Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly will undergo surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to multiple reports.
Sources told the Charlotte Observer that Kuechly’s status for the Panthers’ organized team activities and minicamp is uncertain, but the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to be fully recovered before the start of training camp in July.
Kuechly sustained the injury in his shoulder during Carolina’s Week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 3. He did not miss any practice time, playing through the injury with the aid of a brace throughout the remainder of that game and the playoffs, including every snap of Super Bowl 50.
Kuechly, 24, has missed only three games since being selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He led the Panthers in tackles during the 2015 regular season for the fourth straight year despite missing three games with a concussion, recording 118 tackles and one sack.
—The Panthers kept long snapper J.J. Jansen out of free agency by signing him to a five-year contract.
The deal was estimated to be worth approximately $5.5 million, The Charlotte Observer reported. Jansen was scheduled to become a free agent in March.
Jansen has served as the Panthers’ long snapper since he came to Carolina from the Green Bay Packers in a 2009 trade for a conditional draft choice.
—Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow.
Mincey, who was limited throughout the 2015 season because of elbow issues, made the announcement on Twitter and Instagram.
Mincey also had arthroscopic surgery on the same elbow last offseason. After a team-high six sacks in 2014, Mincey failed to record a sack in 2015, recording only 19 tackles in 14 games because he was not able to fully extend his arm. The 32-year-old enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
—New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is confident the team will sign quarterback Drew Brees to a contract extension that would free up salary cap space.
Brees, who turned 37 in January, has an uncertain future because of a $30 million cap figure he carries for the 2016 season — the final year on the five-year, $100 million contract he received in 2012.
Loomis said “it’s not mandatory” that a new deal be executed before the start of the new league year on March 9. Brees, who has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons with the Saints, may have to take a hometown discount in order to return.
—San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos remains cautions but optimistic as the team continues to push for a new public-private stadium.
The Chargers announced Jan. 29 that they will remain in San Diego for the 2016 season and make another attempt to land a new stadium. The announcement came shortly after the Chargers reached an agreement in principle to share the proposed stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Chargers now have until Jan. 15, 2017, to decide whether or not to move the franchise to Los Angeles. The team purchased land for team headquarters and a practice facility in Orange County last month.
—The Cleveland Browns will honor Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown with a statue in his image outside FirstEnergy Stadium, the team announced on the same day the legendary running back turned 80.
The team will unveil the first sculpture during the 2016 season’s Browns Alumni Weekend. The Browns commissioned nationally recognized sculptor David L. Demming for the statue.
One of the most storied figures of American sports, Brown finished his career with 12,312 rushing yards and one of the top per-carry averages (5.2) ever established by a running back. Brown earned nine consecutive Pro Bowls honors and three Associated Press MVPs, as well as leading the Browns to the postseason four times, including three berths in the league championship and the 1964 NFL title. Brown led the NFL in rushing during eight of his nine seasons and became the franchise’s all-time career leader in rushing yards, attempts and touchdowns.
—Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jonathan Newsome was arrested after a noise complaint at his suburban apartment resulted in charges of marijuana possession.
Fox 59 in Indianapolis reported that Zionsville, Ind., police arrived at Newsome’s home after a caller complained about loud music and found marijuana. Newsome was arrested and taken to the Boone County Jail.
Police said Newsome, a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, was cooperative with authorities. He was released in less than 15 minutes after being taken into custody on a $555 bond.
—The Colts signed free-agent tight end Cameron Clear.
Clear originally signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2015. He spent the 2015 offseason and training camp with the Steelers, and was placed on injured reserve Sept. 2 and waived Sept. 15.
—The Washington Redskins named Kevin Carberry as assistant offensive line coach and Shane Waldron as offensive quality control coach on Wednesday.
Carberry is entering his third NFL season after spending the last two years as an offensive assistant for the Dallas Cowboys.
Waldron is entering his sixth NFL season in a career that includes two different stints in various capacities for the New England Patriots. He served as an operations intern and operations assistant during his first stint and later returned to the team as a quality control coach and tight ends coach. Waldron most recently coached at the University of Massachusetts for the last four seasons.
—The Minnesota Vikings named Brent Salazar as strength and conditioning coach.
Salazar will be entering his 11th season in the NFL in 2016, having spent the previous nine seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. This will be Salazar’s first opportunity as a head strength and conditioning coach. He first worked in the NFL in 2005 as a strength and conditioning intern with the Denver Broncos.
—The New York Giants re-signed long-snapper Zak DeOssie.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the team. DeOssie was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
DeOssie, a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft as a linebacker, played in 149 straight regular-season games until a wrist injury that later required surgery sidelined him in December. Only quarterback Eli Manning was been with the organization longer than DeOssie, 31,. They are the last two remaining members of the franchise’s two most recent Super Bowl championship teams.