Jaguars release veteran Albert
Ravens will not play quarterback Flacco in the preseason.
The Jacksonville Jaguars released left tackle Branden Albert, ending a strange saga that lasted nearly two weeks.
Albert, 32, is now free to sign with any other NFL team.
The Jaguars and Albert had been locked in a stalemate over how the sides would part ways. Albert left the team July 31, telling coach Doug Marrone he planned to retire. The Jaguars responded by placing Albert on the exempt/ left squad list, meaning he had five days to return or he would forfeit his current contract and be unable to play in the league in 2017.
The relationship seemingly became more strained when the Jaguars considered going after a prorated portion ($3.4 million) of Albert’s $8.5 million signing bonus even though Miami paid it in 2014.
Albert then told the team he changed his mind and wanted to return.
Jacksonville, which was ready to part ways with a player who looked out of shape and past his prime during three training camp practices, responded by placing him on the reserve/ retired list.
That meant Albert’s contract was paused, and Jacksonville retained his rights.
Releasing him Friday quite possibly was a reaction to Albert planning to show up for practice this weekend. Whether Albert really wants to play in 2017 probably will become evident if he signs with another team in the coming days or weeks.
It wasn’t clear why Albert considered retirement after nine NFL seasons, but it appears he didn’t want to play in Jacksonville.
Dolphins: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill reportedly will have surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire season. Tannehill, who missed the final four games of last season with two sprained ligaments in his knee, reinjured it a week into training camp last week.
■ Dolphins rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan will miss the entire season with a torn ACL in his right knee. McMillan, taken in the second round in the April draft out of Ohio State, was the front-runner to win the starting job at middle linebacker until he was hurt covering a punt Thursday against Atlanta.
Ravens: Quarterback Joe Flacco won’t play in the preseason as he continues to recover from a back injury. However, the team says Flacco remains on track to start the regular-season opener Sept. 10 against the Bengals. The Ravens also said left guard Alex Lewis (shoulder) and rookie wide receiver Tim White (thumb) will miss the season because of injuries that will require surgery.
Broncos: Nose tackle Billy Winn reportedly will miss the entire 2017 season with torn ligaments in his right knee. Winn was caught under the pile on a Bears run in the first quarter of Thursday’s game. Winn, a sixth-year pro from Boise State, played in all 16 games last season.
Panthers: Defensive tackle Vernon Butler sprained his left knee in Wednesday’s game against Houston. It’s unclear how much playing time Butler, Carolina’s firstround pick in 2016, will miss.
Packers: Green Bay submitted videos to the NFL of hits by Eagles players that knocked out Malachi Dupre and Damarious Randall on separate plays in Thursday’s game. Dupre, a rookie receiver, was carted off on a stretcher in the fourth quarter following a hit by rookie safety Tre Sullivan. Randall was hurt after receiver Bryce Treggs hit the cornerback high while throwing a blindside block. Coach Mike McCarthy said Dupre and Randall were in the concussion protocol.