London stadium not ready
NFL games will be played at Wembley Stadium in London on three consecutive weekends for the first time because the new home being built for English Premier League club Tottenham won’t be ready.
Tottenham said Monday that it would be unable to host the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders on Oct. 14 because of “issues with the critical safety systems” at the 62,000-seat stadium in the final stages of construction.
The teams won’t have to adjust plans significantly because Wembley, English soccer’s national stadium, is only 12 miles across north London from Tottenham.
Wembley will also stage the Oct. 21 game between the Chargers and Tennessee Titans, and the meeting between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars a week later.
Linebacker gets chance in Denver
Former Tennessee star linebacker A.J. Johnson is getting a shot in the NFL with the Denver Broncos less than a month after he was acquitted along with a college teammate of aggravated rape charges.
Johnson and Michael Williams were acquitted of all counts July 27. They were indicted in February 2015 after a woman said that both men raped her during a party at Johnson’s apartment in the early morning hours of Nov. 16, 2014. Johnson and Williams were suspended from the team less than 48 hours after the party and never played for Tennessee again.
Johnson was a four-year starter and a pro prospect whose invitation to the 2015 NFL combine was rescinded after charges were filed.
Etc.
LeSean McCoy’s ex-girlfriend is suing the Buffalo Bills running back for failing to protect her after she was bloodied, beaten and had $133,000 worth of jewelry stolen during a home invasion last month. Delicia Cordon also alleges in a lawsuit filed last Friday in Georgia’s Fulton County that McCoy would “often brutally beat his dog” and would also “aggressively, physically discipline and beat his young son.” ... The New York Giants had a hold-your-breath moment with rookie running back Saquon Barkley during practice, but a leg injury that at first appeared more serious was diagnosed as a mild sprain . ... The San Francisco 49ers are bringing in veteran Alfred Morris to provide depth at running back while they deal with injuries at the position, coach Kyle Shanahan said . ... The Minnesota Vikings put guard Nick Easton on injured reserve because of a neck injury that required surgery and has probably ended his season.