Sports briefs
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Vikings QB McCarthy needs surgery on meniscus tear in right knee
MINNEAPOLIS | Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery, derailing the rookie’s preseason progress and putting his status for the regular season in question.
Coach Kevin O’Connell announced the diagnosis Tuesday. McCarthy was hurt at some point Saturday during his exhibition game debut, when he went 11 for 17 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Las Vegas. McCarthy reported persistent soreness to the team when players reconvened Monday, and the 10th overall pick in the draft out of national champion Michigan was sent for further examination.
The Vikings had not yet determined a date for the procedure or learned how long the 21-year-old will need to recover, meaning McCarthy could be back in about a month or, worst case, miss the entire season.
“We felt strongly about where he was at in his development process, so really you hurt for him just in the short term here because he had such a daily process, focus, all those things that I was really looking for in a young player at the position,” O’Connell said. “I think all of us will be staying optimistic that it hopefully is the shorter term.”
The rehabilitation for a full repair is much longer than if there’s just a partial tear and only a trim is needed, but the severity is typically not known until the procedure takes place.
“This is totally a medical decision. Certainly what’s best for the long-term health of J.J. McCarthy will be the priority,” O’Connell said.
Even if McCarthy’s injury is considered minor and he comes back on the shorter end of the wide range of timetables, this development was a big blow considering the promise he has shown and the plan to increase his turns with the first-team offense this week through the end of training camp. McCarthy tried to keep the spirits around the team high with an upbeat social media post.
“Love you Viking nation. I’ll be back in no time. Amor fati,” he wrote on the X platform, signing off with a Latin phrase beloved by philosophers in the practice of accepting without complaint whatever comes one’s way in life.
The Vikings were traveling Tuesday for two days of joint practices and a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Sam Darnold has been on top of the depth chart at quarterback all spring and summer and will now be solidified as the starter to open the season. Nick Mullens will be the clear backup, with Jaren Hall also on the roster entering his second year. O’Connell said the Vikings had no immediate plan to add another quarterback.
“Sam’s had a really good camp, and my confidence level in Sam is very, very high at this point,” O’Connell said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him continue his progression.”
Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy carted off after ankle injury
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy was carted off the field on Tuesday after injuring his right ankle on a special teams play.
The fifth-round pick out of Purdue seemed to take a bad step after mishandling a kickoff and immediately went down in pain. He was taken to The Hospital for Special Surgery for tests and further evaluation.
The Giants said he had an ankle injury.
Tracy was competing with second-year pro Eric Gray for the backup spot behind Devin Singletary, the veteran who was signed to take over the No. 1 spot after Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles.
Singletary said it was difficult to see Tracy hurt.
“We put a lot into this,” Singletary said. “You can’t really prevent injuries in this game. It’s a 100% injury rate, but you always hate to see one of your brothers go down. We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we hate to see him go down.”
With Singletary and most of the starters getting a rest, Tracy started the Giants’ preseason opener against the Detroit Lions and rushed for 26 yards on five carries.
Singletary said Tracy has shown a lot of potential.
“Coming in as a rookie, playing the way he’s been playing. I would say he hasn’t really been playing like a rookie,” Singletary said. “He’s been like a second or third-year player, the way he’s been performing. Of course, he still has room to grow, but he’s off to a good start.”
With the injury, Gray could move into the backup role with free agent Dante Miller backing him up. Gray rushed for 52 yards and two touchdowns on four carries in the 14-3 win over the Lions on Thursday. Miller had 63 yards on 12 carries.
“We’re just going to count on one another,” Singletary said of his group without Tracy. “Basically, pick up for him. Hold it down for him. We’ve just got to keep rolling, keep getting better, keep finding ways to get better. That’s really what it comes down to.”
Also, first-round draft pick Malik Nabers worked out on the sideline with the trainers. He sprained his left ankle on Sunday running a pass route in practice and was not on the field on Monday.
“I’m feeling good. I don’t think it’s really anything too serious though,” said Nabers, the No. 6 pick overall in the draft.
It is uncertain whether Nabers will play Saturday when the Giants travel to Houston to face the Texans. He should be ready for the season opener on Sept. 8 against Minnesota, especially after X-rays and an MRI showed no problems with the ankle.
Starting guard Jon Runyan Jr., who came over from the Packers as a free agent, missed practice with a shoulder issue. Offensive linemen John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and Evan Neal, who came off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list this week, took part in team drills. Neal worked at tackle with the second team. Tight end Lawrence Cager, who has looked good in camp, has a groin injury after getting over a hamstring issue.
