Bears, Ravens open preseason tonight
When the Bears and Ravens meet in tonight’s preseason opener in Canton, Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of Fame game could be a defensive battle. The Bears are installing a new offense under coach Matt Nagy, and few if any of the Ravens’ starters at offensive skill positions are likely to get much action.
Nagy has a second-year QB, Mitchell Trubisky, who will take his first major steps running the scheme Nagy brought from Kansas Cit y. Nagy seems unconcerned that Trubisky will be overmatched — even though he has been an interception machine in practices.
“Our guys have picked up every thing that we’ve asked,” Nagy said.
As for the Ravens, don’t look for Joe Flacco. The game is an extra exhibition and provides an opportunity for coach John Harbaugh to look at first-round draft pick Lamar Jackson and veteran Robert Griffin III.
Cowboys: Activated defensive end Randy Gregory off the non-football injury list after a year away from football on a substance-abuse suspension. Gregory has played in just two of the past 32 regular-season games because of multiple suspensions. Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him before the Cowboys reported to training camp in California. The former Nebraska standout participated in a walkthrough practice Wednesday. Coach Jason Garrett said Dallas is “still going to be very deliberate” with the 25-year-old.
Eagles: Quarterback Carson Wentz didn’t participate in 11-on-11 drills for the third straight practice for precautionary reasons after taking part the first three days. Coach Doug Pederson emphasized that Wentz hasn’t suffered any setbacks. He said he’s encouraged by Wentz’s recovery from surgery to repair a torn left ACL last December. Wentz again took part in 7-on-7 drills.
Browns: Guard Joel Bitonio is sliding over to starting left tackle — probably for good. Coach Hue Jackson had been reluctant to have Bitonio change positions, but said Wednesday he is “full speed ahead” with the switch. Jackson said the coaching staff decided the team was better off with Bitonio at left tackle, a position held down by Pro Bowler Joe Thomas the past 10 seasons. Thomas retired in March.
Colts: Jack Mewhort kept trying to play through knee pain. Eventually, the 26-yearold offensive linemen simply couldn’t any more. Mewhort, who came to Indianapolis as a second-round draft pick in 2014, billed as part of the long-term solution to protecting quarterback Andrew Luck, abruptly announced his retirement Wednesday. He missed six of the last 10 games in 2016 and all but five games in 2017.
Seahawks: Brought back veteran guard J.R. Sweezy, who played hi s first four NFL seasons in Seattle. He signed with Tampa Bay prior to the 2016 season but then missed the entire year with a back injury. He started 14 games in 2017 but finished on injured reserve with a leg injury and was released by the Bucs in June.