NEW YORK — Zach Wilson and the New York Jets appear to have avoided a preseason nightmare.

Wilson is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a bone bruise and meniscus tear in his right knee, according to a person with knowledge of the injury. The person told The Associated Press the timeline for how long Wilson is sidelined will be determined by a second opinion and an arthroscopic procedure to repair the meniscus, pending a second medical opinion.

It was initially feared that Wilson suffered a serious – and potentially season-ending – knee injury during the second offensive series of New York’s 24-21 preseason win at Philadelphia on Friday night.

Tests after the game indicated the ACL was intact, and an MRI on Saturday morning revealed the exact nature of the injury. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced details.

The New York Post first reported Wilson was diagnosed with a bone bruise and meniscus tear that needs to be trimmed.

While Wilson and the Jets remain optimistic, they won’t know the full scope of the injury – and whether recovery could go beyond two to four weeks – until doctors operate on the quarterback’s knee.

There’s still a chance Wilson could be ready to play in the season opener against Baltimore on Sept. 11. If not, veteran Joe Flacco would likely start in Wilson’s place against his former team.

BROWNS: Deshaun Watson apologized before his preseason debut with Cleveland and then got an earful from opposing fans.

Watson apologized Friday “to all the women I have impacted” after being accused by two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.

Potentially facing a year-long suspension, Watson publicly expressed remorse and contrition for the first time since he was accused of sexually harassing or assaulting the women during therapy sessions in 2020 and 2021.

He spoke before the team’s exhibition opener, a 24-13 victory at Jacksonville (0-2) in which Watson was roundly booed during three series of work. Fans in one end zone could be heard chanting vulgarities at Watson during his first drive.

The three-time Pro Bowler completed 1 of 5 passes for 7 yards in his first game action since Jan. 3, 2021, with Houston.

• Starting center Nick Harris will likely need season-ending surgery on his right knee that was injured on the second play of the exhibition opener against Jacksonville.

Coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t provide any details on Harris’ injury or test results. He said surgery was “likely” but that the team is continuing to gather information before finalizing plans.

“All of these injuries stink,” Stefanski said on a Zoom call with reporters. “You don’t want anybody to get injured and Nick is certainly a guy who has worked so hard this offseason, so we’re really hoping that it’s not a season-long thing because the kid has worked so hard.”

Harris was dropping back into pass coverage when his right knee appeared to buckle while blocking a Jaguars defender. He laid face down for several seconds before being checked by medical personnel and carted off.

TITANS: Tennessee swapped out a couple of players, signing defensive back Deante Burton and tight end David Wells.

The Titans waived defensive back Terrell Bonds and wide receiver Brandon Lewis.

Burton came into the NFL as a wide receiver when he joined Atlanta in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State. He has played 11 games with Atlanta, Houston and Dallas, with eight tackles and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Burton started 35 of 48 games in college with 84 catches for 1,085 yards and five touchdowns.

Wells also was undrafted out of San Diego State in 2018 by Dallas, and the 6-6, 260-pound tight end finally made his NFL debut last season, playing in three games with Arizona. He also has been with Kansas City, New England, Atlanta and Indianapolis.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

BILLS 27, COLTS 24: Buffalo scored on three consecutive possessions in the final 8:10 to rally from a 14-point deficit, and Tyler Bass kicked on a 46-yard field goal as time expired to give Buffalo a win over visiting Indianapolis.

Matt Barkley oversaw the comeback, finishing 18 of 24 for 224 yards. Raheem Blackshear rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 3 yards over a span of 4:19 to tie the game.

Buffalo won its ninth straight preseason outing, which ranks as the NFL’s second-longest active streak behind the Baltimore Ravens, who have won a league-record 21 in a row.

BEARS 19, CHIEFS 14: Patrick Mahomes threw for 60 yards and a touchdown on Kansas City’s first possession, then watched as the Chiefs lost their preseason opener at Chicago.

Mahomes was 6 of 7 passing on a 72-yard drive after Chicago went three-and-out on the game’s first possession. The four-time Pro Bowler dumped the ball off to Blake Bell for a 5-yard TD.

Chicago’s Justin Fields, trying to build on a shaky rookie season, was 4 of 7 for 48 yards. He played three possessions before veteran Trevor Siemian replaced him.

PANTHERS 23, COMMANDERS 21: Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and Baker Mayfield was solid aside from a fumbled snap against host Washington in the latest stage of Carolina’s quarterback competition.

Mayfield started and completed 4 of 7 passes for 45 yards. He scurried for 3 yards on one play and botched an exchange with center Pat Elflein just inside the red zone, contributing to the first drive stalling and ending with a field goal.

Darnold took over with Carolina in the red zone after a fumble by Washington’s Antonio Gibson and completed a play-action fade pass under pressure to Rashard Higgins for an 8-yard TD. He finished 2 of 3 for 16 yards.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Red Sox rally, beat Yankees in 10 innings

Next »

James White has unique place in Patriots history