Cowboys acquire QB Cassel
The Dallas Cowboys have injury concerns on a number of fronts that have led to several significant moves.
The Cowboys acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. Multiple media outlets reported that the Bills sent a 2017 seventh-round draft pick to the Cowboys for Cassel and a 2017 fifth-round pick. Cassel joined the Bills during the offseason but was beaten out for the starting job in Buffalo by Tyrod Taylor.
The Cowboys acquired Cassel because quarterback Tony Romo was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, making him eligible to be activated for the Dallas Cowboys’ Nov. 22 game against the Miami Dolphins.
Coach stands up for arrested TCU players
TCU coach Gary Patterson came to the defense of two Horned Frogs players facing robbery charges.
Senior defensive end Mike Tuaua and freshman backup wide receiver Andre Petties-Wilson were arrested Monday and charged with one count of robbery with bodily injury stemming from a Sept. 4 incident.
Both players were suspended from the team and have missed the past two games after third-ranked TCU’s season-opening win at Minnesota.
“Outside in our community and with kids, (Tuaua) is the most liked kid we have on team besides (quarterback) Trevone Boykin,” Patterson said. “The facts will be fact, and those facts will someday come out.”
A Fort Worth police report indicated that the two players were arrested after another TCU student alleged that Tuaua and Petties-Wilson stole beer from his friends and then attacked them. Tuaua told police that there was pushing and shoving and he punched a man to get him off his teammate, adding that he didn’t know what happened to the beer.
Auburn changes quarterbacks
Redshirt freshman Sean White will start at quarterback for Auburn on Saturday against Mississippi State instead of Jeremy Johnson.
Coach Gus Malzahn announced the change Tuesday. It will be the first career start for White.
Malzahn did not say whether the switch was permanent or for the next game only.
Johnson started the Tigers’ first three games and completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns but has thrown six interceptions.
Fitzpatrick to remain Jets’ starting QB after Smith return
New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles confirmed on Tuesday what was becoming apparent — that Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the Jets’ starting quarterback even after Geno Smith is ready to return to action after suffering a broken jaw.
“Ryan is our QB right now,” Bowles said. “We’re going good. We have good chemistry right now. Geno understands that.
“When Geno Smith returns to full health, Ryan Fitzpatrick will get all the first-team quarterback reps.”
Smith suffered the broken jaw when teammate IK Enemkpali punched him last month during a disagreement.
With Fitzpatrick as the starter, the Jets are off to a 2-0 start, beating the Cleveland Browns in the opener and the Indianapolis Colts on Monday.