Ravens lose Dobbins for season
An MRI on Sunday confirmed that Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins has a torn ACL and will miss the 2021 season, ESPN reported.
The second-year back injured his left knee during Saturday night's pre-season finale against the Washington Football Team.
Dobbins, 22, was carted to the locker-room after sustaining the injury on the opening drive. He was sandwiched by multiple defenders after catching a screen pass and his left leg appeared to get bent backward. He wasn't able to put any pressure on it and needed help to the sideline.
A second-round pick in 2020, Dobbins rushed for 805 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games (one start) as a rookie.
He also caught 18 passes for 120 yards out of the backfield. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry, the second-highest clip by a rookie over the past 20 seasons, per ESPN.
The New York Jets have acquired defensive end Shaq Lawson from the Houston Texans, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.
Per reports, the Texans will receive the Jets’ sixthround pick in the 2022 NFL draft in exchange.
The Texans acquired Lawson and a 2021 sixthround pick from the Miami Dolphins on March 17 in exchange for linebacker Benardrick Mckinney and a seventh-rounder in the same draft.
Lawson, 27, recorded 32 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 14 games (seven starts) with the Dolphins last season. He will play the second season of a threeyear, $30-million contract in 2021.
Minnesota Vikings starting tight end Irv Smith Jr. needs knee surgery and will miss the start of the season, the NFL Network reported Sunday.
The report said there is no timetable on a return date for Smith, who has a meniscus injury.
Smith, 23, caught both of his targets for 39 yards in Minnesota’s 28-25 pre-season loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
He caught 30 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) last season.
Minnesota opens the regular season on Sept. 12 against the host Cincinnati Bengals.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will miss the start of the regular season with a neck injury, coach Frank Reich confirmed Sunday.
“He’s been evaluated for a neck injury. He was experiencing some discomfort on the trip to Detroit, so we had some scans,” Reich said. “It’s a disc issue.”
Indianapolis opens the season at home against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 12.