Commanders defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. carted off the field with right quad injury vs. Packers The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Washington Commanders defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. was carted off the field with a right quadriceps injury midway through the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
Wise had gotten though the line of scrimmage and was attempting to block an extra-point attempt. Green Bay’s blockers fell backward and landed on the back of Wise’s leg.
Wise’s teammates surrounded him offered gestures of encouragement as he got onto the cart. Wise raised his right fist in the air as he was carted to the locker room. He was ruled out for the rest of the game.
The 31-year-old Wise is in his first year with the Commanders after spending eight seasons with the New England Patriots. He suited up Thursday after being listed as questionable with a knee issue.
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Injuries to Ekeler and Wise make this loss particularly painful for Commanders By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Washington Commanders may have lost more than a game Thursday night.
Running back Austin Ekeler hurt his right Achilles tendon on a non-contact play and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. was carted off the field with a quadriceps injury during the Commanders' 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
Now the Commanders wait to learn how much time these two veterans will miss. Commanders coach Dan Quinn had no immediate update on their conditions after the game.
“We’ll use the weekend to see where we’re at from the injuries,” Quinn said. “I don’t want to make a guess.”
Losing either player for a big chunk of the season could prove costly for the Commanders, who made a surprise appearance in the NFC championship game last season.
“It kind of takes the fight out of you a little bit," wide receiver Deebo Samuel said. "All the work that they put in all summer long, and just to see them go down, it kind of hurt. That’s the nature of this game. We pray it’s not as bad as we think it is.”
The 31-year-old Wise is in his first season with the Commanders after totaling 34 sacks with the New England Patriots from 2017-24.
Wise’s injury occured after he had gotten though the line of scrimmage and was attempting to block an extra-point attempt in the second quarter. Green Bay’s blockers fell backward and landed on the back of Wise’s leg.
“It’s tough," wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. "Two guys who are veterans for our team, and we lean on them a lot, not just for their play, but their leadership. To see both of them go down, especially Wise, you never want to see that. It just kind of puts in perspective the sport that we play. We’re just praying for him and Austin that they can make a speedy recovery.”
The potential loss of Ekeler is particularly concerning, considering how much Washington's offense struggled against Green Bay.
Ekeler's pass-catching ability out of the backfield makes him valuable. The 30-year-old Ekeler had 367 yards rushing and 366 yards receiving for the Commanders last season. He entered this season with over 4,700 career yards rushing and over 4,200 yards receiving.
“I’m obviously hoping and praying for the best for him," Commanders center Tyler Biadasz said. "We all know Ek and what he’s capable of doing. He’s a great back that we have, and, obviously, we want him out there full go.”
He was lining up wide and running upfield late in the fourth quarter Thursday when he suddenly fell to the turf. Ekeler was helped off the field without putting any weight on his right leg and sat on the bench for a few minutes before he was driven away.
“It’s definitely hard,” rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt said. "Very hard, actually. Austin, he’s one of the great leaders on this team, and I just learn a lot from him day by day.”
If Ekeler has to miss a significant length of time, the Commanders might need to lean more on Croskey-Merritt.
The Commanders drafted him in the seventh round after a college career that included stops at Alabama State, New Mexico and Arizona. He showed plenty of promise while rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening 21-6 victory over the New York Giants.
He wasn't quite as productive Thursday, gaining 17 yards on four carries. Then again, the entire offense had a tough night.
Washington was outgained 154-11 in the opening period, which represented its lowest first-quarter yardage total since mustering just 2 yards in the first 15 minutes of a 24-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that ended the 2018 season. The Commanders gained a total of 23 yards through their first three series and didn't reach the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Jayden Daniels threw for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he was sacked four times and faced pressure all night. Now he might have lost one of his most versatile weapons in Ekeler.
The Commanders remain hopeful they have enough talent.
“It’s early in the season,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t expect anybody in this locker room to hit a panic button.”
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No preseason was no problem for Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson didn’t play a snap in the preseason.
They didn’t need it.
Allen and Jackson were spectacular in their first game action of the season. Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead only to watch Allen rally the Buffalo Bills to a 41-40 victory.
So much for rust.
