Chiefs’ Gay tweets about mental health
Chiefs second-year linebacker Willie Gay Jr. posted on social media that he is struggling with his mental health.
“I love you all,” Gay tweeted, adding, “just know my mental health is (messed) up.”
Gay offered no specifics in the tweet, which was posted soon after Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Gay was excused from practice for “personal reasons.”
Gay, 23, returned to practice just this week after coming off injured reserve.
Reid said that, “We’ll get him out there and see what he can do. It looks like he’s running around pretty good. We’ll see when we get to the football side of it.”
Gay hurt his toe and landed on the IR list in early September, and the Chiefs now have a 21-day window to activate him. NFLPA’S SMITH TO SERVE ONE MORE TERM >> NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith is planning to move on after he serves one more term with the union.
The NFLPA’s board of player representatives voted Friday to retain Smith as executive director, and union president JC Tretter said in a statement that the upcoming term would be Smith’s last. The term could be as short as one year. Smith’s deal was set to expire in March 2022.
“He was transparent with us about his interest in moving on after this term and for the stability and security of our union, he will work with our player leadership to ensure we have a succession plan in place for the next leader,” Tretter, an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, said in a statement.The 57-yearold Smith said he is looking forward to “continuing to fight for players.”
BILLS, JOHNSON REACH NEW 3-YEAR DEAL >> The Buffalo Bills have signed cornerback Taron Johnson to a three-year contract extension that runs through 2024.
The team announced the deal on Saturday. It’s worth $24 million, including about $14 million guaranteed for the fourth-round pick out of Weber State in 2018.
The 25-year-old Johnson has played a valuable role as Buffalo’s nickel cornerback alongside starters Tre’Davious White and Levi Wallace. He had a sack, a forced fumble and two passes defended against Miami in Week 2, becoming the fifth Bills player since 1999 to accomplish the feat. MULLEN, ARNETTE OUT FOR
AT LEAST THREE WEEKS
The Las Vegas Raiders placed two of their top cornerbacks on injured reserve Saturday with starter Trayvon Mullen and backup Damon Arnette both shut down for at least three weeks.
The Raiders also placed backup tight end Derek Carrier on injured reserve. All three players got hurt in Monday night’s loss to the Chargers. Mullen went down with a foot injury, Arnette with an injured groin and Carrier with a pectoral injury.
They all must miss at least three games and won’t be eligible to return until Nov. 7 against the New York Giants.
The most impactful injury is to Mullen, who has been solid in coverage this season across from veteran Casey Hayward. His injury will likely open up an opportunity for second-year pro Amik Robertson to start.