The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Broncos saved by blocked FG
Joseph victorious in Denver debut; Cook shines for Vikings.
The rookie head coach iced the rookie kicker.
Shelby Harris got a hand on Younghoe Koo’s 44-yard game-tying field goal try with a second left and the Denver Broncos began the Vance Joseph era with a 24-21 win over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
“It was a little too exciting,” Von Miller said after presenting Joseph with the game ball in the jubilant locker room. “But a win is a win.”
Koo nailed the kick moments earlier, but Joseph had called a timeout to ice the kicker.
“I had two timeouts and I wasn’t going to leave with those in my pocket,” Joseph said.
Derek Wolfe had bullrushed the first field goal and told Harris, a third-year journeyman who made the team largely because of a rash of injuries along the D-line, that he’d get a chance to slice through this time because the guard would lean his way.
Sure enough, Harris got his right hand on the ball, which frittered short of the end zone as the Chargers looked on in dismay and the Broncos dog-piled Harris.
“I’m going to be real with you: I have no clue what happened,” Harris said of his heroics. “I felt it.”
(At) Vikings 29, Saints 19: Adrian Peterson spent more time watching from the sideline in his return to Minnesota than romping around the field, an introductory performance for New Orleans that became an afterthought once the Saints fell behind.
With Dalvin Cook patiently waiting for space and bursting around the edge, the Vikings formally turned the page in the backfield with promising results.
Sam Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a
victory that spoiled Peterson’s Saints debut.
“I really didn’t know what to expect coming in,” said Peterson, who spent 10 seasons with the Vikings while winning a league MVP award and becoming their all-time leading rusher by nearly 5,000 yards. “We talked about running the ball a little more and for whatever reason got away from it. That’s how the game played out.”
Booed by the crowd upon his first couple of mentions by the public address announcer, Peterson was limited to six carries and 18 yards in equal time with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.
Cook carried 22 times for 127 yards.
Texans: While coach Bill O’Brien refused to name his starting quarterback for Thursday night’s game at Cincinnati, the decision apparently has been made.
NFL Network reported Tuesday that rookie Deshaun Watson earned the nod over veteran Tom Savage. The first-round pick becomes the ninth quarterback to start under O’Brien since 2014, the most by any NFL team during that span.
Savage was pulled at halftime of Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars after absorbing six sacks and losing a pair of
fumbles.
Cardinals: Will re-sign veteran running back Chris Johnson in the wake of the serious injury to star David Johnson, The Associated Press reports. The Cardinals released Chris Johnson in their final roster cuts this year. ESPN reported Tuesday that David Johnson would undergo surgery on his dislocated left wrist and would be sidelined two to three months.
Bengals: Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones returned to practice after serving a one-game suspension for his offseason arrest and misdemeanor conviction. He will start against the Texans at home on Thursday night.
Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has two games left on his latest NFL suspension.
Bears: Placed inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman on injured reserve, another hit for a team coming off a threewin season. A sixth-year pro, Freeman suffered a pectoral injury and concussion in a season-opening loss to Atlanta on Sunday.
Freeman led Chicago with 110 tackles — a team-high 86 solo — last season.
The Bears also placed receiver Kevin White on injured reserve for the
third straight season Tuesday because of a broken shoulder.
Ravens: Running back Danny Wood head is expected to miss a month or more after injuring a hamstring in the season-opening win at Cincinnati, according to NFL. com. Woodhead’s absence wipes out quarterback Joe Flacco’s best receiving target out of the backfield.
Jaguars: Placed receiver Allen Robinson on injured reserve and signed receiver Max McCaffrey off New Orleans’ practice squad. Robinson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday at Houston and will have season-ending surgery.
McCaffrey is the son of retired NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey and the brother of Panthers rookie running back Christian McCaffrey.
Steelers: Coach Mike Tom lin says the news on defensive end Stephon Tuitt’s injured left biceps is encouraging and there’s a chance that Tuitt could play this weekend when the Steelers host the Vikings.
Bills: Added much-needed experienced depth at linebacker by signing free agent Jelani Jenkins. The 25-yearold started 34 games over the previous three seasons with the Dolphins.