Flacco out with back injury; Ravens ponder Kaepernick
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh says Joe Flacco will miss at least the first week of training camp because of a back injury.
Harbaugh said Thursday that the Ravens likely will bring in another quarterback and haven’t ruled out signing Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick played in 12 games for San Francisco last season, throwing for 2,241 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.
There is some familiarity because Kaepernick played for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, with the San Francisco 49ers. He led them to the 2013 Super Bowl, where they lost to the Ravens.
The only other quarterbacks currently in camp are Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan, a second-year player from Division II West Texas A&M.
Flacco threw for a franchise-record 4,317 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2016.
Broncos lose Booker to injury
Broncos coach Vance Joseph’s first training camp got off to a rough start with word that Devontae Booker will undergo wrist surgery Friday and is expected to miss six weeks.
Booker was pushing to unseat C.J. Anderson as Denver’s starting running back. He suffered a hairline fracture during organized team activities in June, marring a solid spring for the secondyear pro as he bounced back from a rough rookie season that followed two knee surgeries.
The Broncos had been planning to split firstteam snaps at training camp between Booker and Anderson, who is returning from a torn meniscus that sidelined him half of last season.
If Booker’s recovery goes well, the 30-year-old free agent will be back in time for the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 11.
Bell holds out as camp opens
Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell did not report to camp in Latrobe, Penn., Thursday.
The Pro Bowler has yet to sign the franchise tender that will pay him more than $12 million this season.
Pittsburgh placed the franchise tag on Bell in the offseason but was unable to find common ground for a long-term agreement. General manager Kevin Colbert tabled any talks of revisiting an extension until after the 2017 season.
Bell, who averaged more than 150 yards of total offense last fall, tweeted “I guess I just gotta get better” when the July 17 deadline passed without a deal in place.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown, who signed a four-year, $72-million extension in February, isn’t sure Bell is making a point by holding out.
“I just understand the history of how these things work out,” Brown said. “The Steelers never negotiate with civilians, especially when you don’t show up. The first rule of getting better is showing up.”
Villanueva gets 4-year extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva agreed to a four-year contract that will keep the former Army Ranger protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s blind side for the rest of the decade.
Financial terms of the deal, reached just as the team was reporting to camp, were not disclosed.
The 28-year-old Villanueva joined the team’s practice squad in 2014 and made the 53-man roster in 2015.
The contract means Pittsburgh’s entire starting offensive line is signed through the 2018 season.
‘Pacman’ accepts game suspension
Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has accepted his onegame suspension for an offseason misdemeanor conviction.
Jones is suspended by the NFL for the season opener as a result of his confrontation with hotel security personal and an obscenity-filled tirade against arresting police officers.
In his first public comments since the suspension, Jones accepted responsibility for his actions and said he’s ready to move on.
He began to tear up when asked about owner Mike Brown’s support, saying he can’t put his gratitude into words.