Chiefs’ Edwards-Helaire rejoins team at practice
Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire practiced Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt against New Orleans in Week 15, raising hopes the first-round pick can play in the divisional round of the playoffs against Cleveland on Sunday.
Edwards-Helaire had been out with a high-ankle sprain, causing him to miss the Chiefs’ final two regular-season games.
The only players to miss practice Wednesday were wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who missed the final game of the regular-season with a calf injury; rookie linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who has been dealing with an ankle injury; and cornerback Rashad Fenton, who hurt both of his ankles in the Chiefs’ Week 17 loss to the Chargers.
That means wide receiver Tyreek Hill and linebacker Ben Niemann were back from hamstring injuries that hobbled them late in the season, along with linebacker Anthony Hitchens (COVID-19) and offensive tackle Mike Remmers (back).
PACKERS PLACE OL VELDHEER ON COVID-19 LIST >> The Green Bay Packers have placed offensive lineman Jared Veldheer on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced.
Veldheer had hoped to make NFL history as the only person to play for two teams in the same postseason. He started at left tackle for the Indianapolis Colts in their loss against the Buffalo Bills last weekend, and the Packers signed him on Monday.
The 33-year-old was allowed to join the Packers because he was on the Colts’ practice squad and was promoted only for Indianapolis’ playoff contest.
COACH, DEFENSIVE PLAYERS SET TO RETURN FOR BROWNS >> Browns rookie coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s on track to return to the team for playoff preparations after missing Sunday’s wild-card win in Pittsburgh with COVID-19.
Cleveland activated cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson from the COVID-19 list on Wednesday. Also, offensive line coach Bill Callahan returned to the team after being one of four assistants sidelined by the virus. Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio remains in isolation, and the Browns are hoping to get him back in the next day or two.
BRONCOS HIRE GENERAL MANAGER >> John Elway’s replacement as Broncos general manager will be Vikings executive George Paton.
Elway announced the hiring Wednesday. Denver hasn’t reached the playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 five years ago. Paton spent the past 14 seasons with Minnesota, including the last six as vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager. He’s been one of the hottest names on the GM circuit in recent years.
Paton will report to Elway, who is keeping his role as president of football operations.
BEARS PLAN TO KEEP NAGY, GM PACE >> The Chicago Bears plan to keep general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy for at least another season. The team opted against sweeping changes in leadership after the Bears slipped into the playoffs despite going 8-8 for the second year in a row, chairman George McCaskey said.
The Bears have two playoff appearances and a 42-54 regular-season record in six years under Pace, while Nagy is 28-20. They have not won in the postseason since the 2010 team played in the NFC Championship game.
EXTRA WILD-CARD GAMES IMPACT RATINGS >> Two additional games on wild-card weekend resulted in somewhat diluted ratings for the NFL. The six games averaged 25.1 million viewers on television and online, which is a 20% drop from last season’s per-game viewership on the first playoff weekend, according to the league and Nielsen. Last year’s four wild-card games, two of which went to overtime, averaged 30.5 million viewers.
FORMER FULLBACK TIM LESTER DIES OF COVID-19 >> Former fullback Tim Lester has died of complications from COVID-19. He was 52. Lester played eight NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (1992-94), Pittsburgh Steelers (1995-98) and Dallas Cowboys (1999).
Lester gained notoriety in his NFL career as the “Bus Driver,” when he blocked for Steelers star Jerome Bettis, who was nicknamed “The Bus.” Bettis had a career-best rushing-yardage output of 1,665 yards in 1997 while following Lester.
After his NFL career ended, Lester founded a youth football program and coached high school football.