Dolphins suspend truant Timmons, trade for LB
NFL
AWOL linebacker Lawrence Timmons wanted to rejoin the Miami Dolphins.
Instead, they suspended him indefinitely and traded for a replacement, moves that signal his disappearance from the defense might be permanent.
The Dolphins announced Timmons’ suspension in a one-sentence news release yesterday, a day off for the team. They also acquired linebacker Stephone Anthony from the New Orleans Saints for an undisclosed 2018 draft pick.
Anthony, who has been nursing a sprained ankle, fell out of favor with the Saints after they took him with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 draft. Timmons’ agent, Drew
Rosenhaus, declined to comment on the suspension. Coach Adam Gase was angered by the disappearance of the 11th-year veteran, which occurred Saturday in Los Angeles the day before Miami’s season opener at the Chargers.
The Dolphins filed a missing person report before making contact with Timmons, who apparently was dealing with a personal matter. He wasn’t with the Dolphins for the 19-17 win.
Anthony started all 16 games for the Saints as a rookie but was mostly a reserve last season for their woeful defense. He has yet to play this season because of his injury.
Timmons signed a twoyear, $12 million deal with Miami in March after 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, where he won a Super Bowl ring in 2009 and made the Pro Bowl in 2014.
Olsen goes on IR
Greg Olsen will miss a minimum of eight games after the Carolina Panthers placed the three-time Pro Bowl tight end on injured reserve with a broken right foot. The earliest Olsen is eligible to return is Nov. 26 when the Panthers visit the Jets. Olsen was injured in the second quarter of Carolina’s 9-3 win against Buffalo and had surgery Monday.
The injury ends Olsen’s streak of 160 consecutive games played. It’s the second-longest active streak among tight ends behind Dallas’ Jason Witten (221).
Carolina replaced Olsen on the 53-man roster with rookie fullback Alex Armah from the practice squad . ...
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman has been placed on IR after having surgery on his broken right hand. Sunday’s injury at Baltimore came almost exactly a year to the day from when he broke his hand during practice as a rookie. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2016 draft can return in six weeks and would be eligible to play after eight weeks.
Costly fumble
The New York Jets waived wide receiver Kalif
Raymond, two days after his fumbled punt changed momentum in the team’s loss at Oakland.
Raymond was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Sept. 3 after he played his rookie season with the Denver Broncos. He served as New York’s primary returner on punts and kickoffs during the first two games, but had ball security issues in both games.
Raymond mishandled two punts in the opener at Buffalo, but recovered both fumbles. Last Sunday against the Raiders, he fumbled a punt with 1:50 left in the opening half and the Jets trailing 14-10. The Raiders recovered at the Jets 4 and scored three plays later. New York never got close after that . . . .
The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed receiver Jaelen Strong off waivers from the Houston Texans, providing some much-needed depth with Allen Robinson (knee) and rookie Dede Westbrook (core) on injured reserve.
A third-round draft pick in 2015, Strong has 28 receptions for 292 yards and three touchdowns in 19 games. The Texans waived him Monday. He was suspended for the opener for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.