Rookie Darnold struggles in first preseason start
Sam Darnold had a pass intercepted and showed the growing pains of a rookie quarterback in his first preseason start for the New York Jets, who lost to the Washington Redskins 15-13 on a last-second field goal Thursday night at Landover, Md.
Darnold completed eight of 11 passes for 62 yards but took two sacks and had a couple of throws batted out of the air, including the pass that was intercepted. It was a far cry from the impressive debut in which the No. 3 pick in the draft completed 13 of 18 passes for 96 yards and looked like the front-runner to win the Jets’ starting quarterback competition.
The former USC star played the entire first half before giving way to veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
Tom Brady moved the New England Patriots with ease in their Super Bowl rematch against the penalty prone Philadelphia Eagles, completing 19 of 26 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the first half of a 3720 Patriots victory at Foxborough, Mass. Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles of the Eagles left in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury on a strip sack that rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley recovered and ran 54 yards for a touchdown . ... Aaron Rodgers played only one series but connected with tight end Jimmy Graham for a touchdown in the quarterback’s preseason debut, helping the Green Bay Packers to a 51-34 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay, Wis.
Elway won’t reach out to Kaepernick
John Elway might soon find himself in the market for a veteran backup quarterback, but there’s one man who won’t be getting a call: Colin Kaepernick.
“Colin had his chance to be here,” the Denver Broncos general manager said when asked if the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback would be an option if he decides Case Keenum’s backup isn’t already on Denver’s roster.
“We offered him a contract. He didn’t take it,” Elway said. “And as I said at my deposition [in Kaepernick’s collusion lawsuit against the NFL] — and I don’t know if I’m legally able to say this — but he’s had his chance to be here. He passed.”
Kaepernick declined to take a pay cut from his $11.9 million salary to facilitate a trade to the Broncos in 2016 after Peyton Manning’s retirement.
Unable to get a discount from Kaepernick or a rebate from the 49ers, Elway moved up in the draft to select former Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round of the 2016 draft.
Lynch has been a f lop and this week was demoted to third string behind Chad Kelly.
Etc.
Dez Bryant visited the Cleveland Browns’ headquarters in Berea, Ohio, and there’s a chance the meeting could lead to the three-time Pro Bowl receiver signing with the Browns.
Before meeting with team officials, Bryant posted a photo on Twitter signing autographs at Cleveland’s airport.
Bryant, 29, was released by the Dallas Cowboys after eight seasons in April and has been waiting to latch on with another team. He turned down a three-year contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens, who may still have interest in him.