Falcons, Collins have a ‘really tough week’

Miami wide receiver Damore’ea Stringfellow (84) runs for a touchdown ahead of Atlanta linebacker Jack Lynn (43) and cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during the second half of a preseason game in Miami Gardens, Fla.

ATLANTA — Jalen Collins’ performance on the field in Atlanta’s preseason opener didn’t help his status with the Falcons at a time his off-field problems threaten his roster spot.

Collins was burned for a 99-yard touchdown catch by Dolphins undrafted rookie Damore’ea Stringfellow in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 23-20 loss at Miami.

Collins was given a 10-game suspension for the start of the season on Sunday for his second violation of the league’s policy on performance enhancers. He missed the first four games of 2016 when suspended for his first violation.

Following this week’s suspension, it was uncertain if Collins would play against the Dolphins, even though suspended players are eligible to practice and play in the preseason.

“I thought it was a really tough week for Jalen, from the suspension and then not playing well in the game,” coach Dan Quinn said Friday. “He probably played a little more than we had anticipated going in.”

On Monday, Quinn said “trust has been broken” with the second suspension and he and general manager Thomas Dimitroff would decide Collins’ future with the team.

Collins returned from last year’s suspension to play well as a fillin starter following a season-ending injury to Desmond Trufant. Quinn said Collins likely will have fewer snaps in the team’s next preseason game at Pittsburgh on Aug. 20.

“We will take it on a week-toweek basis,” Quinn said. “It would be, I would think, a little less as we’re heading into the next game. ... We’re hoping to see if he can reset.”

Linebacker Duke Riley was File, Wilfredo Lee / The Associated Press among the rookies who made a good first impression. Defensive end Takkarist McKinley’s debut may be only a week away.

McKinley, the first-round pick from UCLA, was held out of the game as he continues his recovery from March 6 surgery for a torn labrum and fractured right shoulder socket. McKinley has been participating in about half of the snaps in team drills during training camp, and Quinn said Friday the rookie’s reps could increase this week.

Quinn said he plans to see if McKinley “can handle the full load” as the Falcons return to their training camp schedule on Sunday.

McKinley has shown enough explosive power in practice to bolster hopes he can add punch to the Falcons’ pass rush.

Wide receivers Julio Jones and Taylor Gabriel were among the veterans held out against Miami who could play in the next game.

DALLAS — The NFL suspended star Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday, concluding after a yearlong investigation that the league’s leading rusher injured his former girlfriend in three separate incidents last summer.

According to the letter Elliott received informing him of the suspension, the NFL believed he used “physical force” three times in a span of five days in a Columbus, Ohio, apartment last July resulting in injuries to Tiffany Thompson’s face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, hips and knees. She was his girlfriend at the time.

Prosecutors in Columbus decided nearly a year ago not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State. In announcing the suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the league said its investigation was based on photographs, text messages and other electronic evidence. Commissioner Roger Goodell made his decision based on the findings and in consultation with four advisers, including Hall of Fame player Ken Houston.

Elliott’s ban means the Cowboys will have four players suspended when last year’s NFC East champions start the season in a month — with the possibility of losing two more. The 22-year-old Elliot has three days to appeal the ruling, which his legal team said he would do while blasting the decision.

“The NFL’s findings are replete with factual inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions and it ‘cherry picks’ so-called evidence to support its conclusion while ignoring other critical evidence,” attorneys Frank Salzano and Scott Rosenblum said in a joint statement. “During the upcoming weeks and through the appeal, a slew of additional credible and controverting evidence will come to light.”

If Goodell’s ruling stands, Elliott will go on the suspended list the first week of the regular season and be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 23. His first possible game would be Week 8 at Washington. The ruling requires Elliott to get an evaluation to determine whether he needs counseling or treatment, and to show proof that he is following up on any recommendations. NFL special counsel for conduct Todd Jones wrote in the letter to Elliott that advisers “were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that (Elliott) engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016.”

Last September, the office of Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer cited conflicting and inconsistent information in the evidence in deciding against criminal charges. Pfeiffer’s office declined comment Friday.

Peter Harvey, one of the advisers to Goodell, said the NFL had access to forensic electronic evidence that prosecutors didn’t have. Harvey said an example was proof that photographs were taken by Thompson the same day she alleged that she was injured by Elliott.

Harvey also said some of the explanations offered by Elliott’s representatives, including that Thompson was injured in a fight with a woman or by falling down stairs, weren’t supported by evidence.