Kaepernick grievance is headed to trial; Bengals’ backup QB hurt
Solid second half boosts Lynch’s hopes in Denver
PHILADELPHIA — Colin Kaepernick and his legal team are driving inside NFL territory, forcing the league and its 32 teams to brace for a defensive stand.
An arbitrator is sending Kaepernick’s grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league’s request to throw out the quarterback’s claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice. The NFL declined a request for comment.
Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance and NFC championship game in consecutive seasons, argues that owners have colluded to keep him off any NFL roster since he hit free agency in 2017.
Burbank’s decision means there was sufficient evidence of collusion to keep Kaepernick’s drive going.
Now some owners, coaches and team executives will be called to testify during the season, a situation the league hoped to avoid.
Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into one of the most polarizing issues in sports, with President Donald Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem.
Kaepernick contends the owners violated their collective bargaining agreement with players by conspiring to keep him off teams.
Thursday game highlights
COLTS 27, BENGALS 26: In Cincinnati, Matt Barkley’s left knee was injured by a low hit after he threw a pass, giving Jeff Driskel the inside track for the Bengals’ backup quarterback role.
For the second year in a row, the Bengals (3-1) lost a quarterback to injury in the final preseason game. Last year, Driskel broke the thumb on his passing hand in Indianapolis, ending his season. Cincinnati also has seventh-round pick Logan Woodside.
BRONCOS 21, CARDINALS 10: In Glendale, Ariz., the Broncos’ Paxton Lynch made his case for backup quarterback — or at least staying on Denver’s roster — with a near-perfect second half. Lynch completed 14 of 15 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns and was not intercepted.
Chad Kelly, who seemed to have a tenuous hold on the backup job behind Denver starter Case Keenum entering the game, played the first half and went 12 of 19 for 126 yards and no touchdowns with one interception.
TEXANS 14, COWBOYS 6: In Houston, rookie Texans running back Terry Swanson rushed for a 37-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to lift Houston in the final night of exhibition games.
The undrafted rookie running back out of Toledo, who served as an understudy to the Chiefs’
Kareem Hunt in college, found a hole with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Texans up two scores. Swanson finished with 69 yards on 17 carries.
The Cowboys scored on two field goals from backup kicker Brett Maher, one on their opening drive from 57 yards and one late in the fourth quarter from 41.
SAINTS 28, RAMS 0: In New Orleans, Cameron Meredith caught two passes for 72 yards and a touchdown to fuel the Saints’ victory.
The former Bears wide receiver was one of the top free agents signed by the Saints, who brought him in even though he had major knee surgery last fall.
LA rested most starters yet again, but undrafted rookie RB Larry Rose III from New Mexico State had 43 yards rushing on 12 carries. BROWNS 35, LIONS 17: In Detroit, Baker Mayfield threw for 138 yards in a dominant first half for Cleveland as the Browns wrapped up the preseason.
Mayfield completed a 41-yard pass to Devon Cajuste on the first play from scrimmage, and the top overall pick in this year’s draft looked sharp throughout his two quarters directing Cleveland’s offense.
With Tyrod Taylor atop the depth chart at quarterback, the Browns are likely to bring Mayfield along slowly. But if the rookie doesn’t play again for a while, this was a nice note to finish on before the start of the regular season.
The Lions closed out an uninspiring preseason under new coach Matt Patricia. They were booed off the field at halftime by the sparse crowd at Ford Field with the score 25-0.
DOLPHINS 34, FALCONS 7: In Atlanta, Brock Osweiler made a strong final bid for Miami’s backup quarterback job, leading three first-quarter touchdown drives. Osweiler is competing with David Fales to be Ryan Tannehill’s backup.
Osweiler completed each of his first six passes for 65 yards, including a 1-yard scoring pass to Buddy Howell on Miami’s opening drive. He added a 14-yard scoring pass to Francis Owusu on the final play of the third quarter.
The Falcons (0-4) had little offense with its stars, including quarterback Matt Ryan, running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones, watching on the sideline.
EAGLES 10, JETS 9: In Philadelphia, Christian Hackenberg had a rough audition for an NFL roster spot, tossing two interceptions, but the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles rallied.
Joe Callahan threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to lift Philadelphia (1-3).
Jason Myers kicked field goals of 58 and 43 yards for the Jets (1-3). New York’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown in August until the final drive.
Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld watched from the sideline, while Jets rookie Sam Darnold also was a spectator.
RAVENS 30, REDSKINS 20: In Baltimore, Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for a touchdown while backup Robert Griffin III spent the entire game on the sideline as Baltimore completed its third consecutive unbeaten preseason.