With Siemian out, Falk goes from Jets’ backup QB to No. 1
NEW YORK — The New York Jets’ quarterback woes just got a bit worse.
Trevor Siemian will be sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, and third-stringer Luke Falk will start for New York at New England on Sunday — and beyond until Sam Darnold returns from illness.
Coach Adam Gase announced Tuesday that Siemian has ligament damage, suffered in the 23-3 loss to Cleveland on Monday night.
“We’re still going through the procedures as far as surgery options,” Gase said.
Siemian was starting after Darnold was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week.
Darnold is expected to miss at least a few more games, but Gase said the quarterback was at the team’s facility Tuesday after resting at home last week.
Siemian was injured in the second quarter when he threw a long incomplete pass to Ryan Griffin and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett slammed into him and fell on top of him — with the quarterback’s left leg bending awkwardly under him. The Browns’ defensive end was penalized for roughing the passer.
Falk replaced Siemian and was 20-of-25 passing for 198 yards in his NFL debut. That came just hours after he was promoted from the practice squad to back up Siemian.
RB Anderson released by Lions
Detroit released running back C.J. Anderson, quickly cutting ties with a player who helped the Los Angeles Rams reach the Super Bowl.
The Lions made the relatively surprising move after adding running back Paul Perkins off waivers from the New York Giants.
Anderson ran for 43 yards on 16 carries in two games, backing up Kerryon Johnson. He has 3,497 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns in his career in Denver, Carolina, Los Angeles and Detroit.
Detroit also signed quarterback Jeff Driskel to add depth along with rookie David Blough behind Matthew Stafford and released quarterback Josh Johnson.
Brown’s accuser meets with league
The NFL’s decision about whether to place New England wide receiver Antonio Brown on paid administrative leave via the commissioner’s exempt list remained pending after league representatives met for 10 hours Monday with a woman accusing Brown of rape and sexual assault.
The lengthy meeting between the NFL and Britney Taylor was confirmed by a person familiar with the case, who said there was “nothing imminent” as of Tuesday afternoon on the league’s decision about whether to place Brown on paid leave.
It is unclear whether that decision will be made this week. The person with knowledge of the deliberations said there is “no timeline” for the decision to be made because it depends on what the league’s investigation finds.
Brown made his debut with the Patriots in their 43-0 rout of the Dolphins at Miami on Sunday.
Odds and ends
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton’s status for Sunday’s game at Arizona is uncertain after the 2015 league MVP reaggravated a mid-foot sprain. Newton did not practice Tuesday, and Panthers coach Ron Rivera gave no timetable for Neewton’s potential return. Rivera said backup Kyle Allen would make his second career NFL start if Newton is not able to play. … … Miami general manager Chris Grier said this year’s roster dismantling has been more drastic than expected, but a turnaround can come quickly because the team will be aggressive in free agency in 2020. In the wake of the deal that sent disgruntled defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh, no remaining player has asked to be traded, Grier said. Team officials tried unsuccessfully to talk Fitzpatrick out of his desire to play elsewhere, Grier said, and the 2018 first-round pick was traded late Monday for a firstround pick in 2020.