Patriots cut veteran Watson

The Patriots have released tight end Ben Watson.

The team announced the move on Oct. 7. It came shortly after Watson tweeted that he didn’t do enough to earn a roster spot.

Watson was eligible to make his debut for the Patriots against Washington on Oct. 6. But the 38-year-old wasn’t activated after serving a four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance following the 2018 season.

Watson planned to retire after last season but was courted by several teams. The Patriots eventually signed him to a one-year, $3 million deal as they looked to fill the hole created by the retirement of Rob Gronkowski.

But with Watson out the Patriots got by with 27-year-old Matt LaCosse and 23-year-old Ryan Izzo sharing snaps.

COLTS PASS RUSHER DONE FOR SEASON >> Kemoko Turay will miss the rest of the season with a broken and dislocated left ankle. He will finish his second NFL season on injured reserve after becoming an emerging threat in the Colts’ pass rush.

BILLS AND RAIDERS MAKE MID-SEASON TRADE >> First The Buffalo Bills have agreed to trade receiver Zay Jones to the Oakland Raiders. Buffalo will acquire a fifthround pick in the 2021 draft, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Monday because the trade has not been announced. ESPN. com first reported the deal.

The trade comes after Jones was limited to playing just one snap in a 14-7 win at Tennessee on Sunday. Rookie Duke Williams took over Jones’ role as the No. 3 receiver and scored the decisive touchdown on a 7-yard catch in the fourth quarter, a day after being promoted from the practice squad.Jones’ benching came a week after he was faulted for not helping break up one of three interceptions thrown by Josh Allen in a 16-10 loss to New England.

Jones was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2017 draft out Stephen F. Austin.

After an inconsistent rookie season, he led Buffalo with 56 catches, 652 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He’s managed just seven catches for 69 yards this year.The trade was made as both teams enter their bye weeks.

NBA

ZION MAKES PRESEASON DEBUT >> Zion Williams may not be quite as tall as billed.

He still soared in his first NBA preseason game Monday night.

Showing off the high-flying talents that made him one of the most anticipated rookies in years, Williamson turned in a ferocious slam less than 2 minutes into his debut with the New Orleans Pelicans and dunked it two more times before the first half was done against the Atlanta Hawks.

It was quite the close-range repertoire.

One with the right hand.

One with the left hand.

One with both hands. Williams finished the first half with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists, helping the Pelicans to a 75-61 lead over the Hawks before a much larger crowd than what normally be expected in Atlanta for an exhibition between two teams that failed to make the playoffs last season.

Of course, the score was irrelevant. This was chance to see the future of the NBA for the first time — not counting his brief stint in the Las Vegas Summer League — and Williamson did not disappoint, though he’s not close to being a finished product after just one college season at Duke.

Just 62 seconds into the game, he took a pass from Lonzo Ball on the pick-and-roll and banked one in while drawing the foul from John Collins.