NFL notebook: Everett moves limbs
Kevin Everett voluntarily moved his arms and legs on Tuesday when partially awoken, prompting a neurosurgeon to say the Buffalo Bills’ tight end would walk again – contrary to the grim prognosis given a day before.
“Based on our experience, the fact that he’s moving so well, so early after such a catastrophic injury means he will walk again,” said Dr. Barth Green, chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Miami school of medicine.
“It’s totally spectacular, totally unexpected,” Green told the Associated Press by telephone from Miami.
Green said he’s been consulting with doctors in Buffalo since Everett sustained a life-threatening spinal cord injury Sunday after ducking his head while tackling the Denver Broncos’ Domenik Hixon during the second-half kickoff of the Bills’ season opener.
Everett dropped face-first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet.
Asked whether Everett will have a chance to fully recover, Green said: “It’s feasible, but it’s not 100 percent predictable at this time. … But it’s feasible he could lead a normal life.”
“Starting free safety Ko Simpson’s season is over after the Bills placed him on injured reserve.
The move comes a day after the second-year player had surgery to repair a broken left ankle. Simpson was hurt in Sunday’s 15-14 season-opening loss to Denver when his legs were cut out from beneath him by teammate Jason Webster as the two were attempting to tackle Broncos receiver Javon Walker.
Jaguars, Chiefs add kickers
Veteran John Carney signed a one-year contract with Jacksonville, giving the Jaguars a replacement for injured place-kicker Josh Scobee.
The 43-year-old Carney was one of five kickers who worked out for the Jaguars earlier in the day. He got a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $820,000 with no signing bonus.
“Disappointed with kicker Justin Medlock, the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent Dave Rayner to a two-year contract.
Medlock is expected to be kept on the practice squad.
Kansas City also added Arena Football League star wide receiver Bobby Sippio to its active roster. Sippio spent last week on the practice squad after originally signing with the Chiefs on Aug. 11.
Wroten suspended
St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Wroten’s suspension begins immediately and he will be eligible to return to the team on Oct. 8.
The second-year player out of LSU, a third-round draft pick in 2006, made no tackles in Sunday’s loss to Carolina.
Around the league
Veteran safeties Donovin Darius and Lamont Thompson signed with the Miami Dolphins, who sought help at the position because Yeremiah Bell will miss the rest of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon. … Free safety Will Demps signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. The Texans needed another safety after losing starter Jason Simmons for the season with a torn patellar tendon.