Kaepernick workout gets RSVPs
At least 13 teams have committed to attending Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Atlanta this weekend, ESPN reported Thursday night.
The league also announced that two former NFL head coaches will be in attendance: Hue Jackson, who will lead the drills with the former quarterback, and Joe Philbin.
Jackson told ESPN that he “just found out about it” on Thursday.
“The NFL asked me to do it. I’m excited about doing it for Colin and the league,” he said.
“As far as I know right now, Colin is still attending.”
The NFL said it will send video of the workout and interview to all 32 of its teams, including head coaches and general managers.
The teams that have RSVP’d so far are: the Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Broncos, Lions, Dolphins, Patriots, Giants, Jets, Buccaneers, Redskins, Cowboys and Seahawks.
Kaepernick hasn’t played since 2016 with the 49ers. He helped start a wave of protests about social and racial injustice that season by kneeling during the national anthem at games.
Callaway faces ban: The Browns gave up on Antonio Callaway. The NFL is going to come down hard on him again.
The AP reported that Callaway, who was released Thursday by the Browns hours before the team played the Steelers, is facing a possible 10-game league suspension for another drug violation.
Callaway, who served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse program earlier this season, failed another drug test
Callaway’s release by the Browns came after he was benched by first-year coach Freddie Kitchens for Sunday’s game against the Bills because he didn’t get to FirstEnergy Stadium on time.
Earlier this week, Kitchens said he didn’t know if Callaway got the message with the discipline.
It was the last straw for Browns GM John Dorsey, who took a chance by drafting Callaway in the fourth round last year despite a litany of off-field problems when he played college ball at Florida.
The 22-year-old Callaway missed the first four games this season due to his league ban. He returned and caught eight passes for 89 yards in four games since his re-instatement and the Browns were holding out hope he’d mature.
That didn’t happen, so they’ve moved on.
Last year, Callaway had 43 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns. He talked in the preseason about putting up bigger numbers in 2019 and was confident he had put all of his off-field issues behind him.
However, he was out of shape when he arrived at training camp and his other behavior pushed the Browns to a breaking point with him.
Callaway came into the league already in the NFL’s substance-abuse program because of a diluted urine sample at the NFL combine.
Eagles ailing: Alshon Jeffery missed practice again Thursday because of an ankle injury, increasing the possibility Carson Wentz won’t have his two top receivers when the Eagles host the Patriots on Sunday.
DeSean Jackson had surgery for an abdominal injury last week and is out the rest of the regular season. He had played only one full game and a handful of series in two others.
The Eagles (5-4) haven’t had much production from their wide receivers this season. Jeffery has 34 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns. He dropped three passes against his former team, the Bears, on Nov. 3 and has looked slow.
Nelson Agholor has 32 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns. He also has dropped several passes, including a potential go-ahead touchdown in a road loss to the Falcons in Week 2.
Mack Hollins has 10 receptions for 125 yards despite playing 374 snaps. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has two catches in 176 snaps.
The Eagles brought Jordan Matthews back for his third stint with the team. He could get plenty of action against the Patriots (8-1).