Vikings QB Cousins sent home with illness
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was absent from practice Thursday because of an illness, coach Kevin O’Connell said. Cousins was sent home after reporting he wasn’t feeling well. O’Connell did not specify the symptoms. He confirmed the Vikings were evaluating Cousins for COVID-19.
Minnesota’s first exhibition game is Sunday at Las Vegas, so it’s possible Cousins would skip the trip considering established starters aren’t expected to play much, if at all. The coaches still were determining their playingtime plan for the game, but those decisions won’t be finalized until Saturday before the flight.
Cousins was forced to sit out five days of training camp in 2021 because of the NFL’s rules for close contacts to known cases of COVID-19. He was in league protocols for unvaccinated players last season. After testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 31, Cousins had to miss the game at Green Bay.
Lynch asleep before arrest
Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was asleep and smelled of alcohol when Las Vegas police found him in his damaged car and arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to an arrest report.
Lynch’s attorneys responded in a statement that Lynch’s car “was safely parked and not in operation” when police arrived early Tuesday and a driving-while-intoxicated charge won’t stick.
The arresting officer reported that Lynch’s black 2020 Shelby GT500 was “undriveable.”
“The driver was asleep behind the wheel with the driver’s door open leaning back in the seat,” the report said, “with bloodshot, watery eyes and had one shoe on and one shoe off.”
Shaheen trade is off
Tight end Adam Shaheen is back with the Dolphins after his trade to the Texans was called off because he failed a physical. Shaheen,
the Bears’ second-round pick in 2017, was flagged for a preexisting knee condition. Shaheen had not missed any training-camp practices because of the injury.
The Dolphins were to receive a sixth-round pick from the Texans in next year’s draft for Shaheen and a 2023 seventh-round pick.
Jets sign OT Brown
The Jets and offensive tackle Duane Brown agreed to terms on a two-year, $22 million contract. The move came three days after the Jets learned they likely lost Mekhi Becton for the season because of a knee injury.
Brown, who turns 37 on Aug. 30, made his fifth Pro Bowl appearance last season. He has played left tackle his entire career. Becton suffered a chip fracture to his kneecap during drills Monday.
Ex-Pats RB White retires
James White, who scored the winning touchdown in the Patriots’ historic comeback win over the Falcons in Super Bowl 51, announced his retirement. White won three Super Bowls in eight seasons — all with the Patriots.