Freeman replacing Barkley
Devonta Freeman reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the New York Giants.
The veteran running back will sign this morning and practice with the team in the afternoon, with his likely Giants debut Sunday against coach Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator during Freeman’s Pro Bowl seasons with the Falcons in 2015 and 2016.
Freeman, 28, entered the Giants’ coronavirus testing protocol Monday and worked out Tuesday before agreeing to the deal.
Saquon Barkley’s season-ending torn right ACL on Sunday prompted the Giants (0-2) to seek reinforcements. Barkley was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
The team’s other healthy running backs are Dion Lewis, Eli Penny and Wayne Gallman, along with ex-Cowboy Rod Smith on the practice squad.
Broncos adding Bortles as backup
The Denver Broncos are in the process of adding free agent Blake Bortles as their backup quarterback, a source said Tuesday.
Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, can’t join the team until the weekend. The person said the seventh-year veteran is going through COVID-19 protocols after agreeing to a one-year deal.
Brett Rypien is expected to be Jeff Driskel’s backup Sunday when the Broncos (0-2) host Tom Brady and Tampa Bay (1-1).
Driskel took over last weekend when starter Drew Lock injured his throwing shoulder on a sack in Pittsburgh. Lock is expected to miss three to five weeks.
Maskless Gruden and Payton fined
Two more NFL head coaches and their teams were fined for not wearing masks on the sideline.
A source said Jon Gruden of the Raiders and Sean Payton of the Saints each were fined $100,000 for not wearing masks on the sideline Monday night, and the two teams were fined $250,000 each.
The league a day earlier handed out similar punishments to Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll.
Son’s birthday helps White cope
Patriots running back James White said he’s having trouble processing the sudden death of his father, Tyrone, in a crash Sunday, but he’s finding comfort in celebrating his son’s first birthday.
In an Instagram message, White posted side by side photos of himself as a child sitting on his father’s lap and another of White holding his 1-year-old son, Xzavier.
“Happy 1st birthday Xzavier! I hope I can be as good of a father to you as my father was to my brother and I!” White wrote. “I still can’t quite process everything that’s going on right now but when I look at you, you give me life! May you Rest In Peace, Dad. We miss you much already.”