Titans’ Lewan cleared to play
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans still don’t know who they will start at quarterback in Sunday’s road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marcus Mariota has been limited all week with an arm injury sustained in the season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins and is questionable for the second straight game. Blaine Gabbert started in place of Mariota in a 20-17 home win against the Houston Texans this past Sunday. “I would say it’s pretty much the same as it was yesterday,” Titans coach
Mike Vrabel said Friday. “It’s probably going to take the next 24 hours to make a decision, but it’s pretty much the same as it’s been since Wednesday, with a little bit of improvement from last week.” The Titans (1-1) will have left tackle Taylor Lewan back against the Jaguars (2-0) now that he has been cleared from the league’s concussion protocol. Lewan did not play against the Texans after taking a hit from the Dolphins’ Andre Branch. “I feel good,” Lewan said. “I wouldn’t have passed the protocol if I didn’t.” In other injury news, the Titans ruled out running back David Fluellen (hamstring) and tackle
Dennis Kelly (illness) for Sunday’s game. Linebacker
Kamalei Correa was out of practice Friday and is questionable with a back injury. Offensive tackle
Jack Conklin was upgraded to questionable for the first time this season as he recovers from ACL surgery. Safety Kendrick Lewis (foot) is questionable after missing the first two games.
› FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman will miss his second straight game with a knee injury, and they’ll also will be without starting defensive end Takk McKinley when they host the New Orleans Saints (1-1) on Sunday. Atlanta coach Dan Quinn declared both players out Friday, extending a rash of injuries that have plagued the Falcons (1-1) this season. Freeman went down with a bruised knee in the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. McKinley sustained a groin injury that kept him off the field in the closing stages of last Sunday’s 31-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Tevin Coleman took over as the primary running back against the Panthers, rushing for 107 yards, and rookie
Ito Smith also was effective. The loss of McKinley means Brooks Reed will likely move into a starting role against the Saints. The Falcons also will be missing backup defensive end Derrick Shelby, ruled out with a groin injury, and reserve linebacker Corey Nelson (calf). Atlanta already has lost safety Keanu Neal and offensive guard Andy Levitre to season-ending injuries, and linebacker Deion Jones (foot) will have to miss at least eight games after going on injured reserve.
BASEBALL
› CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was placed on paid administrative leave Friday after his ex-wife made new allegations of domestic violence. Last year, Melisa Reidy posted a photo on her Instagram account with a caption suggesting her husband of about 18 months had been unfaithful to her. In another post, a user — described by Melisa as a close friend — made the accusation Russell had “hit” his wife. The post was later deleted. Russell denied the allegation, and the two divorced. Late Thursday, a blog post attributed to Reidy contained more detailed allegations, including years of physical and emotional abuse. Less than 12 hours later, Major League Baseball announced Russell had been put on leave under the 2015 domestic violence agreement between management and the players’ union. “These allegations are completely false,” Russell said in a released statement. “I made that clear to Major League Baseball last year and reiterated it to the Cubs today. I’m confident any full and fair investigation will fully exonerate me. The protection of my children is foremost in my mind, so I will have no further comment.”