Pioneering female assistant won’t be back with the 49ers
Offensive assistant Katie Sowers, the first female coach to reach the Super Bowl, is leaving the San Francisco 49ers, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday.
The Bay Area News Group first reported the departure of Sowers, who worked closely with 49ers receivers coach Wes Welker, and said she’s looking for an expanded role on another team.
She generated a big following after becoming the NFL’s second full-time female assistant coach and the first openly gay coach.
Texans jettison offensive lineman
The Texans released centerguard Greg Mancz from the practice squad, according to a league source. Mancz played in four games this season, seeing all of his action on special teams.
Mancz underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery during the offseason. He was limited to nine games and one start in 2019.
Browns’ facility remains closed
For the second straight day, the Cleveland Browns’ headquarters stayed closed because of a COVID-19 flare-up that has knocked coach Kevin Stefanski out of Sunday night’s game in Pittsburgh.
There seemed to be a possibility the game could be moved back after Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, told NFL Network “there was some spread from one individual to another” among the Browns. But a league spokesman said Thursday there “is no change to the status of the game.”
Diggs and Beasley questionable for Bills
The playing status of the Bills’ two top receivers, Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, is uncertain for Buffalo’s wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
Both were listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis Thursday.
For Beasley, who has missed one game, it marked the first time he has practiced since hurting his knee in the fourth quarter of a 38-9 win at New England on Dec. 28. Diggs returned after not practicing Wednesday because of an injury to his oblique muscle.
Jets talk to Lewis about coaching job
The New York Jets interviewed former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis about their head coaching vacancy. He’s on former Jets coach Herman Edwards’ staff at Arizona State as the Sun Devils’ co-defensive coordinator.
The 62-year-old Lewis, who earlier interviewed with the Texans, is the second known candidate to meet with the Jets remotely. The team spoke to Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on Wednesday.
Television ratings fall just 7 percent
Regular-season ratings for NFL games declined 7 percent this season after two straight years of increases, but it wasn’t as bad as the league and its broadcast partners feared before the season began amid a pandemic.
Games averaged 15.6 million TV and digital viewers. The league averaged 16.5 million regular-season viewers last season after posting 5 percent gains the past two years.