Browns’ DE Garrett misses practice
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, the NFL’s sacks leader, did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury.
Coach Kevin Stefanski gave few details about Garrett’s condition, but said the team is being cautious as it prepares for this week’s game against the Raiders. Garrett had two sacks in Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Garrett has nine sacks this season and has been a disruptive force in helping the Browns (5-2) to their best start since they opened 1994 at 6-1. He has a sack in six straight games and has four strip-sacks, three of which have been gameswinging plays.
Stefanski said he expects Garrett to practice later this week, but stressed the team will “gather more information” on his injury.
The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2017, Garrett has 39 1/2 sacks in 44 career games.
SUPER BOWL TICKETS WILL BE HARDER TO GET THAN EVER >> The NFL currently plans to limit attendance to 20 percent for Super Bowl LV, scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, ESPN reported.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 65,618 fans, expandable to 75,000 for special events, meaning an estimated crowd of 13,000 to 15,000 could be allowed to attend the game.
BEARS’ ROBINSON IN NFL’S CONCUSSION PROTOCOL >> Chicago Bears star receiver Allen Robinson is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, throwing his status for this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints into question.
He was hurt late in their lopsided loss to the L.A Rams on Monday night and left the game. Robinson’s face hit the field when he was tackled on a helmet-to-helmet play by safety Nick Scott on a fourthdown catch with about four minutes left, and an official sent him to the sideline.
FALCONS’ MCKINLEY AGAIN RULED OUT WITH GROIN INJURY >> Defensive end Takk McKinley has been ruled out of the Atlanta Falcons’ game at the Carolina Panthers tonight with a groin injury. It will mark the fourth game in the past six weeks McKinley has been held out because of the injury. He had one tackle in last week’s 23-22 loss to Detroit but has not practiced this week.
SEAHAWKS GET PASS RUSH HELP IN
CARLOS DUNLAP FROM CINCINNATI >> The Seattle Seahawks acquired defensive end Carlos Dunlap from Cincinnait hoping they’ve landed an answer to help solve their underperforming defense.
Cincinnati announced the trade, but Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he needed to wait before making comment about the deal.
The Seahawks have been in desperate need to solve their pass rush issues that have been a key part of a defense that ranks last in the league in yards allowed and passing yards allowed through the first six games of the season.
Dunlap, 31, has spent his entire career with the Bengals and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and 2016. He had 46 sacks between 2015-19 and had eight sacks last year for Cincinnati.
NEWLY ACQUIRED DE GRIFFEN CAN’T JOIN LIONS UNTIL NEXT WEEK >> Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia says newly acquired defensive end Everson Griffen will not be available to practice or play until next week due to NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.
The Lions acquired Griffen from the Dallas Cowboys for a conditional 2021 draft pick on Tuesday. NFL protocols require players who join a new team to begin testing for six days before they can enter the franchise’s facilities. Griffen can join the team on Monday, following a series of negative tests for the coronavirus. ASSISTANT MUNCH AK MISSES B RON
COS PRACTICE WITH COVID CONCERNS >> Denver Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak was absent from practice for COVID-19 reasons two days after running backs coach Curtis Modkins returned from a bout with the novel coronavirus. The Broncos (2-4) host the Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) on Sunday. They were originally scheduled to have a bye this weekend, but their schedule was juggled after a rash of coronavirus cases on the New England Patriots’ roster earlier this month.
COWBOYS RELEASE DT POE AMID SHAKEUP >> The Dallas Cowboys released defensive tackle Dontari Poe, cutting ties with a veteran expected to play a key role for a disappointing defense now going through a midseason shakeup. Poe and defensive back Daryl Worley were released a day after the Cowboys (2-5) traded defensive end Everson Griffen to Detroit for a conditional draft pick in 2021. All three were free agents added during the offseason.
TEXANS PLACE OL SHARPING ON COVID-19 LIST >> The Houston Texans placed second-year offensive lineman Max Scharping on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list hours after they closed their practice facility.
The team was notified of a positive test on Tuesday night and said the player immediately self-isolated according to NFL protocols.
BROWN MAKES GOOD IMPRESSION IN FIRST BUCS’ WORKOUT >> Antonio Brown made a good first impression on Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, who gushed over the wideout’s first workout with the team on Wednesday.
“He looks fantastic. I think we had really good conversations today, he and I,” Arians said on the first day Brown could enter the facility after going through COVID-19 protocols. Arians said Brown could be ready ready next week.
Next week would mean the Nov. 8 contest against the New Orleans Saints. Brown, who officially became a member of the team on Monday, is finishing up an eightgame suspension this week due to multiple violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy and he isn’t yet allowed to practice with the team until the disciplinary action is over.