The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pats’ Edelman exits early with apparent knee injury
Wideout limps off after catch, is carted to locker room.
New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman limped off the field, trying to keep weight off his injured right knee, after making a catch on the game-opening possession against the Lions on Friday night at Ford Field in Detroit.
Edelman had three receptions for 52 yards in a fourplay stretch and was hurt on the last one as he was tackled by safety Tavon Wilson, a former teammate.
Edelman was evaluated by New England’s medical staff behind the team’s bench in a blue tent. Quarterback Tom Brady went inside the temporary structure after ending the drive with his first of two touchdown passes to Chris Hogan.
Shortly after the quarterback left the tent, Edelman emerged and was taken to the locker room in a cart.
Meantime, reports surfaced Friday that New England was interested in trading defensive end Kony Ealy, who was acquired in a trade with the Panthers in March.
NFL Network reported Friday that the team has “gauged” Ealy’s trade market around the league, according to sources informed of the situation.
The pass rusher has struggled to fit in with the Patriots, spendingmuch of camp “working mostly with the backups and end-of-roster players,” ESPN reported.
Chiefs: Running back Spencer Ware injured his right knee andwas carted off the field in the first quarter of a preseason game against Seattle on Friday night.
Ware was injured about halfway through the first
quarter. He remained on the turf after making a 6-yard reception on a pass from Alex Smith. Ware appeared to take an awkward step with his right leg during the play and team trainers were looking at his knee while hewas down on the field.
Ware rushed for 921 yards and had another 447 yards receiving last season.
49ers: Released outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks after eight seasons with the team. The 33-year-old Brooks signed with San Francisco in 2008 and was the longest-tenured defensive player on the roster. He had 51.5 sacks in 131 career games with the Niners and helped the team make three straight trips to the NFC title game from 2011-13.
Eli Harold had passed Brooks on the depth chart and will start in his place,
Vikings: More than five months after surgery on his right ankle — six days after signing with the Vikings as a free agent — running back Latavius Murray will finally be free to carry the ball for his new team in a game.
When the Vikings turned Adrian Peterson loose and picked up Murray from the Raiders, the fifth-year veteran was expected to take over as the featured back. Then the Vikings made Dalvin Cook their top pick in the draft, leaving the rehabilitating Murray behind.
Redskins: Outside linebacker Junior Galette is set to return to the field after having not played a game in two years. Hewas first sidelined after tearing his left Achilles tendon, then he tore his right one. This training camp, Galette has been bothered by a hamstring injury and missed the Redskins’ two preseason games.
But Galette was finally back at practice this week and is hoping to play Sunday against the Bengals.
Packers: Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is not expected to need ankle surgery, NFL Network reported. Bulaga sustained an ankle sprain in practice Wednesday and is enduring a lot of swelling.
Green Bay’s plan is for Bulaga to rest for a couple of weeks and then re-evaluate his status before the season opener against the Seahawks.