Allen was 33 of 46 for 394 yards with two touchdown passes and two more rushing. Jackson was 14 of 19 for 209 yards and two TDs plus 70 yards rushing and another score.
“It’s trusting, trusting our process, trusting our other 10 guys on the football field, trusting what Joe’s (offensive coordinator Joe Brady) calling, and really sticking to our fundamentals and how we worked during training camp, and really just trying to pick up where we left off from last year,” Allen said on the AP’s “On Football” podcast .
The reigning NFL MVP sat out the entire preseason for the first time in his career. But Allen was sharp against a tough defense. He had 251 of his passing yards in the fourth quarter.
Jackson, a two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro, hasn’t played in the preseason since 2021. He just steps on the field and dazzles whenever he gets an opportunity.
NFL coaches have to make difficult decisions each preseason, choosing whether to rest starters or put quarterbacks in harm’s way in meaningless games.
Green Bay’s Jordan Love injured his hand in an exhibition game but was ready to play in Week 1.
Sitting out doesn’t mean guys will be ineffective. Allen and Jackson demonstrated that. So did Aaron Rodgers.
Playing in preseason games doesn’t guarantee success early in the season, either.
Football is a team sport. There are a lot of factors that determine a quarterback’s performance and whether an offense clicks right from the start.
Rodgers was among the 10 starting quarterbacks who didn’t get any reps in exhibition games. He was outstanding in the opener, tossing four TD passes to lead Pittsburgh to a win.
Some of the others had slower starts.
Baker Mayfield was out of sync early for Tampa Bay but made clutch throws to rally the Buccaneers to victory.
Dak Prescott posted a 76.6 passer rating, though the Cowboys had several dropped passes.
Jared Goff and Detroit’s entire offense had a rough time against Green Bay in John Morton’s first game as offensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, quarterbacks who played in the preseason had mixed results.
Joe Burrow threw for just 113 yards and one TD but Cincinnati still edged Cleveland 17-16.
Patrick Mahomes lost another wide receiver to injury and needed a while to get Kansas City’s offense going in a loss to the Chargers in Brazil.
Tua Tagovailoa had one of his worst games as a pro, tossing two interceptions in Miami’s lopsided loss to Indianapolis.
Bo Nix threw two picks but Denver held on to defeat Tennessee.
“It’s probably the toughest part of our position, in my opinion, is bouncing back from the negative because you work really hard, you get one shot at it, and every once in a while when you miss it, it’s tough because that’s what you just want to think about it, you just want to fix it so bad that that’s what you’re thinking about,” Nix said. “The real advantage, the real edge, is when guys can just go to the next play, move on. ... Glad it’s Week 1, not Week 21 and make these mistakes now and learn from them.”
Justin Herbert played in his first career preseason game this season, and came out firing against the Chiefs. He finished with 318 yards passing, three TDs and had a 131.7 rating for the Chargers.
Geno Smith appeared in all three preseason games, and looked like he was in midseason form in Week 1. Smith threw for 362 yards to lead Las Vegas to a win.
“I think it’s all the time we spend together, all the time in the meeting rooms, just hearing his voice and directly from him exactly what he wants to get accomplished with each and every play,” Smith said about building chemistry with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. “When I think about Chip, man, like he’s so cerebral and such a smart coach, and he’s always thinking of the next thing, the next layer to attack the defense. And that’s something that I’m always doing as well.”
Week 2 could bring different results for everyone. But no preseason won't be an excuse for anyone.
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Commanders' Wise is out for the season and team believes Ekeler tore his Achilles, AP source says By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer The Associated Press WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Commanders defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. will miss the rest of the season after having quadriceps surgery, and the team believes running back Austin Ekeler tore his right Achilles tendon in a loss to the Green Bay Packers but is awaiting tests to confirm the severity of that injury, a person with knowledge of the situations told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing had been announced about the two players.
Wise is a 31-year-old in his ninth NFL season who joined the Commanders this offseason after playing his entire career with the New England Patriots. He was injured in the first half of Green Bay’s 27-18 victory on Thursday night while trying to block an extra-point attempt.
Wise was driven off the field and raised his right fist as he was taken away.
ESPN was first to report that his season is over.
