NFL: Rams get running back in trade with Patriots.
The Rams, moving to bolster a rushing attack that can augment the passing skills of new quarterback Matthew Stafford, on Wednesday traded for New England running back Sony Michel.
Terms of the deal were not announced but the Rams sent conditional 2022 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks to the Patriots, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
The Rams need runningback depth because secondyear pro Cam Akers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on the eve of training camp. Third-year pro Darrell Henderson has been regarded as the projected starter, but his durability is a question mark.
Michel, 26, played in college at Georgia and was the 31st player chosen in the 2018 draft. The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder rushed for 931 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for 94 yards in 18 carries and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Michel rushed for 912 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. Last season, he was limited to nine games because of a quadriceps injury. He rushed for 449 yards and a touchdown.
Starting QBs named: The Jaguars named top overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence their starting quarterback over Gardner Minshew, who started eight games during last season’s 1-15 campaign.
In two preseason starts, Lawrence has not led the offense on a touchdown drive but has completed 20 of 32 passes for 184 yards with no interceptions and one fumble that came on a strip-sack against the Browns he recovered.
⏩ For the fifth straight year, the Broncos will have a new quarterback to start the season. Head coach Vic Fangio told his team that Teddy Bridgewater won the starting job over Drew Lock, the Broncos said on their website.
Lock won the starting job last season. Before that, the Broncos started with Joe Flacco (2019), Case Keenum (2018) and Trevor Siemian (2017).
In his first full season as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, Lock completed 57.3% of his passes for 2,933 yards with 16 TDs but had 15 interceptions. Lock, the Broncos’ secondround pick in 2019, missed three games because of injury.
COVID issues: Coronavirus outbreaks grew for two teams.
Tennessee linebacker Harold Landry became the fifth person and first starter affected, going on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Dallas offensive lineman Connor Williams and safety Damontae Kazee brought that team’s total to six, with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Raiders’ trade: Las Vegas got help at linebacker by acquiring Denzel Perryman from the Panthers in a swap of picks. The Raiders will send a 2022 sixthround pick to Carolina and get a seventh-rounder that year and Perryman back in the deal that will be official after a physical.
Briefly: Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph will not play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Panthers; backups Dwayne Haskins and Josh Dobbs will split the duties. Rookie running back Najee Harris (Antioch High) will be among the starters who will not play . ... Jets defensive end Vinny Curry, 33, has a blood disorder that required his spleen to be removed. He hopes to return in 2022 . ... The Giants activated tight end Kyle Rudolph from the physically unable to perform list . ... Tight end Luke Willson is retiring, a day after re-signing with Seattle.