Watson returns to practice, could be ready to face Colts
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson tested his injured right shoulder in practice for the first time in nearly weeks on Thursday, moving him closer to starting this week after he missed two games.
Watson has been dealing with a strained rotator cuff, an injury that has prevented him from throwing with much velocity.
The three-time Pro Bowler couldn't put any timetable on his return Wednesday, but Watson was back on the field with his teammates for the first time since Sept. 29 as the Browns (3-2) continued to get ready for the Colts (3-3).
It's possible Stefanski could announce Friday whether Watson will play this week. If he can't go, veteran P.J. Walker will make his second straight start.
Watson has made just nine starts in two seasons with the Browns. He's been dealing with the injury since taking a big hit to the back of his shoulder on a designed running play on Sept. 24 against Tennessee.
Chiefs’ Hardman was hospitalized
Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who was traded from the New York Jets back to the Kansas City Chiefs this week, said Thursday that he spent part of last season in the hospital after an abdominal injury caused him to lose feeling in his legs.
The injury occurred during a game against Tennessee in early November, Hardman said. He finished the game, and it was the following day that he began feeling cramps in his abdomen. The pain was getting worse by the hour, and after Hardman phoned Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder, he was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital.
He lost feeling in his legs for “four or five days,” Hardman said, and was hospitalized two more days after getting it back, before he was finally discharged. Hardman missed the final nine games of the regular season and the Chiefs' postseason run to the Super Bowl.
Garoppolo won’t play vs. Bears
Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not play Sunday because of a back injury when Las Vegas visits the Chicago Bears, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.
Either 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O'connell will start for Las Vegas. Hoyer played the second half of Sunday's 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots when Garoppolo was injured.
Texans’ Murray placed on IR
The Houston Texans have placed safety Eric Murray on the injured reserve list, the team announced Wednesday.
Murray suffered a knee injury in the first half of last week's 20-13 win over the Saints.
The news is a blow to the Texans. Murray was playing some of his best football and had earned a starting spot as a safety in recent weeks.
The Texans signed D'angelo Ross from the practice squad to the 53man roster as a corresponding move.