Ekeler, a 30-year-old in his ninth NFL season and second with Washington, fell to the ground on a play in the fourth quarter Thursday. It was a non-contact injury, and Ekeler kept his weight off his right leg as he was helped off the field.
After staying on the bench on Washington's sideline for a few minutes, Ekeler was driven toward the locker room.
Ekeler has started both games this season for the Commanders (1-1), gaining 43 yards on 14 carries and catching five passes for 38 yards.
Ekeler is a valuable pass-catcher out of the backfield for quarterback Jayden Daniels, last season's AP NFL Rookie of the Year as Washington went 12-5 in the regular season and made it all the way to the NFC title game.
Last season, Ekeler ran for 367 yards and gained another 366 yards on catches. He entered this season with more than 4,200 receiving yards and more than 4,700 rushing yards over his NFL career.
Washington traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers shortly before the season began, putting Ekeler in a starting role and leaving rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the No. 2 role.
Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round draft pick and ran for 82 yards and a touchdown in Washington's 21-6 victory over the New York Giants in Week 1. Against Green Bay, he had four carries for 17 yards.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he would have more information next week on the various injuries from Thursday's game, including to wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates.
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Keisean Nixon's emergence at cornerback helps Packers defense produce impressive start By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon always believed he could be an effective lead cornerback for an NFL team and looked forward to the chance to prove it.
He’s making the most of that opportunity.
“I always knew what I could do,” Nixon said Thursday after earning a game ball for his performance in the Packers’ 27-18 victory over the Washington Commanders. “Just like I said, I just needed the stage to do it. I get my opps, the ball’s coming out more now that I play outside. Now I can really play my game and do what I want to do."
Nixon, a two-time All-Pro kick returner, was known mainly for his special-teams prowess for most of his career. He continued his emergence as a force on defense by collecting a career-high five passes defensed.
“He did a hell of a job,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “That’s the expectation that we have for him every day out on the field, is that we got to go compete. So I was really proud of his effort.”
Nixon primarily was a nickel back on defense until last year, when he moved to more of an outside cornerback role while injuries limited two-time Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander to seven games. Alexander was released this summer, and he has since joined the Baltimore Ravens.
With Alexander gone, the Packers (2-0) needed someone to step up and be the guy who could cover an opponent’s best receiver each week. Nixon wanted to be the guy and wasn’t shy about making it known.
The 28-year-old Nixon has backed up that confidence so far while playing a vital role for a defense that hasn’t allowed either of its first two opponents to score touchdowns until the fourth quarter.
Detroit’s lone touchdown in Green Bay’s season opener came in the final minute of a 27-13 Packers victory. Jayden Daniels had touchdown passes to Zach Ertz and Deebo Samuel in the fourth quarter Thursday but threw for only 200 yards on 42 pass attempts.
Nixon’s five passes defensed represented the highest total by any Packer since Alexander also had five in a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
“The ball was just coming my way,” Nixon said. “I usually don’t get that many targets in a game, but I was in my zone. I knew what I can do and what I’m capable of but you all are just understanding it now.”
What’s working
The defense collected four sacks for a second straight game and limited Daniels to 17 yards on seven carries. ... Green Bay has allowed a total of 97 yards rushing on 41 carries through its first two games. The Packers haven't yet allowed a touchdown run. ... The Packers haven't committed a turnover this season.
What needs help
Green Bay was penalized 10 times. ... The Packers need to avoid mistakes on special teams. Matthew Golden fielded a punt inside the 10-yard line and was immediately tackled, causing Green Bay to start a drive at its own 4. The Packers committed penalties on two other punt returns.
Stock up
Tucker Kraft has scored in each of his first two games. Kraft's 124 yards receiving Thursday were the most by a Packers tight end since Richard Rodgers had 146 in a 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions in 2015. ... Jordan Love hasn't thrown an interception in nine straight regular-season games, tying the longest such streak by any Packers quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. Aaron Rodgers had nine straight games without an interception in 2018. Love's streak doesn't include the 22-10 playoff loss at Philadelphia in which he threw three interceptions. ... Josh Jacobs has a touchdown run in 11 straight games, including that playoff loss to the Eagles. That matches the second-longest such streak in the NFL since 2000. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for a touchdown in 12 straight games in 2004. ... Rashan Gary has 2 1/2 sacks this season. ... Devonte Wyatt has produced a sack in each of Green Bay's first two games. ... Micah Parsons had eight quarterback pressures Thursday, according to Next Gen Stats.
