McCown puts off retirement, signs with Philadelphia
Josh McCown’s retirement lasted two months.
The Eagles signed the 40-year-old former Jets quarterback to a one-year deal on Saturday. He is coming out of retirement to join his 11th team and play his 17th season.
McCown provides insurance behind Carson Wentz, who has finished the past two seasons on the sideline because of injuries. The Eagles already lost two quarterbacks in the first two preseason games. Nate Sudfeld broke his left wrist and is expected to return in September. Cody Kessler left Thursday night’s game with a head injury.
Rookie Clayton Thorson was the only healthy quarterback on the roster behind Wentz before McCown ended his brief retirement.
McCown was 23-53 as a starter, including 5-11 with the Jets over the past two seasons. He has completed 60.2 percent of his passes, has thrown 98 touchdowns, 82 interceptions and has a 79.7 passer rating.
ESPN hired McCown to be an NFL analyst on the day he announced he was calling it quits. Now he will put his broadcast career on hold for one more year.
JETS: Avery Williamson’s season officially ended Saturday when the Jets placed the linebacker on injured reserve after he tore the ACL in his right knee in Thursday’s preseason game against the Falcons.
The Jets signed veteran linebacker Albert McClellan to give them some depth at the position with Williamson out.
McClellan, 33, has spent most of his career with the Ravens. He signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and was primarily a backup and special teams player for them. Baltimore cut him last season and he finished the year with the Patriots, winning the Super Bowl with them.
PATRIOTS: Coach Bill Belichick made no commitment as to the role wide receiver Josh Gordon will have when he returns to the team after being reinstated by the NFL following his latest suspension under the league’s substance abuse policy.
“When Josh returns … we will evaluate the entire situation and do what we feel is best for Josh and the team,” Belichick said in a statement released by the team.
COWBOYS: Authorities in Las Vegas have decided not to bring charges against running back Ezekiel Elliott over a May 19 incident, according to TMZ Sports. Security guard Kyle Johnson had pressed charges against Elliott over an incident at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while the running back’s camp accused Johnson of extortion in a statement released to the NFL Network after the charges were made.
RAIDERS: Antonio Brown made it through a walkthrough practice for the Raiders in Napa, Calif., with no issues with his frost-bitten feet suffered in a cryotherapy mishap in France last month and is expected to be a full participant in practice soon for the first time this summer.
Coach Jon Gruden said that he thinks Brown will be able to get back into practice before the Raiders play their third exhibition game next week in Winnipeg, Manitoba, against the Packers.
COLTS: Andrew Luck generated some buzz by throwing the ball and participating in position drills during pregame warmups of a 21-18 preseason loss to the Browns on Saturday in Indianapolis. An injured lower left leg has prevented Luck from practicing with the team since July 28.
CHARGERS: Safety Derwin James has a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery and will keep him sidelined until at least November.
James, selected by the Chargers with the No. 17-overall pick in the 2018 draft, had 105 tackles, three interceptions, 13 passes defended and 3.5 sacks en route to earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors last year.
JAGUARS: After missing 2018 with a torn ACL, wide receiver Marqise Lee was activated from the physically unable to perform list and participated in practice.
A second-round pick in the 2014 draft, Lee caught 119 passes for 1,553 yards and six touchdowns in 2016-17.
TEXANS: Deshaun Watson took advantage of one series in his preseason debut, looking sharp in directing a 75-yard drive capped by a 4yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins to help the Texans to a 30-23 win over the Lions in Houston.
Watson was 5-for-7 for 60 yards and scrambled once for 7 yards.