Sherman plans to apologize to Mayfield over handshake flap
BEREA, OHIO >> Richard Sherman backpedaled after blitzing Baker Mayfield.
The outspoken San Francisco 49ers cornerback said Wednesday that he plans to apologize to Mayfield after accusing the Cleveland Browns quarterback of not shaking his hand before Monday night’s game.
Sherman initially said he felt Mayfield disrespected him before the pregame coin toss by ignoring him. But after videos showed that Mayfield did shake hands with Sherman, the defensive star changed his tune.
“It’s definitely my bad,” Sherman said Wednesday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “I never want anybody to have to deal with some stuff that they didn’t do. And so, you know, the questions that he’s gonna get and the annoying, nonsense questions about some stuff that happened in a game that’s already been done, you know, sure he’ll get an apology for that.
“I’ll probably reach out to him via text or social media to actually get ahold of him and talk to him in person, I mean on the phone. But, yeah, because that sucks. Yeah, yeah, he definitely deserves an apology, and that’s my bad on that.”
Sherman reiterated those comments following practice.
“I’ve said my piece about it. I’m going to have a conversation with him, and then I’m going to be done with it,” he said. “It’s just funny it got so big. Man, I thought football is what they watch. I guess it’s the soap opera.”
Just off the practice field, Mayfield said he has not yet heard from Sherman and that he didn’t mean to slight the threetime All-Pro in any way.
“I respect him and who he is as a player,” Mayfield said. “He’s a great player and has been for a while and in no way did I mean anything like that.” JAGS EXPECT RAMSEY BACK AT PRACTICE >> Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey practiced for the first time in three weeks Wednesday, rejoining teammates two days after seeing a back specialist.
Ramsey participated in a limited capacity, taking part in individual drills before spending the rest of the session working with team trainers on the side.
“It’s nice to see Jalen’s face,” fellow cornerback D.J. Hayden said. “It’s very nice. It’s very heartwarming. It’s good to see Jalen out there.”
It remains to be seen whether Ramsey plays Sunday against New Orleans (4-1) and the NFL’s leading receiver, Michael Thomas.
“I feel like he’ll tell us if he decides,” defensive tackle Abry Jones said. “You only get a couple of athletes like Jalen every once in a while, so I feel like if he decides to play he’s going to be ready.”
Coach Doug Marrone said the Jaguars (2-3) are taking Ramsey’s potential return “step by step.”
Ramsey missed seven consecutive practices because of illness, back tightness and the birth of his second daughter. His back caused him to miss the past two games. He saw a specialist in Houston on Monday.
“Just confirmed what our doctors have said,” Marrone said. “We’re going to try to do more and just keep testing it and pushing it. He’s working extremely hard to get back, and everyone’s doing everything they can . ... We’ll just take it step by step.” CHIEFS’ HILL CLOSE TO RETURN >> The Chiefs could get star wide receiver Tyreek Hill back for Sunday’s game against Houston, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes avoided any serious injury to his ankle, though that may be about the end of their positive news on the injury front.
The Chiefs placed defensive tackle Xavier Williams on injured reserve Wednesday after he sustained a high ankle sprain in last weekend’s 19-13 loss to the Colts. He was among a handful of crucial players that went down during the game, many of whom could still be out for Week 6.
Left tackle Eric Fisher remains sidelined after core muscle surgery. Defensive tackle Chris Jones, wide receiver Sammy Watkins and offensive lineman Andrew Wylie all missed practice Wednesday after they were hurt during the game against the Colts, and their status for this weekend is murky at best.
Mahomes, meanwhile, was stepped on by left tackle Cameron Erving while planting to throw from his end zone Sunday. The reigning NFL MVP limped to the sideline when the Chiefs were forced to punt in a scene similar to that of Week 1, when Mahomes likewise hurt his ankle in Jacksonville. ROSEN REMAINS DOLPHINS’ QB >> Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores says this year’s quarterback competition has been decided, and Josh Rosen is the winner.
After supplanting veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 3, Rosen will start for the third game in a row Sunday against Washington, and the job will remain his going forward, Flores said Wednesday.
Rosen ranks 34th in the 32-team NFL in passer rating, completion percentage and touchdown passes. The Dolphins are 0-4, and Rosen has a 3-12 career record as a starter.
But the Dolphins want him to play so they can determine whether he might become their franchise quarterback. He was the No. 10 overall draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and started 13 games for them as a rookie.