The NFL preseason has come to a close, as the regular season is scheduled to kick off on Thursday. Here is some news from around the NFL.
The New England Patriots probably wish they could just fast forward to Week 5. With the NFL regular season kicking off in a few days, the Patriots received word that a star on their defense will be suspended for the first four games.. Defensive end/linebacker Rob Ninkovich will be suspended for PED use, though he was not likely to help the team early on anyway. He tore his tricep in July, and was not expect to be back until October.
Staying with the Patriots, quarterback Tom Brady is also expected to miss the first four games of the regular season. However, it was his actions in the last two preseason games that sent a message to the league. Brady played both games with the NFL decal removed from the back of his helmet. Though no statement as to why was made by Brady, it is pretty clear that it was a shot at Roger Goodell and his shield. Goodell suspended Brady for four games due to his role in ‘deflategate,” which will finally be served 20 months later.
One defender who may be back by Week 1 is J.J. Watt, the superstar defensive end for the Houston Texans. Head coach Bill O’Brien said he ‘looks decent’ to play in Week 1, and that is incredible news for the Texans. Watt had surgery to repair a herniated disk earlier in the Summer, and was originally expected to miss some time. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is the main cog for the Texans, who should challenge for the AFC South title in 2016.
While the Texans expect to have Watt back, another AFC star will likely miss the season opener. Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is just not ready to return from an ACL injury that ended his 2015 season in Week 5. Though he is close to being ready, head coach Andy Reid said he may have to sit out Week 1. Charles will play a big role in whether or not the Chiefs make it to the playoffs, so sitting him until fully healthy is not a bad choice.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is expected to miss a big chunk of the 2016 NFL season, after breaking a bone in his back a week ago. However, he is already looking towards the playoffs, and he fully expects to be there. On Saturday, Romo texted Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, who gave Romo the hit that broke his back. His words: ‘You take care of the NFC West, we will see yall in the playoffs.’
Next: 2016 NFL season: Record predictions for all 32 teams
Finally, bad news for the first overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff will not be the starting quarterback when the Rams open up their 2016 season. In fact, he won’t even be the backup. Goff will begin his first NFL season as the third-string quarterback, which is big news considering the Rams gave away the farm to trade up to get him. One scary thought for Rams fans, Goff will become the first quarterback taken No. 1 overall since JaMarcus Russell to not start in his team’s opening game.