Buccaneers will allow fans in stands by Oct. 4
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open Raymond James Stadium to fans next weekend, now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has lifted restrictions on businesses throughout Florida.
On Friday, DeSantis signed an executive order that removed all rules that impacted businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re not closing anything going forward,” DeSantis said. So the Buccaneers, who hadn’t planned on a return of fans until Week 6, will allow a limited number of spectators when they play the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 4. CHARGERS PUT INGRAM, JONES ON IR >> The Los Angeles Chargers will be without two of their starting defensive linemen for at least the next three games after placing defensive end Melvin Ingram and defensive tackle Justin Jones on injured reserve Saturday.
Ingram practiced on Wednesday and Thursday but did not go Friday due to a knee injury. Ingram and Joey Bosa have combined to form one of the league’s top pass rushing duos in recent years, but Bosa could be drawing more double teams after recording two sacks in the first two games.
Jones suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday in a 23-20 overtime loss to Kansas City.
Uchenna Nwosu is expected to start in place of Ingram for Sunday’s game against Carolina while Jerry Tillery, last year’s first-round pick, would get the call for Jones. The team also placed linebacker Asmar Bilal on IR.
The Chargers have promoted guard Ryan Groy, linebacker Malik Jefferson and defensive end Jessie Lemonier to the roster.
They also activated safety Jahleel Addae and running back Darius Bradwell from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
LIONS’ COLLINS FINED $35K FOR BUMPING REF >> The NFL fined Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins $35,096 for making contact with an official with his helmet in the season- opening loss to the Chicago Bears. Collins is appealing the fine, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Referee A lex Kemp ejected Collins from the Week 1 game in the second quarter after Collins lowered the crown of his helmet and gently bumped into Kemp’s chest.
It appeared that Collins was trying to demonstrate what had happened during the previous play, when Bears running back David Montgomery lowered his head into Collins. Kemp said after the game it was “unnecessary contact.” FALCONS PLACE TERRELL ON COVID-19 LIST >> The Atlanta Falcons placed first-round pick A. J. Terrell on the COVID-19 reserve list on Saturday, dealing another blow to the winless team’s secondary heading into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
The Falcons (0-2) had already ruled out cornerback Kendall Sheffield (foot) and safety Ricardo Allen (elbow) because of injuries.
Now, they’ll face the Bears (2- 0) without Terrell, the No. 16 overall pick out of Clemson.
S E A H AW K S B R I N G U P SHAQUEM GRIFFIN FROM PRACTICE SQUAD >> The Seattle Seahawks have promoted linebacker Shaquem Griffin from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Griffin will again get to work alongside twin brother Shaquill, a cornerback for the Seahawks.
Shaquem Griffin had his left hand amputated at age 4 because of amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition. He became the first player with one hand to be drafted in the NFL’s modern era in 2018.