Stock down
First-round pick Matthew Golden has only two catches for 16 yards thus far in his rookie year. He had two carries for 15 yards but no receptions Thursday. Golden was open deep across the middle in the second quarter, but Love barely overthrew him.
Injuries
Wide receiver Jayden Reed broke his collarbone on the game's opening series when he made a diving touchdown catch that was nullified by a holding penalty. LaFleur said Reed “is going to miss a lot of time” but should return at some point this season. ... Left tackle Zach Tom (quadriceps) and right guard Aaron Banks (ankle/groin) didn't play.
Key number
476 — The number of yards Green Bay has allowed so far. It's the lowest total the Packers have yielded through their first two games of a season since 2001.
Next steps
The Packers are on the road for four of their next five games, starting with a Sept. 21 date at Cleveland. The Packers don't play at Lambeau Field again until Oct. 12 against Cincinnati.
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Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders have not looked nearly as good so far this season By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer The Associated Press WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's only been two games so far, but Jayden Daniels and the rest of the Washington Commanders have looked more like the oldest team in the NFL and less like the club that went 12-5 and made it all the way to the NFC title game last season.
The offense is nowhere near as explosive or as efficient as it was as Daniels earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
And the defense, which was supposedly going to be better after additions such as Von Miller and Javon Kinlaw, was not up to the task in a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night that dropped Washington's record to 1-1 after a win against the lowly New York Giants in Week 1.
"It is early in the season,” said Daniels, who was 24 of 42 for 200 yards through the air and ran seven times for just 17 yards, while being sacked four times. “I wouldn’t expect anyone in this locker room to hit the panic button.”
His two touchdown passes both came in the fourth quarter, after the game was pretty much out of hand.
“Overall, just a tough night," coach Dan Quinn said, "in terms of style and attitude of how we want to play, identity. ... It just felt like we missed the mark.”
That's true.
The first quarter was particularly poor for the Commanders: Their 11 total yards were the club's fewest in that period since 2018, when they had 2 in a Week 17 game.
At one point in the second quarter, Green Bay led 14-0 and had outgained Washington 243 yards to 23, with 12 first downs to one.
“All in all,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, “I thought we were in control of the football game for a majority of the game.”
What’s working
For this one game? In truth, not much of anything. The offense was stagnant. The offensive line didn't do Daniels — or the running backs — many favors. The defense looked old, slow and shaky, allowing TD drives of 96 and 92 yards early, and making Packers tight end Tucker Kraft seem like a new version of Rob Gronkowski: six catches, 124 yards, a touchdown. Even special teams was an issue: Matt Gay missed two field-goal attempts.
What needs help
Well, yes, most of everything. The Daniels- Terry McLaurin connection, such a big part of last year's surge, has been nearly non-existent so far. McLaurin, who only began practicing less than two weeks before the season opener after agreeing to a contract extension, caught five passes for 48 yards against the Packers, and has just seven receptions for 75 yards in the two games, with zero scores.
Stock up
WR-RB-KR-Do-Everything Deebo Samuel. He led the Commanders with seven catches against the Packers, gaining 44 yards on those plus scoring a TD for the second game in a row. He also returned two kickoffs for a 39-yard average, including breaking one for 50.
Stock down
CB Marshon Lattimore. He gave up two catches and was called for pass interference on the very first drive of the game, then in the second quarter got beat on a 37-yard completion.
Injuries
There were several, including to defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. , who was ruled out for the season on Friday because he needs surgery on his injured quadriceps muscle. Starting running back Austin Ekeler hurt his right Achilles tendon — which the Commanders believe was torn, although they were awaiting further tests. Others who got hurt Thursday included WR Noah Brown and TE John Bates.
Key number
Zero — Number of turnovers by the Commanders so far, the second consecutive season in which Washington did that in Games 1 and 2. You have to go all the way back to the 1968 and 1969 seasons to find a pair of turnover-free games to begin two seasons in a row.
