Jaguars sign Charles to aid the run game
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former Kansas City Chiefs star running back Jamaal Charles to a one-year contract to help during the absence of Leonard Fournette.
The Jaguars lost thirdstring running back Corey Grant (foot) for the season and expect to be without Fournette for several more weeks because of a hamstring injury. Grant was placed on injured reserve, opening a roster spot for the 31-year-old Charles, who is expected to make an immediate contribution Sunday at Dallas while playing behind T.J. Yeldon.
Charles spent nine years in Kansas City and played 14 games with Denver last season. He has 7,556 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, plus 2,586 yards receiving and 20 scores.
The Jaguars also signed rookie running back Dave Williams off Denver’s practice squad, released first-year back Brandon Wilds and placed tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on injured reserve and promoted fellow tight end David Grinnage from the practice squad.
Chiefs are hurting
The Kansas City Chiefs placed starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and safety Armani Watts on injured reserve and signed linebacker Frank Zombo to provide depth at that depleted position.
Duvernay-Tardif broke a bone in his left leg with a few minutes left in Sunday’s 30-14 victory over Jacksonville. Watts had his promising rookie season cut short after hurting his groin in the game.
The team does expect safety Daniel Sorensen to return for Sunday night’s key game against the Patriots after he landed on IR in training camp.
Zombo spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs before getting cut in training camp. But with outside linebacker Justin Houston dealing with a hamstring injury and Dee Ford hobbled by a groin, it became prudent to add some depth at linebacker.
Bills sign Anderson
The Buffalo Bills signed quarterback Derek Anderson to add veteran experience and have him serve as a mentor for rookie starter Josh Allen.
Anderson has a 20-27 record over 12 NFL seasons, and spent the past seven serving as Cam Newton’s backup in Carolina.
Buffalo lacks veteran depth at quarterback behind Allen and secondyear player Nathan Peterman. Allen has a 2-2 record since taking over the starting job after Peterman faltered badly during a season-opening 47-3 loss at Baltimore. The Bills offense has yet to top 300 yards this season . . . .
The New York Giants waived former first-round draft pick Ereck Flowers and signed offensive tackle Brian Mihalik off their practice squad. Flowers was the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft but never lived up to expectations . . . .
The Tennessee Titans waived receiver Nick Williams after he dropped a potential touchdown pass in a 13-12 loss to Buffalo . . . .
Denver Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson pleaded guilty in Knoxville, Tenn., to simple possession and failure to exercise due care while driving and had a DUI charge dismissed. The resolution comes 21⁄2 months after Knoxville jurors acquitted Johnson of aggravated rape charges.
Alex Spanos dies
Alex Spanos, who used his fortune from construction and real estate to buy the San Diego Chargers in 1984, died in Stockton, Calif. He was 95. Spanos was suffering from dementia.
Spanos bought controlling interest in the team for $50 million from Gene Klein in 1984. Spanos’ oldest son, Dean Spanos, was put in charge of day-today operations in 1994. It was Dean who moved the Chargers from San Diego, their home of 56 years, to Los Angeles in 2017.