Raider faces two felony charges
Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith was arrested Thursday and charged with assault and battery following a July 4 altercation with his sister’s boyfriend in Old Town Pasadena, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced.
Smith, 30, who signed a $40-million, four-year deal last year, is due $9.5 million this season. He faces one felony count each of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.
Smith allegedly beat and then stomped the man’s head, with the early-morning incident occurring near the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Arroyo Parkway.
If convicted, Smith faces a possible maximum sentence of seven years in state prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 29 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The Raiders did not respond to a request for comment. They play host to the Rams on Saturday in an exhibition game. —Sam Farmer Exhibitions
Jay Cutler ran onto the field with the Miami Dolphins for the first time, and the fans greeted their new quarterback with a loud ovation. They had little else to cheer about as the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dolphins 31-7. Cutler played the first two series for the Dolphins, his debut as injured starter Ryan Tannehill’s replacement in Miami. He completed three of six passes for 24 yards, and his highlight play was one that didn’t count, a 31-yard reception erased by a holding flag.
Philadelphia cornerback Ronald Darby intercepted former teammate Tyrod Taylor’s pass and returned it 48 yards and also broke up two passes in his first game since the Eagles acquired him from Buffalo last week, and the Eagles beat the Bills 20-16. Alshon Jeffery, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver signed by the Eagles in the offseason, caught his first pass from Carson Wentz and finished with two receptions for 23 yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars backup quarterback Chad Henne got some work with the first-team offense in a 12-8 loss to Tampa Bay, fueling speculation about Blake Bortles’ grasp on the starting job.
Bortles completed eight of 13 passes for 65 yards against the Buccaneers. He doesn’t have a touchdown in two preseason games. Henne completed six of 10 for 44 yards.
Etc.
Denver quarterback Paxton Lynch has gotten most of the work with the first-team offense this week and will start Saturday’s exhibition against the San Francisco 49ers as the Broncos look for either Lynch or last year’s starter Trevor Siemian to emerge in the competition. “We’d like the decision made by itself,” Broncos GM John Elway said. “We want one of them to take the reins and take over. We’ll get through this game and see what happens.” ... Seattle center Justin Britt signed a multiyear extension that will keep the anchor of the offensive line in place beyond the 2017 season . ... Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly will have surgery on his injured foot and will be out indefinitely.