San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
QB McCown ends retirement, signs with Eagles
PHILADELPHIA — Josh McCown’s retirement lasted two months.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed the 40-year-old 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’s completed 60.2 percent of his passes, has thrown 98 touchdowns, 82 interceptions and has a 79.7 passer rating.
Nick Foles backed up Wentz the past two years and led the Eagles to four playoff wins, including the franchise’s first Super Bowl title following the 2017 season. But the 2018 Super Bowl MVP left for Jacksonville in free agency.
McCown was a third-round draft pick by Arizona in 2002 out of Sam Houston State. He started 13 games in a season twice, for the Cardinals in 2004 and the Jets in 2017.
JAMES HAS FOOT SURGERY
Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James will have foot surgery and miss several games.
The team’s All-Pro second-year safety will undergo surgery next week to repair a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. James has been told he’ll need a recovery time of three to four months.
James was hurt Thursday during a joint practice in Costa Mesa with the New Orleans Saints.
Near the end of the training session, James intercepted a pass and then broke into an animated celebration with several of his teammates, offering no evidence that he was hurting.
“It happened at some point in practice, but this could have been something all along and happened kind of slowly,” coach Anthony Lynn said Friday. “Yesterday, it just came to a head. We’re going to miss him while he’s out. We’re going to try to get him well and back on the field as soon as we can.”
Adrian Phillips, a Pro Bowler on special teams, will replace James at strong safety on a Chargers defense that is expected to be among the league’s best. James’ extended absence will now test that defense’s depth.
PATRIOTS 22, TITANS 17
Jarrett Stidham threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Damoun Patterson with 4:12 left, rallying New England to a win at Nashville, Tenn.
Stidham was 14 of 19 for 193 yards helping the Patriots (2-0) come back from a 17-8 halftime deficit.
Marcus Mariota started for the Titans (1-1) and shook off a pair of three-and-outs before his best drive this preseason. He capped a 10-play, 87-yard drive with an 11yard TD pass to his favorite target, three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker, who broke his right ankle in the 2018 season opener.
BROWNS 21, COLTS 18
Garrett Gilbert threw two touchdown passes in the first half and David Blough added another TD pass in the second half, leading Cleveland to a win at Indianapolis. It’s the first time the Browns have beaten the Colts in the preseason since 1979 when the franchise was still located in Baltimore.
Gilbert played the entire first half and was 13 of 19 with 151 yards.