NFL notebook: Redskins rookie RB Guice to miss season

[August 11, 2018] 

Washington Redskins rookie running back Derrius Guice will miss the season with what the team called an "ACL injury," the club announced Friday. Several media reports said Guice tore the ACL in his left knee.

The Redskins additionally announced that tight end Manasseh Garner also suffered an ACL injury.

Initial reports Thursday night and Friday morning were that the team believed Guice sustained only a sprained MCL, which likely would have meant some missed time but not the season. Before heading to the locker room Thursday, Guice had carried the ball six times for 19 yards and was seen later smiling in the locker room and saying, "All is well."

The former LSU star was taken in the second round, 59th overall, of the NFL draft in April. In three years at LSU, Guice had 503 offensive touches for 3,324 yards (6.6-yard average) and 32 scores. Penn State's Saquon Barkley, the first running back selected this year, had 773 touches for 5,038 (6.5 average) and 51 scores over the same span.

-- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, 41, is reportedly dealing with a minor back injury. In typical Patriots fashion, coach Bill Belichick did not address the injury.

"No, sorry, I don't" was Belichick's response to the question of whether he had an update on Brady's back.

New England leaned heavily on its running game in its first preseason game against Washington, with rookie Danny Etling splitting reps at quarterback with veteran Brian Hoyer.

--The San Francisco 49ers received relatively good news on three starters who went down with injuries in their preseason opener. Linebacker Malcolm Smith returned to the sideline with an injured hamstring, while defensive end Solomon Thomas (head) and tight end George Kittle (shoulder) went back to the locker room in the first quarter for observation.

All are expected to be available for Week 1 of the regular season, according to coach Kyle Shanahan.

Backup running back Matt Breida also suffered a first-quarter shoulder injury. He and Kittle will miss the remainder of the preseason.

--Indianapolis Colts rookie receiver Deon Cain will miss the season after tearing the ACL in his knee during Thursday's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters Cain suffered the injury while running a vertical route and then tried to stop and come back toward the ball. Cain, a sixth-round draft pick from Clemson, had been enjoying a strong training camp.

Running backs Marlon Mack (hamstring) and Robert Turbin (ankle) also were injured. Both are listed as week to week.

Jul 28, 2018; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins running back Derrius Guice (29) carries the ball during drills on day three of Redskins training camp at Washington Redskins Bon Secours Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

--Defensive end Khalil Mack will be fined $814,000 as a result of not reporting before the Oakland Raiders' preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The fine schedule is dictated by the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Raiders' officials consistently said they plan to re-sign Mack to a long-term deal as he enters the final year of his contract, but there have been no indications of progress, and Mack skipped all of the Raiders' offseason workouts before failing to report to training camp in late July.

Mack, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, will make $13.85 million this season in the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, after he earned $18.7 million through his first four seasons. He is seeking to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, but there has been speculation that the Raiders financially are unable to meet his demands.

--One football from the Thursday preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Eagles in Philadelphia was found to be defective and under-inflated in the second half, the NFL said.

"All footballs were in compliance with NFL rules following the pregame inspection process and all proper procedures were followed," Michael Signora, NFL vice president of football communications, said in a statement. "In the third quarter, a football that was found to be defective was removed from play, will be sent back to Wilson for review."

Pittsburgh beat the Eagles 31-14 in the preseason opener for both teams and during the broadcast, Eagles sideline reporter Howard Eskin reported one ball appeared to be severely deflated and looked "like a marshmallow."

--Field Level Media

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