Next steps
Quinn, the rest of his staff and the players now get plenty of time to reset things and prepare to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 21. Among other adjustments, Washington will want to figure how to better defend against a tight end, assuming Brock Bowers is healthy by then. The Raiders will have a short week to get ready to face the Commanders after playing the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
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Bills rule out Ed Oliver against the Jets because of an ankle injury he suffered at practice By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said Friday defensive tackle Ed Oliver had his left ankle stepped on at practice and will not play against the New York Jets, leaving the team thin at the position and without a starter who made a game-changing impact in a season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens.
McDermott said Oliver hurt his ankle on Wednesday. The coach didn’t reveal the nature of the injury or timetable for Oliver’s return. The Bills face a short turnaround next week in hosting the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night following their game at New York on Sunday.
“I think there’s a chance, I don’t know what that chance is,” McDermott said about Oliver's odds of playing Thursday.
Though acknowledging some soreness, Oliver did not address the injury when speaking with reporters following practice. He did not practice Thursday and was spotted wearing a boot following the team's walk-through.
The Bills are already thin at tackle behind Oliver and fellow starter DaQuan Jones.
Offseason free-agent addition Larry Ogunjobi is serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers. Buffalo has only two backups on the active roster in rookies T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker.
The Bills have two tackles on their practice squad in Jordan Phillips, who returned last month for a fifth stint with Buffalo, and Zion Logue.
Oliver’s injury follows one of the most impactful performances of the 2019 first-round draft pick’s seven-year career in a 41-40 win over Baltimore in which the Bills overcame a 15-point deficit in the final minutes.
Oliver helped spark the rally by forcing Derrick Henry’s fumble with 3:10 remaining. He finished with six tackles, a sack and three tackles for losses.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner set to play vs. Bills after being limited earlier in the week by groin injury By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was removed from the team's injury report Friday and should play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills after a groin issue limited him for one practice.
Gardner was hurt Thursday, when he was first listed as a limited participant. He was listed without any injury designation on Friday, meaning he was a full participant and received no treatment.
“I'm straight,” Gardner told The Associated Press in the locker room after practice. “I'll be good to go.”
Coach Aaron Glenn was optimistic about Gardner's chances of playing, saying before practice: “I think he'll be OK.”
It was good news for the Jets, whose defense would've taken a huge hit if Gardner couldn't play because of a setback or was compromised by the injury against Josh Allen and the Bills' high-scoring offense.
Gardner, the NFL's highest-paid cornerback after receiving a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, is coming off a strong opening-game performance against Pittsburgh. He was lined up against DK Metcalf on 30 of 34 pass plays by the Steelers and allowed only one 11-yard catch by Pittsburgh's top receiver.
Gardner, a two-time All-Pro selection, is lining up against teams’ No. 1 receivers and following them in motion — a departure from his first two seasons when he played in mostly a zone scheme under the previous regime.
Against the Bills, Gardner will likely cover Keon Coleman for a good chunk of the game. Coleman had seven catches for 100 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception, in the fourth quarter of the Bills' comeback win against Baltimore last Sunday.
The news wasn't as good for a few other players, including No. 2 wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Tufele (illness) will also sit out Sunday.
Reynolds’ absence clouds the Jets' wide receiver situation a bit at the No. 2 spot behind Garrett Wilson. New York could use a mix of Tyler Johnson, rookie Arian Smith or perhaps Allen Lazard, who was inactive for the opener because Glenn said he was still catching up after missing some time in training camp.
“I can’t say he’s totally caught up,” Glenn said. “But he’s at a pace where he can go out there and play. We’ll see how this whole thing shakes out.”
With Nwangwu out, newly acquired Isaiah Williams — signed off Cincinnati's practice squad — could be in the mix to return kickoffs. Smith and Isaiah Davis also could be options, as well as current practice squad members Jamaal Pritchett and Keilan Robinson.
Rookie tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder) were listed as questionable, but were full participants at practice.
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New dad McCarthy back at practice with Vikings, while Darrisaw ruled out as knee recovery continues By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press EAGAN, Minn.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy returned to practice on Friday after his fiancée gave birth to their son, Rome.
