The NFL declined Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal of his six-game suspension on Tuesday, but he will still get to play in the Dallas Cowboys season opener.
While Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended for six games during the 2017 NFL season, one of those games will not be the season opener. The Dallas Cowboys will have their star running back when they take on the New York Giants in Week 1, as the timing of his appeal ruling will allow him to play. The Cowboys had the best record in the NFC during the regular season behind Elliott last season, but losing him for six games will certainly hurt later in the year.
The New York Jets are bringing back a familiar face to play wide receiver as they try to piece together some weapons for Josh McCown. Jeremy Kerley was released by the San Francisco 49ers last week, and will return to the Jets on a one-year deal. McCown beat out youngsters Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg for the starting quarterback job with the Jets, though the team is expected to be one of the worst in the NFL this season.
There is another devastating hurricane headed towards the United States, and this one may in fact affect the NFL season. The Miami Dolphins were supposed to play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, but the game will not be played in South Beach. There is no word as to when or where the game will be played, as it will either be at a neutral site or later in the 2017 NFL season.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected John Ross in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, bringing in the speedster to play alongside A.J. Green at the wide receiver position. However, Ross has been battling a knee sprain this summer and is going to sit out the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals have not won a playoff game under head coach Marvin Lewis, and it is looking like that trend may continue this season.
Next: FanSided 2017 NFL season preview
Finally, some heartwarming news out of Tennessee. Former special teams player Tim Shaw has been named a team captain for the 2017 season even though he has not played for the team in five years. Shaw played for the Titans from 2010 to 2012, but in 2014, he announced that he had A.L.S. during the ice bucket challenge.