The NFL said Wednesday it is assessing whether its November game in Mexico City can be played as scheduled following Tuesday’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake.

The New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders are scheduled to play Nov. 19 at Estadio Azteca.

Mark Waller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing international play, said in a conference call with reporters that a more complete assessment of damage to the stadium would be taken Wednesday but initial indications were that there was no major damage.

“The initial information from that review is the stadium is remarkably in good shape, and that’s a testament to the construction and the safety devices that were put in place when that stadium was built 50 years ago,” Waller said, noting that the stadium was built with gaps that allow the structure to move in an earthquake.

DEMAURICE SMITH has been re-elected as executive director of the players’ union in a special committee vote.

Under guidelines passed since his last election as NFL Players Association head in 2015, a 14-player selection committee could bypass a full membership election. That committee, made of up the 11 members of the NFLPA executive committee plus the three longest-serving player representatives, can call for an election to keep the incumbent in office, and the vote must be unanimous.

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The 14-0 vote took place Tuesday night.

Attorney Cyrus Mehri, who had launched a campaign to oppose Smith in a general election in March, called the re-election “a non-democratic process” and vowed to continue working toward having a full election of the membership in March.

DOLPHINS: Coach Adam Gase says he’ll decide later whether to let linebacker Lawrence Timmons rejoin the team.

Timmons was suspended indefinitely after he went AWOL Saturday, the day before the Dolphins’ season-opening road win against the Chargers. When asked about violations of team culture, Gase left open the possibility of Timmons returning.

“Every situation’s different, and I would say that you can be forgiven if the right steps are taken,” Gase said.

The Dolphins suspended Timmons on Tuesday.

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VIKINGS: Quarterback Sam Bradford says his left knee is feeling better this week, raising the possibility he’ll return from injury after only a one-game absence.

BILLS: The team has concerns about the status of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus heading into Sunday’s game against the Broncos, Buffalo Coach Sean McDermott said.

Dareus suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 9-3 loss to Carolina.

The status of left tackle Cordy Glenn is also up in the air.

With concerns about Dareus’ status, the Bills re-signed defensive tackle Deandre Coleman Wednesday. Coleman returns after being one of the team’s final cuts this month. The Bills also re-signed veteran safety Robert Blanton.

LIONS: Detroit signed defensive end George Johnson and released defensive end Alex Barrett.

Johnson hasn’t played in the NFL since 2015. He was among Tampa Bay’s final cuts this season and the Buccaneers put him on injured reserve last season with a hip injury. He had a career-high six sacks with the Lions in 2014.


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