Cardinals might turn to Gabbert at QB vs. Texans
A knee injury to quarterback Drew Stanton could clear the way for Blaine Gabbert to make his debut for the Arizona Cardinals.
Stanton sprained a knee early in Thursday night’s 22-16 loss to Seattle. He gutted it out the rest of the game, but it’s not known whether he will be able to go on Sunday against the Texans in Houston.
After four days off, the Cardinals regrouped Tuesday, and coach Bruce Arians was not forthcoming about Stanton’s status, except to say that he practiced.
Whether he was limited was not known, because no injury report is required until Wednesday.
Stanton has started two games since Carson Palmer was lost for the season with a broken left arm.
Gabbert was signed in the offseason. Immediate speculation was that he would battle Stanton for the backup quarterback spot. But Stanton, who is extremely close to Arians, had that job sewn up from the start, and Gabbert was relegated to third string.
Last Thursday night was the first time this season that Gabbert suited up for a game, serving as backup.
Injury news
Carolina rookie wide receiver Curtis Samuel is done for the year. The Panthers announced that he will undergo season-ending surgery on his left ankle and be placed on injured reserve. Samuel injured his ankle in the third quarter of Carolina’s 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night when a defensive player rolled over his ankle. The team did not release the specific injury to Samuel’s ankle.
• Cleveland Browns linebacker Jamie Collins has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending tear in the MCL of his right knee Sunday.
• Washington placed starting running back Rob Kelley (sprained knee ligament) and inside linebacker Will Compton (foot sprain) on injured reserve. The team also signed free-agent defensive lineman Caraun Reid and Eagles practice-squad running back Byron Marshall.
Around the league
The Seattle Seahawks signed veteran cornerback Byron Maxwell to help make up for the loss of Richard Sherman to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Seattle also placed Sherman on injured reserve. In addition, Seattle placed running back C.J. Prosise on injured reserve with an ankle injury and signed running back Mike Davis from the practice squad.
• Philadelphia signed former New York Giants offensive lineman Will Beatty and released Taylor Hart.
• Buffalo signed defensive tackle Deandre Coleman, who spent part of last season with the Bills. The move came after the Bills allowed 492 yards rushing in their past two games. In three weeks, Buffalo’s run defense has dropped from third in the NFL to 22nd. The Bills also released Jerel Worthy.
• The Detroit Lions signed defensive end George Johnson and receiver Jace Billingsley. The Lions also released defensive end Jacquies Smith and receiver Jared Abbrederis.