Patriots sign USFL RB
Marable was star player in league
The Patriots signed running back C.J. Marable and USFL offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool on Saturday.
Marable, 26, has been a
USFL star the last two seasons, helping the Birmingham Stallions to a pair of titles. This spring, Marable ran for 525 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2021, but was cut before the season. The 5-foot-7inch, 195-pounder rushed for 2,691 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry in college at Coastal Carolina.
The Patriots have continued to search for running back depth all summer, as Ty Montgomery has struggled to stay healthy while J.J. Taylor, Kevin Harris, and Pierre Strong Jr. have failed to distinguish themselves.
Vanterpool is a 6-6, 315pounder out of Hawaii who played with the USFL’s New Jersey Generals last season. An AllMountain West selection out of Hawaii, Vanterpool was the only offensive lineman in the conference and one of 14 in FBS to not allow a sack in at least 500 pass blocking snaps in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
To make room, the Patriots released linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi and safety Jourdan Heilig. Fatukasi, 24, spent last season with Tampa Bay and Denver. The 22-year-old Heilig was added as a rookie free agent out of Appalachian State this past offseason.
Milestone for Hamlin
Damar Hamlin reached another major milestone in his return to football by suiting up for Buffalo’s preseason opener, a 2319 victory Saturday over the Colts at Orchard Park, N.Y.
It didn’t take very long for the Bills safety to make an impact in his first appearance in a competitive setting since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
On his second defensive snap, Hamlin crashed the line and brought down running back
Evan Hull for no gain in preventing the Colts from converting a fourth and 1 at Buffalo’s 40. Hamlin was initially credited with an assist on the tackle, before being awarded a solo tackle.
On Buffalo’s next defensive series, Hamlin made tackles on back-to-back plays, with a cheer going up from the crowd each time his name was mentioned. Hamlin was part of Buffalo’s kickoff coverage unit following
James Cook’s 8-yard TD run 3:22 into the game.
Overall, Hamlin appeared in two-plus defensive series overlapping the first and second quarters, and was credited with three tackles. He spent the second half watching from the sideline in his pads while wearing running shoes.
Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson threw an interception and was unable to generate much offense with his legs in an outing decided by the third-stringers.
Richardson, the No. 4 draft pick out of Florida, failed to quell questions about his accuracy over 13 college starts. He finished 7 of 12 for 67 yards and an interception and two carries for 7 yards.
Bears’ Fields sharp
Justin Fields threw touchdown passes to prized newcomer DJ Moore and Khalil Herbert on Chicago’s first two possessions, then watched as the Bears beat the Titans, 23-17, in the teams’ preseason opener at Chicago. Moore and Herbert turned short passes into sprints to the end zone against a second-string defense after Tennessee’s Malik Willis led the Titans on a 75yard touchdown drive to start the game. Titans second-round pick Will Levis threw for 85 yards, going 9 of 14 and was intercepted in the final minute . . .
Bryce Young, the No.1 overall pick, was 4 of 6 passing for 21 yards in his NFL preseason debut as the host Panthers lost to the Jets, 27-0. With Aaron Rodgers again sitting out, Zach Wilson played the entire first half, leading the Jets to scores on three of his six possessions. He finished 14 of 20 for 123 yards and one score . . . Calvin Ridley
had two catches in his first game in nearly two years, and Trevor Lawrence responded to an interception with a touchdown pass as the Jaguars won, 28-23, at Dallas . . . Justin Tucker
kicked a 60-yard field goal to end the first half, Tyler Huntley
threw for a score early in the third quarter, and the Ravens extended their record streak of preseason victories to 24 with a 20-19 win over the visiting Eagles.
Browns’ Phillips out
For the second straight year, Browns linebacker Jacob Phillips has suffered a season-ending pectoral injury. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Phillips tore the chest muscle during Friday night’s preseason loss to the Commanders. Phillips sustained a similar injury last season against Baltimore.