Chargers’ Verrett tears Achilles
Injury occurs in condition test before camp
Jason Verrett incurred another serious injury before training camp even begins for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The former Pro Bowl cornerback tore his Achilles tendon Friday morning during a conditioning test, one day before the first practice of camp. The Chargers will do more tests to determine the severity of the injury, but it’s another heartbreaking blow to a promising player who has been unable to stay healthy in the NFL.
After making the Pro Bowl during the 2015 season, Verrett missed 12 games in 2016 and 15 games last season due to a persistent knee injury. He returned to full practices during the Chargers’ recent offseason workouts, and he was thrilled for the opportunity to get back to the game.
Darnold a holdout
There was no sign of Sam Darnold as the New York Jets opened training camp in Florham Park, New Jersey.
The No. 3 overall draft pick officially became a contract holdout when the team began its first practice of the summer without its prized rookie quarterback.
“He’s not here,” coach Todd Bowles said, “so I’m coaching the other (89) guys.”
Darnold joins Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith, the No. 8 choice, as the only unsigned picks from the entire draft.
Under the NFL’s labor agreement, contract holdouts by rookies are uncommon because deals are slotted based on draft position. Darnold will receive a fouryear, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus.
“It’s part of the business,” Bowles said. “We’ve got two other quarterbacks who can play, too.”
The dispute seems to hang on contract language. If a player is cut during his rookie contract, offset language provides the team with financial protection. Not having offset language allows a player to receive his salary from the team that cut him, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.
Offset language is common in rookie deals. Both Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland, and Josh Allen, seventh overall by Buffalo the quarterbacks drafted before and after Darnold have offsets in their contracts. In fact, Allen and Darnold share the same agent in Jimmy Sexton.
“Any time you’re not here, you lose something,” Bowles said. “It’s been a day. Obviously, when he comes in, we’ll get him caught up. Right now, I’ve got (89) other guys to worry about.”
The 21-year-old Darnold is expected to compete for the Jets’ starting job with Josh McCown, 39, the incumbent who is coming off the best season of his career, and Teddy Bridgewater, working his way back from a knee injury.
Blank doesn’t expect Falcons protests
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says he believes players should have the right to speak out on important issues even though he isn’t expecting national anthem protests from his team this season.
Blank said just like last season, Falcons players have been asked to stand for the national anthem.
He said the Falcons are “very committed to the military.” He also says he believes players have “very significant rights” and appeared to say he wouldn’t fine players for exercising those rights.
Around the league
The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract extension with left tackle Jake Matthews.
• The Tennessee Titans and Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker agreed to a two-year extension keeping him under contract through the 2020 season. The Titans signed Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan to a five-year contract.
• Washington signed backup quarterback Colt McCoy to an extension that keeps him under contract through the 2019 season.
• New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said the aggressive cancer he was diagnosed with last month is in remission. Speaking to the media for the first time since the Giants disclosed in early June that he had lymphoma, Gettleman said he’s had four rounds of chemotherapy and will need another three more to complete his treatment.
• New York Jets wide receiver ArDarius Stewart was suspended by the NFL without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
• The Arizona Cardinals signed safety Tre Boston to a one-year contract. Boston played in all 16 games, 15 as a starter, with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, when he set career highs with 79 tackles, 61 solo, five interceptions and nine passes defensed. Boston, entering his fifth NFL season, is very familiar with new Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks. A fourth-round selection in the 2014 draft out of North Carolina, Boston played his first three seasons with Carolina, where Wilks was the defensive backs coach.