Titans add QB with injuries to Mariota, Gabbert
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have added a quarterback with Marcus Mariota dealing with an injured elbow and backup Blaine Gabbert in the concussion protocol.
The Titans made a flurry of moves Tuesday agreeing to terms with veteran quarterback Austin Davis. They also placed offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile on injured reserve to create a roster spot after he started the last two games.
Davis joins his sixth NFL team after starting his career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a rookie free agent out of Southern Mississippi. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Davis also has been with Miami, Cleveland, Denver and Seattle, and he has started 10 of his 16 career games. He appeared in three games last season with Seattle without throwing a single pass.
The Titans (2-1) also released quarterback Logan Woodside and defensive lineman Deon Simon from the practice squad, while adding wide receiver and returner Kalif Raymond and guard Ian Silberman.
Winston returns to work; Bucs mum on if he starts
TAMPA, Fla. — Jameis Winston is back on the job, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still aren’t saying if it’s as the team’s starting quarterback.
Winston’s three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy ended Tuesday, the first day the fourth-year pro was permitted to return to the team’s training
facility and have contact with coaches and teammates.
It was a day off for players following Monday night’s 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but coach Dirk Koetter said the first overall pick from the 2015 draft showed up bright and early, ready to begin preparation for the Chicago Bears.
What Koetter declined to say was whether Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has the Bucs off to a 2-1 start while throwing for more than 400 yards in a leaguerecord three consecutive games,
will start Sunday.
“I know there’s a lot of interest in the quarterback thing. I did talk to both Jameis and Fitz,” Koetter began.
Without elaborating, Koetter said he shared the team’s plans with both quarterbacks.
“We know what we’re going to do. Both guys know what we’re going to do,” the coach said, “I hope everybody can appreciate it doesn’t do us any good to tell our opponents what we’re going to do. That’ll work itself out as the week goes on.”
Griffen still out with mental health trouble
EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen remains away from the team indefinitely because of mental health trouble that boiled over the past week.
Coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday that Griffen will not travel with the Vikings for their game Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Griffen was held out because of a knee injury Sunday when the Vikings lost to the Buffalo Bills, but he was in no condition to play after a scary series of incidents Saturday.
According to police in Minnetrista, the suburb where he lives, Griffen was acting erratically and making comments about people trying to kill him. He was eventually transported by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation.
The 30-year-old Griffen is a three-time Pro Bowl pick.
Bills trade lineman Newhouse to Panthers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Carolina Panthers have addressed their injury-depleted offensive line by acquiring veteran Marshall Newhouse in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo acquired a conditional draft pick from Carolina in the trade on Tuesday. The Bills then filled Newhouse’s spot by signing offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year contract.
Sirles was cut by the Panthers three weeks ago. He has three seasons of NFL experience, including starting 28 games with Minnesota in 2016 and ’17.
Carolina was missing three offensive line starters in a 31-21 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. Tackles Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams are on injured reserve, while guard Trai Turner did not play because of a concussion.
Newhouse has experience playing tackle and guard in 70 starts over nine seasons. He joined the Bills by signing a one-year contract in March and has been credited with playing just 14 snaps in Buffalo’s first three games.
Rams corner Talib set for surgery on injured ankle
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib will undergo surgery Thursday to repair an ankle injury.
Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that a timetable for Talib’s return will not be known until after the procedure is completed and the full extent of the injury he sustained in the second half of the 35-23 win over the Chargers on Sunday is determined.
“It depends on once you get in there. We’ll find out once that surgery takes place,” McVay said.
Talib has six tackles, two passes defended and one forced fumble in three games this season, helping the Rams limit opponents to 199 yards passing per game and two touchdown passes. The Rams acquired the 2016 All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl defensive back in a trade with Denver for a fifth-round pick in the offseason.