Falcons cautious with ailing Freeman

The Falcons’ Devonta Freeman has concussion symptoms and the team is taking no chances with the league’s highestpaid running back.

He has been ruled out this week’s preseason game at Pittsburgh in what head coach Dan Quinn described as a precaution.

Sunday, Freeman left practice with what was announced as heat-related issues. Monday, Quinn said Freeman reported the symptoms after leaving the field and has been placed in the concussion protocol.

“He may start practicing as we go but we’ll rule him out for now for the game as more of a precautionary note,” Quinn said.

The Falcons agreed to terms Wednesday on a five-year, $41.25 million extension with Freeman. The deal makes Freeman the league’s highest-paid running back in terms of the overall package.

Freeman had one carry for 3 yards and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan on Atlanta’s opening drive of its 23-20 preseason loss at Miami on Thursday. Freeman did not play after the opening drive and likely was in store for a similarly limited role Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Crucial losses: Defensive end Kerry Hyder, who led the Lions with eight sacks last season, will miss the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon Sunday, reported NFL.com, which also noted that one of the team’s backup linebackers, Brandon Copeland, will miss the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Coach Jim Caldwell could not confirm that Hyder’s season is over, but did acknowledge his injury is serious.

“We’ve got a long time between now and when preseason is over with,” Caldwell said. “We’ll just see how things go. We got some young guys with some talent. They have some ability. And we’ll see what happens.”

Injury report: Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman, who started 11 games last season, is expected to miss at least the first four games of the season after suffering an ankle injury Sunday, NFL.com reported . ... Bills receiver Jordan Matthews is sidelined indefinitely because of a chip fracture in his sternum . ... Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (foot) and receiver Marqise Lee (high ankle sprain) won’t play in Thursday’s preseason game against Tampa Bay.

Briefly: The Dolphins signed undrafted rookie receiver Trey Griffey. The son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. had 79 catches for 1,241 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons at Arizona . ... The Jaguars claimed cornerback Charles James off waivers from the Bills.