible to return for the Week 3 matchup against the Washington Redskins.

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Christine Michael became expendable Saturday when the Green Bay Packers added three running backs on the final day of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Michael and running back Don Jackson, who opened last season on the practice squad but elevated to the active roster due to a slew of injuries, were let go by the Packers.

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The Kansas City Chiefs picked up the fifth-year option of outside linebacker Dee Ford's contract for the 2018 season.

Ford, 26, was the team's first-round pick (23rd overall) in 2014.

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The San Francisco 49ers exercised the fifth-year option on defensive back Jimmie Ward for the 2018 season, the team announced.

The 49ers originally selected Ward in the first round (30th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.

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The Miami Dolphins plan to pick up the fifth-year option on offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James' rookie deal.

The Miami Herald reported the Dolphins made the decision on James to keep him with the team through the 2018 season.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers released quarterback Zach Mettenberger after drafting Joshua Dobbs in the fourth round during the weekend.

Mettenberger, a sixth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2014 out of LSU, has been cut by three NFL teams. He was claimed by Pittsburgh via waivers in August after he spent part of last offseason with the San Diego Chargers.

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The Indianapolis Colts released 10 players, including long snapper Matt Overton.

Overton, 31, was with the Colts for five seasons (2012-16) and made the Pro Bowl in 2013. He appeared in all 86 regular-season and postseason games of his five-year career.

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