Niners’ Garoppolo to play at least 1 series
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is going to play at least one possession in the preseason opener Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Garoppolo will be taking his first snaps in a game since signing a fiveyear, $137.5 million contract in February. Garoppolo has looked good during training camp, including Tuesday’s practice when he hit receiver Aldrick Robinson for a pair of touchdowns.
Shanahan said he hasn’t determined which veterans will play and which will be given the night off.
Cornerback Richard Sherman was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during practice Friday. He spent Tuesday doing conditioning drills and will be re-evaluated next week when San Francisco returns to practice.
Nick Foles misses practice again because of muscle spams: Nick Foles has missed three straight practices because of muscle spasms near his shoulder and neck and Carson Wentz still isn’t participating in 11-on-11 drills for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Foles’ injury isn’t considered serious, but it’s uncertain whether the Super Bowl MVP will play in the preseason opener Thursday night against Pittsburgh. Wentz is coming back from surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.
Third-stringer Nate Sudfeld will likely get most of the snaps against the Steelers with No. 4 quarterback Joe Callahan also seeing action.
Coach Doug Pederson hasn’t determined if Wentz will play at all in the preseason. He still hasn’t been cleared for contact.
The Eagles open their regular season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 6.
Luck to make start, may play most of 1st quarter at Seattle: Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich says Andrew Luck will start and is expected to play about a quarter in Thursday night’s preseason opener at Seattle.
Luck has not played in more than 19 months while recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder in January 2017. He says he’s nervous but excited about returning.
Reich wants to see the top overall pick from the 2012 draft establish a rhythm and release the ball quickly. He did not say how many snaps Luck would take.
Luck will be playing behind a revamped offensive line that includes first-round pick Quenton Nelson at left guard and free-agent pickup Matt Slauson at right guard.
Chargers DE Joey Bosa exits practice with foot injury: Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa left practice early on Tuesday because of a left foot injury.
Bosa has 23 career sacks in two seasons since being drafted third overall in the 2016 draft, including an NFLrecord 19 sacks in his first 20 games.
Bosa has never missed a game because of injury, forming one of the top pass-rush tandems in the NFL with Melvin Ingram.
Head coach Anthony Lynn did not speak to reporters following practice, but Bosa was not expected to play in the team’s preseason opener at Arizona on Saturday.
The Chargers previously lost cornerback Jason Verrett to a torn Achilles during a conditioning test prior to the start of training camp.
Ex-NFL receiver Steve Smith Sr. says he battled depression: Former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. says he battled depression during his 16-year career with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.
Smith, who retired after the 2016 season and now works as an analyst for the NFL Network, told NFL.com that despite making five Pro Bowls and being selected All-Pro twice he “routinely felt trapped, inferior and alone” and often asked himself “what’s wrong with me?”
The 39-year-old Smith said by his final season with Carolina in 2013 he was so overwhelmed he didn’t know how to handle his emotions and “was a cynic of everything and everyone.”
Smith says he’s been receiving treatment for depression and advised others to do the same, saying “stop trying to deal with these serious matters alone.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera praised Smith for speaking out on the topic.
Browns rookie WR Callaway cited for marijuana possession: Cleveland Browns rookie Antonio Callaway has been cited for marijuana possession, the latest drama involving one of the team’s wide receivers.
Callaway was pulled over in his car by Strongsville, Ohio police at 2:59 a.m. on Sunday. According to a police report, Callaway failed to yield to oncoming traffic and a “small amount” of marijuana was found under Callaway’s seat.
Callaway also was driving with a suspended license.
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