Cowboys CB Carr to have surgery on bone in hand
OXNARD, Calif. — Brandon Carr has broken a bone in his right hand and will return to Dallas to have surgery.
The starting cornerback suffered the break while in press coverage during Thursday’s practice. The surgery is scheduled for Monday.
“He’s going to be out for a little bit here,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. “We don’t think it’s serious. It’s a similar injury to what DeMarco Murray had last year when he played in the game, four or five days later.
“The biggest thing with this is getting the surgery done correctly, which we’re confident is going to happen, and then handling the incision and see what he’s capable of doing.”
Garrett was hesitant to put a timetable on Carr’s return, but said, “we do anticipate him back sooner rather than later.” Since the surgery is Monday and the team departs for San Diego on Wednesday for their opening preseason game the next night, it’s reasonable to expect the earliest he’s return to Oxnard would be next weekend.
Once Carr returns, it’s likely most of his work will take place on the side.
Also, All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant missed practice Saturday because of a strained hamstring. Bryant tweaked his hamstring Thursday, but Garrett said the injury isn’t serious.
Hall of Fame game minus stars
The bold-faced names will wear baseball caps and not helmets Sunday night during the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won’t play following his return from a lengthy suspension that ended his 2014 season. Pittsburgh Steelers stars Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown also get the night off while the coaching staffs take a long look at the reserves.
Pittsburgh will give third-year quarterback Landry Jones plenty of snaps as he tries to hold on to the No. 3 spot behind Roethlisberger. Jones is being challenged by former Clemson star Tajh Boyd.
Former Steeler Mike Wallace will make his debut for the Vikings after being acquired in an offseason trade from Miami.
Ravens’ Urban has torn biceps
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said defensive end Brent Urban will need surgery for a torn biceps.
The second-year defensive lineman hurt his biceps Thursday. He could miss three months because of the injury.
The Ravens will decide at the start of the regular season whether to place Urban on season-ending injured reserve or give him the designation to return.
The 2014 fourth-round pick missed his rookie season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in training camp.
Coughlin talks to Pierre-Paul
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after practice Saturday that he finally spoke with injured defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
Pierre-Paul, who led the team with 12½ sacks last season, suffered a serious hand injury in a July 4 fireworks accident.
“Do I know more about how he is? No. He said he’s not going to come here until he’s ready to play,” Coughlin said.
“I’m not going to even speculate on when that is. He sounded good and sounded like he wanted to get back here. He wishes he was back here. Little by little, we’re talking more with him. He’s trying to make contact with us and that’s a good sign.”
Pierre-Paul has yet to sign his $14.8 million franchise tender, so he is not under contract.
Odds and ends
Bills coach Rex Ryan said veteran Mass Cassel likely will start at quarterback in the team’s preseason opener against Carolina on Aug. 14. Ryan added that Buffalo will rotate starters at quarterback in the preseason. Cassel is part of a threeway competition that includes EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor. …
Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Yeldon sprained a finger on his left hand in the team’s scrimmage. Yeldon’s hand slammed against linebacker Jeremiah George’s helmet on a touchdown run late in the scrimmage. …
Bengals receiver Marvin Jones (hamstring) dressed with his teammates for the first time in a week but was limited to working out on the side. … Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton returned to practice after missing Friday’s practice for personal reasons. Hilton’s absence on Friday was excused by the Colts. … Colts running back C.J. Anderson (shoulder) got hurt and cornerback Kayvon Webster (ribs) also was pulled from practice. …
The Chiefs waived wide receiver Armon Binns and linebacker Sage Harold and signed offensive tackle Anthony Dima and receiver Adam Drake.