The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Luck activated by Colts
Franchise QB may still miss opener; Flacco back on field.
The Indianapolis Colts activated Andrew Luck from the physically unable to perform list and traded 2015 firstround draft Phillip Dorsett to the New England Patriots.
The moves came on a busy Saturday when the Colts trimmed their roster from 90 to 53 players.
Had the Colts not taken Luck off the PUP list, he would have missed the first six games of the season. He has yet to practice with the Colts as he continues to rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.
When the Pro Bowl quarterback will see his first action of the season remains to be seen. The Colts haven’t put a timeline on Luck’s return. Owner Jim Irsay intimated this week that Luck might not be ready for Week 1.
Dorsett was sent to the Patriots for backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, a third-round pick in 2016 who started two games as a rookie while Tom Brady served his four-game suspension.
Broncos: Broke up the “No Fly Zone,” releasing three-time Pro Bowl strong safety T.J. Ward with a year left on his contract.
General manager John Elway said cutting the eighthyear pro was a difficult decision “after everything he’s done for our football team.”
Ward was due $4.5 million this year in the final season of his four-year, $22.5 million contract he signed in 2014. The Broncos will eat about $1.3 million from his prorated signing bonus.
Second-year pro Justin Simmons has stood out in place of Ward, who missed most of training camp and all of the preseason with a torn hamstring.
Ravens: Joe Flacco is back behind center — at practice, anyway. Flacco participated in team drills for the first time since being sidelined with a back injury in July.
The starting quarterback missed all of training camp, but is expected to start the opener of his 10th season on Sept. 10 at Cincinnati.
“Joe looked good. He practiced very well,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Now, one of the next pieces is to see how he responds to that over the next few days.”
Giants: Geno Smith completed a remarkable comeback from major knee surgery and made the roster as Eli Manning’s backup. The 26-year-old former Jet edged fellow veteran Josh Johnson for the No. 2 spot, with thirdround draft pick Davis Webb is waiting in the wings.
The Giants also selected rookie placekicker Aldrick Rosas over veteran Mike Nugent and waived tight end Will Tye, who started 10 games last season.
Chiefs: Placed linebackers Tamba Hali and Dadi Nicolas on the physically unable to perform list and released veteran running back C.J. Spiller. Hali, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, is dealing with balky knees.
Kansas City also traded offensive lineman Isaiah Battle to Seattle for a conditional 2018 draft pick and placed running back Spencer Ware on injured reserve.
Browns: After releasing backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, who has a guaranteed $16 million contract for this season, Cleveland pulled off a trade with its chief rival, acquiring wide receiver Sammie Coates from the Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick in 2018.
Patriots: Acquired wide receiver Phillip Dorsett from the Colts for backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
By adding Dorsett, a firstround draft pick in 2015, the Patriots get another capable pass catcher with Julian Edelman out for the season with a knee injury.
Vikings: Traded for cornerback Tramaine Brock from the Seahawks, adding an experienced option to their secondary in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
Brock started 31 of 32 games over the past two seasons for San Francisco but was released during the offseason after he was arrested and accused of hitting a woman he was dating.
Minnesota also released left guard Alex Boone, one season after he signed fouryear contract worth as much as $26.8 million as a free agent from San Francisco.
Chargers: First-round pick Mike Williams avoided starting the season on the physically unable to return list. NFL Network reported.
The wide receiver out of Clemson missed all of training camp after suffering a herniated disc in his back early during offseason workouts. There had been some reports that Williams could miss the entire season.
The Chargers also released backup quarterback Kellen Clemens after acquiring Cardale Jones in a trade with Buffalo early in training camp.
Cowboys: Released quarterback Kellen Moore, completing undrafted rookie Cooper Rush’s surprising rise to the backup job behind reigning NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys also sent an undisclosed 2019 draft pick to Cincinnati for cornerback Bene Benwikere while cutting the roster to 53 players.
Rush had six touchdown passes without an interception while outplaying Moore, a five-year veteran, in all four preseason games.
49ers: Released quarterback Matt Barkley, clearing the way for rookie C.J. Beathard to open as the backup to Brian Hoyer.
Also cut was last season’s leading receiver, Jeremy Kerley. The 49ers placed projected starting guard Joshua Garnett and fourth-round running back Joe Williams on injured reserve.
Lions: Removed defensive end Ziggy Ansah and tackle Corey Robinson from the physically-unable-to-perform list. Ansah’s return is good news for a defensive line trying to recover from the loss of Kerry Hyder, who went on injured reserve with an Achilles tendon injury.
Dolphins: Suspended safety T.J. McDonald signed a $24 million, four-year extension through 2021. McDonald will miss the first half of the season serving an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy following his arrest last year on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Falcons: Defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List as the result of 2016 domestic violence-related charges. The NFL announced the move following charges filed by DeKalb County prosecutors in a March 2016 incident.
Bills: Reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Rod Streater and placed linebacker Sam Barrington on injured reserve.