Bills place receiver
Chase Claypool on
injured reserve
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. | The Buffalo Bills placed receiver Chase Claypool and third-string quarterback Shane Buechele on injured reserve on Tuesday and made several other moves to restock their injury-depleted roster.
The Bills signed quarterback Ben DiNucci and receivers Damiere Byrd and Deon Cain, all to one-year contracts. Buffalo also released receiver Bryan Thompson.
Claypool’s bid to revive his career with Buffalo appears over as a result of a toe injury that led to the fifth-year player missing a majority of training camp. The Bills signed Claypool in May after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis in free agency.
Claypool was on his fourth team in three seasons. The former Notre Dame star has struggled to match the promise and production he showed during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, in which he combined for 121 catches for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Claypool said in May he was seeking a fresh start after splitting last season between Chicago and Miami.
“I’ve learned from all the mistakes. I feel like every time you make a mistake or any time you have mishaps, you have to learn from them, you grow from them,” Claypool said, adding he believes he’s been been mischaracterized as a selfish player.
“I’m not here to prove that I’m not what they say I am, I’m just here to be who I am and be a part of the team,” he said. “I’m just being who I am.”
DiNucci replaces Buechele, who is out indefinitely after hurting his neck in a 33-6 preseason-opening loss to Chicago on Saturday. DiNucci spent last season on Denver’s practice squad. He appeared in three games, including a start, with Dallas during his rookie season in 2020.
With Buffalo limiting Josh Allen and Mitch Trubisky’s preseason playing time, DiNucci is expected to see action when the Bills play at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Byrd has eight seasons of NFL experience, including the past two in Atlanta, and has been used mostly on special teams. Cain appeared in 15 games split between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh over the 2019-20 seasons, and has been out of the league since being cut by Philadelphia before the start of last season.
Browns rookie DT Mike Hall Jr. arrested on domestic violence charge
CLEVELAND | Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was arrested Tuesday and charged with domestic violence after police said he threatened his fiancee with a gun during a fight.
Hall was booked and arraigned at Avon Lake Municipal Court, said James M. Drozdowski, a public information officer with Avon Police. He posted bond and was released, the officer told The Associated Press.
Hall appeared in court with his attorney, Kevin Spellacy, who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The Browns said in a statement they were aware of the incident involving Hall, a second-round pick from Ohio State.
“Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities,” the team said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”
The team did not practice Tuesday as players were only getting treatment and working out at Cleveland’s training facility in Berea, Ohio. The Browns are hosting the Minnesota Vikings for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday before playing an exhibition game on Saturday.
A detailed incident report obtained by the AP said officers responded to a call at 10 p.m. Monday night from a woman who claimed that Hall had pushed her daughter and struck her with a baby bottle.
According to the report, the woman told police she is engaged to Hall and they share an 11-month-old daughter. The woman said their fight escalated after the couple were discussing financial needs for the child. The woman told police Hall is not the biological father.
The woman said Hall, 21, became “increasingly agitated,” threw her belongings outside and dragged her on her back along a porch and driveway. At one point, the woman said Hall put a gun to her temple and said, “I will (expletive) end it all. I don’t care.”
The woman did not seek medical treatment.
Hall locked the woman out of the house and left in a pickup truck, according to the report.
Police said they found evidence including a damaged door frame and a hole in a door the woman said Hall had punched. Officers also seized two handguns — a .40-caliber Glock and a 9mm Smith & Wesson.
Commanders sign WR Martavis Bryant, who hasn’t played since 2018
ASHBURN, Va. | The Washington Commanders have signed receiver Martavis Bryant, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2018, when he had his third substance-abuse violation.
Washington cut kicker Ramiz Ahmed on Tuesday to clear a roster spot and give Bryant another comeback chance.
The Dallas Cowboys released Bryant in May after he was on their practice squad last season.
The 32-year-old played his last game on Nov. 11, 2018, for Oakland before the franchise moved to Las Vegas.
Pittsburgh drafted Bryant out of Clemson in the fourth round a decade ago and he had eight touchdown receptions in 10 games as a rookie.
Just before he started his second season, he was suspended for the first of three times for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He returned from the suspension n 2015 and had a career-high 765 yards receiving in 10 games.
Bryant was banned from the league for the 2016 season and played played 15 games for the Steelers in 2017 before an offseason trade to the Raiders.
—From AP reports
