Eagles QB Wentz sidelined with hairline fracture in ribs
Broncos No. 3 reciever Fowler injured left elbow during preseason win
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has a hairline fracture in his ribs and there is no timetable for his return.
The No. 2 overall pick was hurt in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wentz sat out Saturday’s practice. Coach Doug Pederson first said Wentz needed treatment, would return to practice today and resume his backup duties behind Sam Bradford in the next preseason game. Pederson said the ribs were nothing more than sore.
But the Eagles released a statement hours later that said a CT scan revealed a hairline fracture in his ribs. Pederson says, “We do not know an exact timetable for his return, but we hope to have him back before the end of the preseason.”
Wentz completed 12 of 24 passes for 89 yards in Philadelphia’s opener.
He led North Dakota State to its fifth consecutive Football Championship Subdivision title last season. Broncos’ Fowler injured: Denver Broncos wide receiver Bennie Fowler will be sidelined for several weeks after breaking a bone in his left elbow, coach Gary Kubiak said Saturday.
Fowler, the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver and a key special teams player, was injured while covering a punt during the third quarter of Denver’s 22-0 preseason win at Chicago on Thursday night. Redskins’ concerns: A day after getting a better look at film of the team’s sloppy preseason debut in a 23-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night, Washington coach Jay Gruden said penalties and the team’s running game will get more attention.
The Redskins were whistled for 14 penalties for 123 yards and ran the ball 24 times for just 79 yards in the loss. Their top three running backs, Matt Jones, Chris Thompson and Keith Marshall, had no yards on eight carries.
“Yeah, penalties are an issue, man,” Gruden said after practice Saturday. “It’s a very important part of the game — offense, defense, special teams and penalties, man, and turning the ball over.” New Era in Buffalo: The Buffalo Bills announced on Twitter that they have reached an agreement to sell the naming rights of Ralph Wilson Stadium to Buffalobased New Era Cap Company.
Two people with direct knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press the deal will run over the remainder of the team’s seven-year lease. New Era has the right of first refusal to continue the agreement once the current lease expires in 2022 and also if the Bills decide to build a new facility. Friday’s games: Quarterback Robert Griffin III, who signed with the Cleveland Browns after being dumped by the Redskins in March, went 4-for-8 for 67 yards with an interception in one quarter as visiting Cleveland lost to the Green Bay Packers, 17-11.
Backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski left at the end of the third quarter with a left hamstring injury as the Pittsburgh Steelers lost, 30-17, to the visiting Detroit Lions.
Quarterback Andy Dalton, returning from a broken thumb suffered Dec. 13, led the host Cincinnati Bengals into field-goal range on his only drive during the Minnesota Vikings’ 17-16 preseason victory Friday night.
Backup quarterback Ryan Nassib was consistent in leading the host New York Giants on a game-opening touchdown drive, but his three turnovers in the second quarter led to 17 points in the Miami Dolphins’ 27-10 victory.
Carson Palmer directed a 73-yard drive for a field goal in his one series but the Oakland Raiders backups dominated their Cardinals counterparts in a 31-10 victory in Glendale, Ariz.