Jags seek, end up with Hyde
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Cleveland running back Carlos Hyde yesterday, adding a proven starter while Leonard Fournette progresses slowly from a strained right hamstring.
The Browns will get a 2019 fifth-round draft pick from the Jaguars in exchange for Hyde, who has 382 yards rushing and five touchdowns in his first season in Cleveland. Hyde signed a three-year, $15.25 million contract in March.
The Jaguars were willing to take on the financial commitment because leading rusher T.J. Yeldon will become a free agent at the end of this season. So will third-stringer
Corey Grant, who was placed on injured reserve last week because of a foot injury.
Fournette was ruled out for tomorrow’s game against Houston. It will be the fifth game he’s missed this season because of the nagging injury.
Cleveland had seemed pleased with Hyde, but his departure clears the way for rookie Nick Chubb to be the team’s primary back. He’s averaging nearly 10 yards per carry.
Lynch out a month
Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch will miss at least a month because of a groin injury.
A person familiar with the injury said an MRI this week determined the severity of the injury.
Lynch was hurt last week in Oakland’s 27-3 loss to Seattle in London. The Raiders are off this week and will play again on Oct. 28 at home against Indianapolis. Oakland could choose to place Lynch on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least eight weeks.
Cardinals fire OC
The Arizona Cardinals fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy a day after the team was blown out at home by the Denver Broncos on national television.
First-year head coach Steve Wilks said quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich will take over the job for a club that is 1-6, the worst record in the league.
The Cardinals lost 45-10 on Thursday night, trailing 21-3 after one quarter and 35-3 at the half. Wilks called the effort “embarrassing.” . . .
Saints coach Sean Payton says there is a “very realistic” possibility of injured receiver Ted Ginn Jr. playing again this season.
Ginn was placed on IR Thursday because of a nagging knee injury that Payton says will require arthroscopic surgery. Under NFL rules, teams may bring up to two players back to the active roster after they have spent at least eight weeks on IR . . . .
Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles will miss his sixth straight game and cornerback Sidney Jones and safety Corey Graham are also out for tomorrow’s game against Carolina. All three have hamstring injuries.
Top pick rips refs
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett roughed up NFL officials.
The No. 1 overall pick unloaded on officials, criticizing them for several calls that have gone against Cleveland in recent weeks and swung momentum in their games.
“Do your job just like we need to do our job,” Garrett said. “If it’s holding, call holding. If it’s a false start, false start, whether it’s us or them.”
Garrett spoke out unafraid of any consequences from the league, which is sensitive about players criticizing its officiating crews.
“If I get fined, so be it,” he said. “Something needs to be said. If it keeps on going this way, this route, where it seems like we keep on getting the short stick.” . . .
Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake is on a course to return tomorrow against Detroit from a knee injury that sidelined him the past two weeks.
Wake is listed as questionable but took full part in practice yesterday. He coyly declined to say whether he expected to play but added, “It’ll be Christmas morning on Sunday.”