Irma chases Dolphins to the opposite coast
Janikowski put on injured reserve with back issue
MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins escaped Hurricane Irma by beginning an extended stay in California.
The Dolphins evacuated from South Florida before the storm’s arrival and will practice in Oxnard, Calif., next week to prepare for their delayed start of the season, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday.
The person confirmed the Dolphins’ plans to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t publicly disclosed them.
Team owner Stephen Ross flew players, coaches, traveling staff and their families to Los Angeles on Friday as the hurricane approached Florida, the person said. Other players who had already left the state in advance of Irma are also arriving in Los Angeles.
The Dolphins will have a team meeting Tuesday and will practice beginning Wednesday at the Dallas Cowboys’ complex in Oxnard. The Los Angeles Rams also offered the use of their complex.
Miami will open its season at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 17. The Dolphins had been scheduled to open today at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that game was postponed until Nov. 19.
RAIDERS: Oakland placed long-time kicker Sebastian Janikowski on injured reserve Saturday with an injured back and promoted Giorgio Tavecchio to the active roster.
The team made the move a day before the season opener against the Titans. The Raiders had signed Tavecchio on Friday as insurance if Janikowski wasn’t healed and brought him to Tennessee in case he needed to be activated.
RAMS: All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald reported to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, ending his four-month holdout without getting a new contract.
Donald passed his physical when he reported to the Rams’ training complex in Thousand Oaks, but the three-time Pro Bowl selection will not play in the season opener at the Coliseum against Indianapolis today. On Friday, coach Sean McVay ruled him out for the opener.
Donald stayed away from the Rams starting in May, holding out through offseason team activities, training camp and the entire preseason while attempting to get a lucrative new contract. The Rams agreed that Donald deserved a pay raise after just three standout seasons, and they held months of civil negotiations with the star’s representatives.
The sides couldn’t reach a deal, but they intend to continue talks even with Donald back in uniform, the Rams announced.
Donald is scheduled to make $1.8 million this year and $6.9 million in 2018 under the terms of his rookie deal. Even the Rams agree that the rookie scale contract isn’t reflective of Donald’s status as one of the NFL’s most effective players at any position.
BEARS: Defensive end Akiem Hicks and the Chicago Bears have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2021 season.
The team announced the agreement Saturday. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said it’s a $48 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, confirming an ESPN report.
Hicks signed with Chicago last year after spending his first four seasons with New Orleans and New England. He was one of the Bears’ best performers on defense last season, starting 16 games and setting career highs with seven sacks and three pass breakups.
Hicks has 16½ sacks and 33 tackles for loss in 77 games — 49 starts.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh and defensive end Stephon Tuitt have agreed on a contract that runs through the 2022 season.