Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Armonty Bryant and practice squad defensive back De’Ante Saunders were arrested Christmas morning following a traffic stop.
Browns general manager Ray Farmer released a statement Saturday and said Bryant, who is second on the team with 5.5 sacks, will sit out Sunday’s game in Kansas City against the Chiefs.
“We are aware of the arrests of De’Ante Saunders and Armonty Bryant after a traffic stop early Friday morning,”’ Farmer said. “These are charges that we take very seriously. The importance of responsible decision-making is something we continually stress to all members of our organization, which makes it extremely disappointing that these two individuals would put themselves in this situation by making such poor decisions.
“Armonty will be inactive on Sunday for our game against the Chiefs and will not travel with the team to Kansas City so he can tend to this personal legal matter. In addition to being a pending legal matter, this incident is subject to the NFL personal conduct policy and we have no further comment at this time.”
WOIO TV in Cleveland reported that Saunders was driving when he was stopped along I-71 and arrested at 2:16 a.m. for operating a vehicle under the influence and speeding.
Bryant was arrested for the possession of Adderrall because he couldn’t provide a prescription for the drug, which is on the NFL’s list of banned substances. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office will determine if Bryant will face charges.
Bryant, 25, is in his third year with the Browns. He was drafted in the seventh round in 2013 from East Central Oklahoma, where he had some legal troubles. He was arrested for selling marijuana in 2012. After being drafted by the Browns in 2013, he also was arrested for driving under the influence near the school’s stadium.
Saunders, 23, was signed to the Browns’ practice squad in November.
—The Dallas Cowboys ruled out wide receiver Dez Bryant for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills because of foot and ankle injuries.
Bryant, who had been listed as doubtful on Friday, did not practice during the week and could miss the season finale against the Washington Redskins on Jan. 3. Sunday will mark the sixth game Bryant has missed this season.
Bryant fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the season opener against the New York Giants that required surgery, but he played the past eight games. Bryant caught his third touchdown of the season against the New York Jets last Saturday night, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kellen Moore.
The Cowboys also ruled out cornerback Morris Claiborne, who has a hamstring injury. This will be the fourth game Claiborne has missed this season because of a hamstring strain.
—Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer, still in the NFL concussion protocol, is not expected to play in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Brandon Weeden will take Hoyer’s place, becoming the Texans’ fourth starting quarterback this season. Weeden made his debut with the Texans in Indianapolis last Sunday after T.J. Yates tore his ACL.
Hoyer returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis while remaining under the protocol. He suffered his second concussion in a month during Houston’s Week 14 loss to the New England Patriots on Dec. 13.
B.J. Daniels, signed off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad on Monday, is expected to back up Weeden, who was signed Nov. 19 after being released by the Dallas Cowboys.
—Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who suffered a setback last week because of soreness in his foot, had a “really good” throwing session in the team’s indoor practice facility on Saturday.
Manning continues to rehabilitate from a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
Head coach Gary Kubiak viewed the workout before the full team took the field.
“It was good. It went really good,” Kubiak said Saturday of Manning’s throwing. “He had a good week, worked really hard this morning, conditioning-wise and throwing-wise. I was over there and saw it first-hand, so I thought it was a really good week.”
The 39-year-old Manning scaled back his regimen after experiencing pain on Dec. 18 following two straight days of practice. He has been easing his way back onto the field this week so he doesn’t cause further damage to his foot.
Manning was ruled out on Wednesday for Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Brock Osweiler will make his sixth straight start at quarterback in Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Osweiler is 3-2 in his five starts.
—Tight end Tyler Eifert of the Bengals is out and safety George Iloka is listed as doubtful for Monday night’s game in Denver.
Eifert, who has 48 receptions for 564 yards and leads the Bengals with 12 touchdowns this season, sustained a concussion on Dec. 13 and has not yet returned to practice.
Iloka, who has been in 44 tackles and made one interceptions, might miss his second game because of a groin injury. Shawn Williams, who has 23 tackles and two interceptions, would start in his place.
—The New England Patriots claimed defensive back Troy Hill off waivers from the Bengals and signed wide receiver Chris Harper to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
To make room on the roster, the Patriots released tight end Asante Cleveland and wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.
Hill signed with Cincinnati as a rookie free agent out of Oregon on May 8 and spent most of the season on the Cincinnati practice squad. He was signed to the 53-man roster on Dec. 5 and played in three games, making six tackles before being released on Dec. 24.
—The San Francisco 49ers placed guard Alex Boone on injured reserve because of a right knee injury and promoted running back Jarryd Hayne from the practice squad.
Boone started the 49ers’ first 13 games this season at left guard and was selected as an alternate to the Pro Bowl.
Hayne, who was born in Australia and has a rugby background, signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on March 3. He appeared in six games and registered eight carries for 25 yards and returned eight punts for 76 yards before being waived on Oct. 31. Hayne signed to the 49ers practice squad on Nov. 2.
—Tight end Anthony McCoy was placed on injured reserve by the Seattle Seahawks, who signed wide receiver Kasen Williams from the practice squad.
McCoy, who has a high ankle sprain, signed with Seattle on Dec. 9 and played at Baltimore four days later, but was inactive last week against Cleveland.
Williams, who grew up in Sammamish, Wash., and attended Skyline High School and the University of Washington, signed with Seattle on June 15 after participating in Seattle’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed defensive tackle Akeem Spence on injured reserve and promoted running back Mike James from the practice squad.
Spence has started seven of the eight games he has played for Tampa Bay this season, totaling 11 tackles and one sack.
James is in his third season with the Buccaneers, but is active for the first time this year.
—Tackle David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Cardinals because of an ankle injury.
The Packers have ruled out tight end Justin Perillo (hamstring) and cornerback Sam Shields (concussion).
—The Miami Dolphins signed cornerback Tyler Patmon off the practice squad.
To make room on the roster, the Dolphins waived defensive end Jordan Williams.