Tannehill picks surgery
Ryan Tannehill has decided surgery can no longer be avoided.
The Miami Dolphins quarterback will reportedly undergo an operation to repair the torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire season. He will reportedly be placed on injured reserve.
Tannehill, who missed the final four games of last season with two sprained ligaments in his knee, reinjured it a week into training camp on Aug. 3. The Dolphins consulted with specialists before the team and Tannehill decided surgery was the best option.
Jay Cutler, who parted with the Chicago Bears after eight seasons, agreed to delay his fledgling network TV career and signed a $10 million, one-year contract Monday to replace Tannehill. Cutler, 34, might make his Dolphins debut in their second exhibition game next Thursday.
In other Dolphins news, promising rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan will reportedly miss the entire season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He was the frontrunner to win the starting job at middle linebacker until he was hurt covering a punt early in Thursday’s exhibition opener against Atlanta.
Bills make 2 deals
The Buffalo Bills’ offseason overhaul isn’t over yet now that receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby became the latest players to be sent packing. The Bills dealt both starters in separate blockbuster trades in an effort to reshape the roster under new coach Sean McDermott.
Watkins was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, while Darby was sent to the Philadelphia Eagles. Buffalo addressed both positions by acquiring receiver Jordan Matthews from Philadelphia and cornerback E.J. Gaines from the Rams. The Bills also got a second-round pick from LA and a third-rounder from the Eagles, while also sending a sixth-round pick to the Rams.
When healthy, Watkins showed glimpses of being a dynamic threat, with 153 catches for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons, but topped 1,000 yards just once, in 2015.
Matthews was Philadelphia’s most productive receiver, averaging 75 catches, 891 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his first three seasons. Darby started 29 games since the Bills selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Steelers triumph
Rookie quarterback Josh Dobbs threw a 28-yard touchdown pass and Chris Boswell kicked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh the lead for good in a 20-12 preseason win over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J.
The Steelers capitalized on two major Giants’ turnovers in the preseason opener for both teams.
Terrell Watson added a 15-yard touchdown run in a game that had little offense with Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Eli Manning of the Giants being given the night off.
Mixed Ravens news
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will soon return to practice, but he won’t play in a game before Baltimore opens the regular season on Sept. 10 at Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, the Ravens say offensive lineman Alex Lewis will miss the 2017 season with a shoulder injury. He will undergo surgery next week. He played in 10 games last season. . . .
Denver Broncos nose tackle Billy Winn will reportedly miss the entire 2017 season with a serious right knee injury.
A source said Winn tore ligaments in his right knee, including the anterior cruciate ligament, on Thursday night. Winn, a sixthyear pro from Boise State, played in all 16 games last season in his first year in Denver. . . .
The Jacksonville Jaguars released left tackle Branden Albert, ending a strange saga that lasted nearly two weeks.
The 32-year-old Albert is now free to sign with any other NFL team.