McCarthy's fiancée, Katya Kuropas, posted on Instagram that the couple's first child weighed 8.7 pounds and was 21 inches in length. The Vikings remarked about how eager the new dad was for the shared experience with his fiancée as well as how dutiful he was to be as present as possible with his team. Coach Kevin O'Connell smiled as he recounted McCarthy asking permission to leave the building before practice on Thursday once Kuropas went into labor.
“You don’t ever have to ask me to go for something like that,” O'Connell said he told McCarthy, reflecting on the birth of his fourth child during his first season with the Vikings: “I liked to pump myself in 2022 when all I did was stand on the sideline and coach a football game a couple days later.”
McCarthy will have to play again without standout left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Still in the final stage of his recovery from ACL and MCL repair surgery, Darrisaw was ruled out of Minnesota's game against Atlanta on Sunday night.
The Vikings also ruled out edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and backup cornerback Jeff Okudah because they're still in the concussion protocol after getting banged up in the season opener at Chicago. Safety Harrison Smith, who didn't play last week while working his way back from a personal health matter, was listed as questionable.
The absence of a roster move for Darrisaw has indicated he’s close to returning, and O’Connell said on Friday the fifth-year player did not have a setback. Darrisaw has been practicing with a large brace on his left knee.
Darrisaw was listed as questionable to play against the Bears last week and was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday. He was limited on Thursday and Friday. The Vikings wanted Darrisaw to go through a pregame warmup on the grass on Soldier Field as part of the conclusion of the rehabilitation process, but O'Connell made it sound as though there wasn't any deliberation about suiting him up last week, either. Justin Skule struggled in pass protection in Darrisaw's place against the Bears.
“He’s still so far ahead of schedule and in such a great place on the daily that we just want to continue that," O'Connell said. “We’re just going to continue to work through it the right way, as we kind of like to handle everything around here.”
Van Ginkel's absence will elevate the role for 2024 first-round draft pick Dallas Turner, whose progress this season has pleased the coaching staff. But if Smith isn't cleared, the Vikings would be without three starters on defense, after placing linebacker Blake Cashman on injured reserve this week with a hamstring strain.
Backup running back Ty Chandler, their primary kickoff returner, joined Cashman on IR on Thursday. Cashman and Chandler must miss a minimum of four games, first eligible to return on Oct. 19 against Philadelphia after the team's bye week.
For the Falcons, four backups were ruled out: wide receivers Jamal Agnew (groin) and Casey Washington (concussion), safety Jordan Fuller (knee) and right tackle Jack Nelson (calf). Agnew is the primary punt and kickoff returner. Nickel cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (shoulder), backup safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) and rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. (groin) were listed as questionable.
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Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw to miss 2nd straight game with quadriceps injury By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer The Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Dre Greenlaw will wait a little bit longer to make his Denver Broncos debut as the linebacker was ruled out for a second straight game with a quadriceps injury.
Tight end Nate Adkins (ankle) also was listed as “out” when Denver (1-0) plays at Indianapolis (1-0) on Sunday.
Asked about Greenlaw's progress before the injury report was released Friday, coach Sean Payton responded, “all good.”
Greenlaw dealt with a quadriceps injury all offseason and tweaked it during a one-on-one drill in late July. He missed Denver's three preseason games and the season-opening win over Tennessee.
The 28-year-old Greenlaw has been navigating injuries since tearing his left Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl following the 2023 season while with San Francisco. He joined the Broncos on a three-year deal in the offseason.
Tight end Evan Engram (calf), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (knee) and inside linebacker Alex Singleton (thumb) were full participants Friday. Engram injured his calf in the game against the Titans. He had three catches for 21 yards.
“It’s football. I mean, you get hit pretty hard, so there’s a lot of bumps and bruises,” Engram said after practice. “I’ve overcome a lot of them in my career. It’s just part of the game.”
Engram needs one more catch to reach 500 in his NFL career. He had 262 catches in five seasons with the New York Giants and 234 receptions in three years in Jacksonville.
“Those are really cool little milestones,” Engram said. “Definitely going to continue to work and try to keep racking them up.”
Clocks forward?
Payton won’t be moving the clocks forward when the Broncos land in Indianapolis. He said his plan is to keep the team’s internal clocks on Mountain time, which is two hours behind. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. ET.
“All the watches, clocks in the rooms, will be on Mountain time the whole time we’re there," Payton said.
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