NFL notes: Robert Griffin III has forgettable night
LANDOVER, Md. – With zero help from his offensive line, Robert Griffin III repeatedly wound up on the turf until leaving with a concussion after being sacked three times and fumbling twice Thursday night in the Washington Redskins’ 21-17 exhibition victory over the Detroit Lions.
Griffin went 2 for 5 for 8 yards on four possessions for Washington. On his final play, early in the second quarter, he started to scramble but dropped the ball despite no contact. As the quarterback went to the ground to try to corral the loose ball, Lions defensive end Corey Wootton landed on Griffin.
When Griffin got hurt, he stayed down on the field for about 5 minutes and was tended to by trainers, while some teammates kneeled nearby. When Griffin eventually rose, he slowly stepped to the sideline, then kept going until he left the field and entered the tunnel that leads to the Redskins’ locker room. Griffin gave a thumb’s up to spectators as he trudged away.
The 2012 NFL Offensive Player of the Year’s career has been marked by injuries and, the past two seasons, benchings. Despite public critiques from head coach Jay Gruden last year, Griffin was named the starting QB in February.
Bills 11, Browns 10: Johnny Manziel threw a touchdown pass and maybe closed the gap on Browns presumed starting quarterback Josh McCown in host Cleveland’s loss to Buffalo.
Buffalo’s EJ Manuel, attempting to beat out Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor for the starting job, threw a 14-yard TD pass to Andre Davis with 1:31 left. He then connected with rookie Bronson Hill for the 2-point conversion to complete a late rally by the Bills.
Manziel connected with rookie Shane Wynn on a 21-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. Playing against Buffalo’s backups, Manziel finished 10 of 18 for 118 yards and made one of those Johnny Football plays that made him an electrifying college star.
Cardinals’ lose Peters; Iupati to have surgery
Two of the Arizona Cardinals’ most significant offseason acquisitions are injured, one of them – starting nose tackle Corey Peters – is lost for the season.
Peters tore his left Achilles tendon in practice. Starting left guard Mike Iupati, an Idaho Vandal alum, will undergo surgery for a torn left meniscus. Iupati was hurt in Tuesday’s practice.
Coach Bruce Arians said Iupati is out three to eight weeks, meaning he could miss the first five games of the season.
Peters tore an Achilles for the second time in three seasons. He tore his right Achilles tendon late in the 2013 campaign.
“The second time around it’s really devastating,” Arians said before practice, “because he was having such a great camp.”
Peters was hurt without any contact.
Iupati, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with San Francisco and a member of The Associated Press all-pro team in 2012, was Arizona’s biggest free agent acquisition. He signed a five-year, $40 million contract with $22.5 million guaranteed.
Iupati is considered one of the best run blockers in the league and the Cardinals ranked last in the NFL at 3.3 yards per carry last season.
Around the league
New York Jets offensive lineman Oday Aboushi has been suspended one game without pay by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. . … The Denver Broncos placed Marvin Austin Jr. on injured reserve after the fifth-year nose tackle missed all of training camp with a groin injury. The Broncos were awareded tight end Jake Murphy off waivers.