Bills release punter Araiza after gang-rape allegation

In the face of public backlash and internal questions over the decision to award Matt Araiza its punting job, Buffalo reversed course by cutting the rookie, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging he and two San Diego State teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall. General manager Brandon Beane said the Bills were not aware of the allegations when they drafted Araiza. Had they known, Beane said, they wouldn’t have picked him. Araiza averaged an Ncaa-record 51.19 yards per punt last season, when he won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top collegiate punter.

■ Seahawks: Geno Smith will open the season as the team’s starting quarterback, beating out Drew Lock, coach Pete Carroll said. Seattle traded 10-year starter Russell Wilson to Denver in March for a package that included Lock, 25, who went 8-13 in 21 starts over three seasons with the Broncos. Smith, 31, who signed with Seattle in 2019, is 13-21 as a starter in eight NFL seasons with four teams.

■ Panthers: Backup quarterback Sam Darnold (ankle) and kicker Zane Gonzalez (groin) sustained “significant” injuries Friday, coach Matt Rhule said, noting Darnold likely will be placed on short-term injured reserve and that Gonzalez could miss the season. Gonzalez, 27, made 20 of 22 field-goal tries in 2021, including his final 17.