Ravens QB tests positive for COVID, absent from camp
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is out for the opening days of training camp with the Baltimore Ravens after testing positive for COVID-19, head coach John Harbaugh revealed on Wednesday.
The Ravens said Jackson and running back Gus Edwards tested positive and the team will work with its medical staff on contact tracing. Players reported for meetings on Tuesday.
Defensive end Calais Campbell said the Ravens are mindful of avoiding an “outbreak” as they start preparing for the Sept. 12 opener. “I think the biggest thing is just trying to make sure that we don't have any big outbreaks and keeping the game safe,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he's been vaccinated after testing positive for COVID-19 last year.
The Ravens had 20 players miss time due COVID -19 last season, including Jackson, who sat out the Thanksgiving game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Jackson out and the timetable for his return undetermined, local quarterback Kenji Bahar was signed to the 90-man roster. The Baltimore native was on the field with the Ravens for their first fullteam training camp practice on Wednesday, although Trace Mcsorley is expected to take most of the first-team reps.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance has signed his four-year, fully guaranteed Us$34.1-million rookie contract, his agency CAA announced on Wednesday.
Lance was selected third overall in the recent NFL draft, following fellow quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) and Zach Wilson (New York Jets) off the board. Wilson is the lone unsigned firstround pick of the past draft.
Although Lance was selected with a high pick, coach Kyle Shanahan said veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is atop the depth chart as training camp opens.
“There's no open competition, where they're getting equal reps with the same group,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “Jimmy's coming in as the 1, Trey as the 2.”
Lance brings to the 49ers a resumé that includes 19 college games at North Dakota State. All but three of those games were in 2019, when Lance threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions, while running for 1,110 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Bison to a 28-20 win over James Madison in the FCS title game after the 2019 season.
Garoppolo, 29, is 22-8 as the 49ers' starter in the regular season but injuries — a torn ACL, a sprained throwing shoulder and two high ankle sprains — have limited him.
Garoppolo has started just 25 games during the past three seasons and is entering the fourth year of a five-year, Us$137.5-million contract.
The 49ers finished last season with a 6-10 record. They open the season on Sept. 12 at Detroit.
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson
was on the field Wednesday for the team's first training camp practice.
Watson was taking snaps in a red No. 4 jersey, but was also participating in drills wearing a hoodie. Fellow quarterback Tyrod Taylor was taking reps with the first team.
Texans GM Nick Caserio declined to answer questions about the nature of Watson's participation. He did say Watson passed a conditioning test.
“I'm not going to get into an individual discussion about who's going to be doing what,” Caserio said. “Everybody will go out there and whatever they're going to do, they're going to do. I'm not going to comment about what they're going to do on a day-to-day basis.”
Caserio also added that the team is taking it “one day at a time” with Watson, who wants to be traded, but is also facing massive legal issues.
The NFL said on Tuesday that no restrictions would be placed on Watson's participation at this time.
Watson, 25, is facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints from women in Houston alleging he's guilty of sexual misconduct.
Offensive tackle Braden Smith agreed
to a four-year, Us$72.4-million deal with the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday. Smith stabilized the right tackle position as a second-round pick in 2018.
Drafted 37th overall as a guard out of Auburn one pick after the Colts selected star defender Darrius Leonard, Smith allowed only one quarterback hit and zero sacks in 2020, based on Pro Football Focus film review.
An autographed Patrick Mahomes rookie
card printed in 2017 has become the most expensive NFL card after it sold for US$4.3 million, breaking the previous record of US$3.1 million for a Tom Bradysigned rookie card, PWCC Marketplace said.
“We just brokered a record-breaking $4.3 million private sale for a 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Rookie Auto 1/1 to LJ'S Card Shop,” PWCC tweeted. “This is the highest price ever paid for a football card!”