Carolina loses two big pieces
The Carolina Panthers will be without three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen and second-team All-Pro right tackle Daryl Williams for the foreseeable future.
The team announced Tuesday that Olsen re-fractured the same right foot that kept him out of nine games last season in Carolina’s 16-8 win over Dallas on Sunday. Olsen will not have surgery and will be reevaluated on a “monthly basis.” He’ll remain on the team’s roster in hopes that he can return later in the season as he did a year ago.
Williams suffered an undisclosed knee injury and will need surgery.
Ranked as the top right tackle in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus, Williams is likely headed for injured reserve. He tore the MCL and dislocated the patella in his right knee in training camp, but fought back to play in the season opener.
FALCONS LOSE SECOND DEFENSIVE PRO BOWLER IN WEEK >> The Atlanta Falcons placed linebacker Deion Jones on injured reserve, taking a second 2017 Pro Bowler from the defense in less than a week.
The move with Jones comes after coach Dan Quinn on Friday announced safety Keanu Neal suffered a torn ligament in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.
Jones hurt his foot in Thursday night’s 18-12 opening loss at Philadelphia. Quinn said that Jones will require surgery, but is expected to return this season.
Jones must remain on IR for at least six weeks. He then would have two weeks to return to the roster. PATRIOTS ADJUST FOR PASSING GAME >> The New England Patriots continue to try different options at their short-handed receiver position, signing Corey Coleman and Bennie Fowler, the team said.
The Patriots have had a revolving door at receiver in 2018, as they are biding time until Julian Edelman returns from a four-game suspension. Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett are atop the depth chart, with Cordarrelle Patterson the No. 3 option.
On Monday, the club waived second-year slot/ punt returner Riley McCarron after he muffed a punt in the fourth quarter of the team’s season-opening win over the Houston Texans. The team also waived receiver Chad Hansen, whom they had claimed on waivers on Sept. 2 from the New York Jets.
During training camp, the club released receivers Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, Malcolm Mitchell and Eric Decker, as a series of moves haven’t panned out. The Patriots also added running back Kenjon Barner.
Barner fills the void created with Jeremy Hill landing on injured reserve and also could factor into the punt-return mix with McCarron waived. Barner was with the Eagles from 2015-2017, and spent this offseason and preseason with the Panthers.
Coleman entered the NFL as a 2016 first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns, but never reached the expectations that come with being selected with the No. 15 pick. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 6 for a 2020 seventh-round pick, but didn’t make the 53-man roster.
AROUND THE LEAGUE >> Seattle is likely to be without receiver Doug Baldwin for at least next week’s game at Chicago and possibly longer due to an MCL injury to his right knee.
• Washington re-signed wide receiver Brian Quick.
• Green Bay placed receiver and return man Trevor Davis on IR.