Jets claim jettisoned Ealy off Pats
The New York Jets have claimed defensive end Kony Ealy off waivers from the Patriots.
To make room on the roster yesterday, the Jets also waived injured defensive lineman Anthony Johnson.
Ealy joins his cousin and fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson on New York’s roster.
Ealy was a secondround pick by Carolina out of Missouri in 2014 and had 14 sacks and six forced fumbles in three seasons with the Panthers. He had three sacks and an interception in Carolina’s loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50.
Ealy was traded to the Patriots in March, but was cut by the Pats on Saturday.
In other news involving the Jets, they acquired safety Terrence Brooks from the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Dexter McDougle in a trade of 2014 draft picks. The moves provide depth for both teams’ secondaries.
Browns name Kizer
Cleveland’s roll call of starting quarterbacks since 1999 has a new entry.
Introducing No. 27, rookie DeShone Kizer.
Kizer will start the Browns’ season opener on Sept. 11 against Pittsburgh Steelers after showing coach Hue Jackson what he wanted to see on Saturday night at Tampa Bay.
“DeShone is our starting quarterback,” Jackson said yesterday, finally ending months of speculation, twists and turns. “He has earned the right to play through his preparation.”
Kizer joins a long list of Browns starting quarterbacks who have started for the club since its expansion rebirth in ’99. The second-round pick will be the first rookie to start the opener since Brandon Weeden in 2012, and he’ll be the fifth different opening week starter in five seasons, following Weeden, Brian Hoyer, Josh McCown and Robert Griffin III.
KC loses Ware to PCL
Kansas City is preparing to play its season opener against the Patriots, as well as its entire 2017 campaign, without its top running back.
Spencer Ware tore the posterior cruciate ligament and caused other damage to his right knee in Friday’s preseason game in Seattle, an MRI exam revealed. The Chiefs plan to seek a second opinion but their medical staff believes he will require season-ending surgery.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said players with a torn PCL can often get back on the field through rehab. But he said additional damage to the outside back corner of Ware’s knee compounds the issue, and “at this point in time our medical staff believes he needs season-ending surgery.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said third-round draft pick Kareem Hunt will start the regular-season opener Sept. 7 in Foxboro.
Bills QBs keep falling
Buffalo Bills third-string quarterback T.J. Yates is being evaluated for a concussion, leaving the team with just one healthy signal-caller entering the final week of the preseason.
Coach Sean McDermott revealed Yates was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Yates completed the game and McDermott wasn’t sure when the quarterback was injured.
Buffalo is already without starter Tyrod Taylor, who suffered a concussion when the back of his helmet bounced hard off the turf while being sacked.
That leaves fifth-round draft pick Nathan Peterman as the Bills’ only healthy quarterback . . . .
Chicago wide receiver Cameron Meredith was carted off with a suspected left ACL injury during the Bears’ preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Meredith led Chicago with 66 catches for 888 yards last year . . . .
Falcons running back Devonta Freeman will return to practice today as a final stage of his concussion protocol. He has missed two preseason games while in the concussion protocol since agreeing to terms on a fiveyear, $41.25 million extension.