The loss of LB Danny Trevathan is a major blow to Denver's defense. (Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports)
The Denver Broncos sustained a major blow Tuesday when linebacker Danny Trevathan went down with a fracture in his left knee that will sideline him for six to eight weeks.
The medial tibial impaction fracture occurred during a running play in a team drill at practice. Trevathan led the Broncos in tackles with 124 last season.
“They told me that my ACL and MCL are fine, but that I have a fracture in my knee,” Trevathan said. “The doctor told me I was going to be out four to eight weeks, but I told him four to six. I’m not tripping. I will bounce back. I’m a soldier.”
Taking his place for the remainder of practice was Brandon Marshall, who likely would assume Trevathan’s starting role.
—Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel and veteran Brian Hoyer will split first-team reps for the Cleveland Browns in Monday night’s preseason game against the Washington Redskins.
Browns coach Mike Pettine will name a starter for the exhibition on Thursday when the team has the day off.
Rex Grossman, signed Tuesday by the Browns, also hopes to play Monday night against his former team. Grossman is familiar with the offensive system run by coordinator Kyle Shanahan from their time together with the Redskins.
The Browns waived quarterback Tyler Thigpen to make room for Grossman.
—Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick said Tuesday that he will be suspended the first four games of the 2014 season for a failed drug test.
Scandrick started 15 of 16 games for the Cowboys last season. He had 64 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. According to his agent, Ron Slavin, the absence of HGH regulation contributed to Scandrick’s failed test.
—Seattle Seahawks quarterback Terrelle Pryor voiced his support for the recent court ruling allowing college athletes to right to capitalize on their names and images.
Pryor, who left Ohio State after his junior year when he and four teammates were suspended for selling memorabilia, acknowledged that he made a mistake in college but defended his right to support his family.
“I’m glad they did that,” Pryor told 710 ESPN Seattle. “The only thing I will say about that is when I was at Ohio State, all you see is red jerseys in the stands and you see a lot of No. 2s (Pryor’s number at Ohio State). I’ll leave it at that.”
—The Pittsburgh Steelers placed punter Adam Podlesh on the reserve/did not report list Tuesday.
“Adam has decided not to report to training camp at this time due to family obligations,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said.
The 31-year-old Podlesh signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in April after spending three seasons with the Chicago Bears.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive end T.J. Fatinikun on Tuesday after a tryout with the team.
Fatinikun participated in a rookie minicamp with the Buccaneers in June. He also had a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs last year coming out of college at Toledo and then played this spring with the Portland Thunder and the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League.
—Wide receiver Jordy Nelson returned to practice Tuesday with the Green Bay Packers on a limited basis. The veteran standout was held out of Monday’s workout because of a hamstring injury.
Nelson didn’t play in the 20-16 loss at the Tennessee Titans, the team’s preseason opener Saturday night. Nelson’s status for the next preseason game, Saturday afternoon at the St. Louis Rams, is uncertain.
Wide receiver Davante Adams missed a second straight day of practice Tuesday because of an injury to his right wrist. The rookie jammed the wrist on a muffed punt return in the preseason opener Saturday. Defensive tackle Josh Boyd returned Tuesday after missing a day because of a rib injury he sustained in the first preseason game. And safety Tanner Miller also also returned to practice. The undrafted rookie had been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury July 30.
—Arizona Cardinals pass rusher John Abraham’s excused absence from training camp is expected to come to an end soon.
Coach Bruce Arians said Monday that Abraham will be in shape when he reports, when the veteran will likely meet with media to explain in his own words what has kept him away from the Cardinals. Abraham was arrested on drunken driving charges in late June in an Atlanta suburb and has a court date set for Aug. 20.
Abraham could be subject to NFL discipline depending on the outcome of his pending legal matter.
—The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Brady Quinn and waived/injured Pat Devlin. Quinn was brought in for a workout Monday with the team concerned with the backup job to starter Ryan Tannehill with Matt Moore recovering from a shoulder injury and Devlin slowly by a hamstring injury of late.
Miami also looked at Rex Grossman and John Skelton before settling on Quinn, with Grossman signing with the Browns on Tuesday.
Moore and Devlin returned to practice Sunday, but the Dolphins were still concerned about the backup quarterback spot.
