Rookie receivers show promise for Baltimore Ravens
NFL preseason
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Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Sunday.
Mariota, 32, will miss the remainder of the preseason, but Quinn is "optimistic that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season."
Mariota was injured during Washington's preseason opener against Miami on Friday night. Starter Jayden Daniels did not play against the Dolphins.
Quinn said the Commanders don't plan on bringing in another quarterback at this time. The only other QBs on the roster are Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.
"It will allow more reps over the next couple of weeks with Sam (Hartman) and Athan (Kaliakmanis) in that spot," Quinn said.
Quinn said Mariota's injury has impacted his thinking for how much Daniels and other starters will play for the remainder of the preseason, but he has yet to make any decisions. He plans to re-evaluate after two straight days of padded practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"I've got a bunch of situations that I'm trying to work through -- two minutes, four minutes, some goal-line stuff," Quinn said.
"This is our most heightened training camp block coming up, so I'm excited to see that. We haven't gotten to the planning of the game yet."
The Commanders' next preseason game is on Saturday against the Lions before concluding the preseason on Friday, Aug. 28 against the Ravens.
Kraft returning
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft marked the latest step in his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament by spiking the ball after catching a touchdown pass in 11-on-11 drills Sunday.
Kraft is hopeful that he also will be celebrating a new contract before the start of the season.
"I think we're a different team when I'm out on the field, and I think that's obvious," Kraft said Sunday after participating in 11-on-11 for the first time since tearing his right ACL last November. "I think everyone in this organization, every fan knows that, without sounding arrogant. I think there's a different feel to the offense when I'm out there."
Kraft, a 2023 third-round pick from South Dakota State, is set to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season.
Right now he's focusing on making sure he's as close to full strength as possible for the start of the regular season next month.
"I'm just getting back on the horse," Kraft said. "Now that I've gotten back to team reps as I continue to accumulate reps, I hope I can continue to rise my game as well, take myself to new heights rather than just return to pre-injury."
That's setting a high standard, considering Kraft has said he believes he was playing as well as any tight end in the league before injuring his knee in a 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 2.
Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season. The week before his injury, he caught seven passes for 143 yards and two scores in a 35-25 victory at Pittsburgh.
He still sees room for improvement.
"I just want to diversify my abilities," Kraft said. "People think I'm (bad) at running routes versus man (coverage). They think I'm just a zone catching tight end -- drop-step, get north after the catch."
Witherspoon rich
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Devon Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million contract extension with $101 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract, which would make Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, hasn't been finalized. In a television interview during Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Witherspoon said he was grateful.
"It feels good," Witherspoon said. "Long time coming, but we had to get it done, though. I'm thankful. All glory to God. Shoutout to (general manager John Schneider) and all the people that are upstairs for making this happen."
Ex-Cowboy OG dies
DALLAS -- John Niland, a three-time All-Pro guard who helped the Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl championship, has died. He was 82.
Niland's daughter, Haven, said he died Saturday morning in McKinney, a Dallas suburb.
Niland made 111 starts in 124 games over nine seasons with Dallas. He played for Philadelphia for one year before retiring after the 1975 season.
Niland made the Pro Bowl for six straight years from 1968 to 1973.