Miami’s Ajayi evaluated for a possible concussion

DAVIE, Fla. - Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase decided to risk heavy contact by allowing tackling at practice Monday, and the hitting was so fierce that running back Jay Ajayi suffered a possible concussion.

Ajayi walked off the field accompanied by trainers after several jarring collisions, including one that dislodged linebacker Lawrence Timmons’ helmet.

Gase declined to second-guess his decision — at least not with the media.

“If we don’t go live, you guys write that we don’t work on tackling,” he said. “If we do go live and somebody gets hurt, then you say we shouldn’t. You’re going to be wrong either way. We feel like that’s best for our football team. We needed to go live and tackle, and it’s football.”

Shoulder injury sidelines Steelers rookie RB James Conner:

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back James Conner’s first NFL training camp is off to a rough start.

Conner missed practice on Monday while undergoing tests on a shoulder injury sustained on Sunday during the team’s first padded workout.

Grand jury declines rape charges against Raiders’ Conley:

A grand jury in Cleveland has decided not to charge Oakland Raiders rookie Gareon Conley with any crimes after a rape investigation.

Spokesman Ryan Miday of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement Monday that the grand jury declined all possible charges for Conley after being presented the facts and circumstances surrounding the sexual assault allegations.

Jets rookie Adams says football field ‘perfect place to die’:

New York Jets rookie safety Jamal Adams says during a forum with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and season-ticket holders that if he had his choice, the football field is “the perfect place to die.”

Fans were able to ask questions Monday during the session, which also included Jets running back Matt Forte. One brought up player health and safety, coming off the largest update on chronic traumatic encephalopathy so far. Boston University and VA researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association last week that they found signs of the disease in nearly 90 percent of the 200 brains examined, including 110 of 111 from NFL players.

Adams, the Jets’ first-round pick from LSU, says he understands the focus on safety, but would “be at peace” if he died on the field over anywhere else because of the sacrifice he and other players make to play the game.

— Wire services