Dolphins activate Jackson for Pats
The Dolphins activated left tackle Austin Jackson from the COVID-19 list on Saturday but stopped short of saying he would play Sunday at New England.
Jackson reportedly had COVID-19 but was removed from the COVID-19 list — and restored to the 53-man roster — after testing negative twice in tests spaced 24 hours apart.
But the team announced that Jackson “has been added to the injury report, listed as questionable with a non-injury related illness for [Sunday’s] game. He is traveling separate from the team and his game status will be updated Sunday before the game.”
Jackson could start if the team feels comfortable with his conditioning and health and stamina after a week without practicing. If the team doesn’t feel comfortable with that, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dolphins go with
Jesse Davis and Liam Eichenberg as their starting tackles, with an outside chance of Greg Little cracking the lineup instead of Eichenberg in that scenario.
Receiver Preston Williams (foot) is the only player besides Jackson who is listed as questionable for the Dolphins.
ALLEN MARVELS ABOUT BIG BEN
Josh Allen was 8 years old when he marveled at how then-Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ably shed tackles and eluded charging defenders before completing passes from awkward stances and angles.
“Watching his game back in the day, the play was never over with him,” Allen recalled this week as Buffalo prepares to open its season hosting Big Ben and the Steelers on Sunday.
“He’s able to find ways to escape and get the ball out in some funky ways,” the Bills quarterback added. “He’s never had a play given up on him, and he’s never given up on a play.”
Allen won’t dispute how his description of Roethlisberger compares to his own strong-armed and mobile attributes, which he displayed in his only preseason appearance by bursting out of the pocket and throwing across his body to hit Cole Beasley against Green Bay.
“I think it’s more than I ever realized as a kid. … I see the comparisons of where we’re at physically,” he said. “But that’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. And I’ve got some time to go before we get into that conversation.”
For everything Allen accomplished last year in setting numerous singleseason franchise passing and scoring records, he faces the challenge of maintaining his production entering his fourth season.
At 39, Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion with a longestablished reputation of success, reflected in the Steelers’ run of stability. Pittsburgh’s never experienced a losing season during his 17 seasons behind center.
Mike Tomlin noted as much when asked how he has benefited from having just one quarterback during his 15 seasons as Steelers coach.
“I don’t know the alternative, to be honest with you. Obviously, continuity is an asset,” Tomlin said.
“But it’s very similar to the traction [Bills coach Sean] McDermott and Josh Allen are gaining up there,” he added. “Every day spent together facing the challenges that this game provides us all, I think there’s collective growth in that. There’s cohesion in that.”
While set at quarterback, Pittsburgh unveils a new-look offense under coordinator Matt Canada, who replaced Randy Fichtner. The Steelers retooled their offensive line, and sought to upgrade the NFL worstranked running attack by drafting Alabama’s Najee Harris in the first round.
ELSEWHERE
A Ravens: Baltimore put running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters on injured reserve with knee injuries. Coach John Harbaugh
described the injuries as season-ending, non-contact ligament tears from practice.
“Gus made a cut — left-to-right cut — and landed wrong on his ankle, and the weight ended up going on his knee. Kind of a fluke deal,” Harbaugh said. “Marcus was just kind of turning, pivoting on a turn — a basic turn that he makes dozens of times every single practice.”
Baltimore’s backfield has been hit hard by injuries during the preseason. Running back J.K. Dobbins is out for the season with a knee injury, and Justice Hill is on IR as well.
Titans: Tennessee once again is starting a season with kicking issues after adding Sam Ficken
on the injury report with a right groin muscle problem. Ficken was limited Friday. The Titans also signed former University of Miami kicker Michael Badgley to the practice squad, waiving offensive lineman Christian DiLauro off the squad to create a space.
A Washington: Washington is putting Curtis Samuel on short-term injured reserve because of a lingering groin injury, meaning the wide receiver will miss at least the first three games of the season.
A