By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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A day after Adam Jones was arrested and charged with multiple misdemeanors and a felony, the Bengals cornerback spoke in his defense.

“I’ll let everything play out in court,” Jones told reporters after being released on bond Wednesday moring. “Obviously, without getting into it, none of this makes sense.”

Jones, 33, was arrested in on suspicion misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges early Tuesday morning in Cincinnati, a spokeswoman with the Hamilton County (Ohio) Justice Center confirmed to NFL.com. Jones later was charged with felony harassment for allegedly spitting on a nurse at the justice center following his arrest, according to court documents. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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With Rex Ryan having been served his walking papers and the playoffs no longer possible, the Bills had one game to complete before putting the 2016 season in the books. They might have bigger issues to worry about heading into the new year, though.

Running back LeSean McCoy was carted off to the locker room after limping off the field with an ankle injury in Buffalo’s season finale against the New York Jets. McCoy has dealt with a number of injury issues this season, but in the final week of a now-meaningless season, the hope is that the injury isn’t a significant one that could have been avoided.

The Bills said after an X-ray, McCoy was possible to return. He didn’t return in Buffalo’s 30-10 loss, and interim coach Anthony Lynn said after the game that McCoy suffered a high ankle sprain.

In other Bills-related news, Cardale Jones replaced an ineffective EJ Manuel in the second half. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Dallas got a scare, and will be without Tyron Smith in Week 17. But that’s the worst of the news.

Smith suffered an MCL sprain after getting cut down at the knee in the Cowboys‘ win over the Lions on Monday night, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Smith will miss a week, but will be ready in time for the playoffs.

A collective sigh of relief could almost be heard coming from the Cowboys‘ headquarters on Tuesday, as Smith is the crown jewel of the league’s best offensive line. Week 17 is meaningless for Dallas, and with a first-round bye on deck, Smith will have just the right amount of time to get as close to 100 percent as he can before the Cowboys‘ divisional round contest.

The same can’t be said for the Week 17 fate of Luke Kuechly, but as Cam Newton pointed out, it could be for the best for the star linebacker. Kuechly will not play in the Panthers‘ season finale in a campaign that was lost mathematically only recently, but mentally long ago. The linebacker cleared concussion protocol, but hasn’t and will not return during the 2016 season. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Marcus Mariota will have surgery on his broken leg Wednesday in Charlotte, head coach Mike Mularkey said Monday.

Mariota’s operation will include the insertion of a plate in his leg to fix a fractured fibula suffered in a 38-17 loss to the Jaguars. Mariota’s recovery process will be four to five months long, and the Titans hope to have Mariota back in time for organized team activities, Mularkey added.

Mariota’s season comes to a disappointing early finish. The second-year passer had the Titans in playoff contention through Week 16, but his injury sunk their comeback hopes and, with the loss, their postseason aspirations.

Tennessee saw Houston clinch the AFC South with a win on Saturday night. Matt Cassel will quarterback the Titans in Mariota’s place in the final week of the season. Alex Tanney was signed from the practice squad to provide depth.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Saturday was brutal for injuries to key players. It was the worst for Tyler Lockett.

Lockett had surgery late Saturday night for a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg, coach Pete Carroll said on his weekly radio show on KIRO-AM. During his afternoon news conference, Carroll added that Lockett will remain in the hospital Monday and said he didn’t suffer any ligament damage. Carroll said the team is expecting Lockett to be ready by training camp.

Lockett suffered the injury on a touchdown catch in a three-point loss to the Cardinals on Saturday, and won’t be seeing the field again in 2016, possibly missing substantial time while recovering from the significant injury.

The Seahawks will be without their dangerous returner and speedy wideout, instead turning to a greater reliance on Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson. It’ll hurt, but it won’t crush Seattle in the ‘Hawks quest for the Super Bowl. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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What a gift Football Santa has left us under the tree.

The Cowboys have everything they could own wrapped up right now, but they don’t get to open those gifts until 2017. The Lions still have some shopping to complete before they can look to the new year, and they’ll have to battle Dallas for the best deals. This is a heated exchange of words that could quickly turn into a full-blown department store skirmish, but it depends on how Dallas approaches it.

By now, you, me and your great uncle Larry who falls asleep three bites into his Christmas ham know what makes the Cowboys: A strong running game, efficient passing game and a bend-but-don’t-break defense. But will Dallas play rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, with the risk of injury looming, but perhaps a greater risk of rust greeting them, should they be benched? This determines just how great of a game we might get. But there’s much more to keep an eye on. Continue reading →