Cards switch to rookie QB Rosen
Rookie Josh Rosen will take over as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rosen, the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, replaced veteran Sam Bradford in Sunday’s 16-14 loss to the Chicago Bears with 4:31 left to play after three second-half possessions ended in turnovers.
Rosen couldn’t rally the Cardinals to a win, as he threw an interception to end his first drive and was sacked to end the second. But the rookie from UCLA completed 4-of-7 passes for 36 yards and showed coach Steve Wilks enough for him to make a change for the winless Cardinals (0-3).
Arizona’s offense has produced just 20 points in three games.
“Josh plays with a lot of confidence. He gives us the opportunity to be successful,” Wilks said yesterday. “When you look at the situation when he went into the game, I didn’t have a problem putting him in at that time because I know he’s very confident in what he’s doing.”
Wilks said he made the decision Sunday to replace Bradford early in the fourth quarter after Bradford was sacked and fumbled away the ball with 11:33 left on the clock. The Bears then ran off almost seven minutes and took the lead on a field goal.
Wilks didn’t say whether Bradford would be the clear No. 2 quarterback or if that job would go to third quarterback Mike Glennon.
Mayfield’s the man
Baker Mayfield’s short wait is over.
Yesterday, Mayfield was named the Cleveland Browns’ new starting quarterback, the 30th since the franchise’s rebirth in 1999, and the No. 1 overall pick will make his first start Sunday at Oakland.
As expected, coach Hue Jackson made the move to replace Tyrod Taylor with Mayfield after the highprofile rookie rallied the Browns to a 21-17 comefrom-behind win Thursday night over the New York Jets, Cleveland’s first win since 2016.
Taylor’s concussion forced the Browns to alter their plans and play Mayfield sooner than anticipated. The Heisman Trophy winner didn’t disappoint.
“There was nothing that I saw that he wasn’t ready to handle,” Jackson said. “He went out there in some tough situations down 14 and late in the second quarter and handled all of that extremely well and went and played well. So he checked off every box from me.”
Mayfield showed a veteran’s poise, completing 17of-23 passes for 201 yards in just more than one half.
Jackson hopes Taylor will be cleared from concussion protocol to back up Mayfield on Sunday. If not, veteran Drew Stanton will be activated.
Talib faces surgery
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib could miss a significant amount of time because of an ankle injury. Talib will probably need surgery to repair the injury he sustained in the second half of the Rams’ 35-23 win over the Chargers on Sunday. Talib will get a second opinion today . . . .
Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson underwent surgery on his left ankle after the Green Bay Packers’ loss at Washington on Sunday and will be lost for the season. Wilkerson’s foot was trapped under another player while blocking. Wilkerson signed as a free agent on a one-year $8 million deal . . . .
Falcons starting safety Ricardo Allen will miss the remainder of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, dealing another blow to Atlanta’s already injury-ravaged defense. Allen was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of the Falcons’ 43-37 overtime loss to the Saints . . . .
Miami Dolphins defensive end William Hayes will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Hayes was hurt when he sacked Oakland’s Derek Carr during Miami’s 28-20 victory Sunday. Hayes leads the unbeaten Dolphins with two sacks . . . .
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram’s MRI showed no significant ligament tears in his right knee, only an MCL sprain. Engram is expected to miss 4-6 weeks . . . .
Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich says right tackle Joe Haeg will miss a couple of weeks with an injured ankle. Haeg was hurt during the first half of Sunday’s loss at Philadelphia.