Broncos’ Bridgewater carted off field
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was placed on a backboard and taken to a hospital for further evaluation after suffering a head injury in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bridgewater scrambled for a 6-yard gain on a second-and-5 play in the third quarter, but his head appeared to slam against the ground after he went airborne for the first down while Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie tried to make the tackle. Bridgewater remained motionless on the field for a stretch before being attended to.
Medical personnel removed the eighth-year veteran’s facemask and loaded him onto a backboard before taking him off on a cart. Broncos players as well as several members of the Bengals encircled Bridgewater, and fans in Denver chanted, “Teddy, Teddy.”
Backup Drew Lock replaced Bridgewater in the game.
The Broncos confirmed that Bridgewater had movement in his extremities but said he was being taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Panthers lose kicker: The Carolina Panthers lost kicker Zane Gonzalez to an injury while he was warming up before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
Gonzalez had to be helped off the field, and the team said he would miss the game with a quad injury. The NFL on Fox broadcast showed Gonzalez hobbling after a kick before the game.
He is the only kicker listed on the Panthers’ depth chart. The Fox broadcast showed wide receiver Brandon Zylstra practicing kickoffs and backup quarterback P.J. Walker trying field goals prior to the game.
Zylstra got the kickoff duty after the Panthers scored a touchdown in the second quarter, hitting to the Buffalo 16. Carolina had gone for a two-point conversion rather than an extra-point attempt after quarterback Cam Newton’s touchdown run.
Roethlisberger moves past Rivers: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacker Ben Roethlisberger passed 2004 draft classmate Philip Rivers for fifth on the NFL’s career passing list.
Roethlisberger’s 3-yard completion to Najee Harris in the second quarter against Tennessee gave the 39-year-old Roethlisberger 63,442 yards passing to move him past Rivers’ total of 63,440.
Roethlisberger is already the NFL’s career leader in yards passing among players who have spent their entire careers with one team.
Jaguars’ Jenkins breaks ankle: The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Rayshawn Jenkins broke his right ankle during a kickoff return and was carted off the field in the first quarter against Houston.
Jenkins’ lower leg was placed in an air cast, and team officials quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Rams’ Ramsey cleared: Jalen Ramsey has been cleared to play for the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday night in their delayed game against Seattle.
The 2020 All-Pro defensive back was the biggest name on the Rams’ vast reserve/COVID-19 list, which has contained at least 29 players over the past two weeks. He went on the list a few hours before the Rams’ victory at Arizona last Monday night.
The Rams still have 23 players on the reserve/COVID -19 list, most prominently linebacker Von Miller, safety Jordan Fuller, right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee.
Seattle loses more to COVID: The Seattle Seahawks placed six more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including starting cornerback D.J. Reed and starting right tackle Brandon Shell.
The six players join wide receiver Tyler Lockett and running back Alex Collins who were placed on the list Thursday.
Bears hit by COVID, too: The Chicago Bears placed cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their Monday night game against Minnesota.
The Bears now have 14 players on the list, including the entire starting secondary, with Johnson and Gipson joining safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Artie Burns.
The list includes receiver Allen Robinson, backup quarterback Andy Dalton and right tackle Larry Borom.
Browns get key player back: The Cleveland Browns are getting at least one key piece back for Monday’s game against Las Vegas – starting right guard Wyatt Teller is coming off the COVID-19 reserve list.
Teller was one of 12 Browns starters to go on the list over the past few days.
The Browns game against the Raiders was moved by the NFL from Friday to Monday following a major outbreak on Cleveland’s roster.
The Browns are scheduled to start a critical game for their playoff hopes with third-string quarterback Nick Mullens after both Baker Mayfield and his backup, Case Keenum, tested positive.
Scare for Jets safety: New York Jets safety Elijah Riley was taken off the field on a backboard after being injured during the third quarter of his team’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
Riley was injured on a play where he collided with Jets teammate Kyle Phillips in the third quarter.
Thankfully, it all ended up being precautionary: Jets coach Robert Saleh said Riley would return to New York with the team.
“That was tough,” Jets cornerback Bryce Hall said of seeing Riley injured. “He’s a warrior.”