Chad Johnson wasn’t a lock to make the Miami Dolphins’ roster even before he was arrested on a domestic violence charge last week.
The cameras of the HBO documentary Hard Knocks showed the veteran wide receiver being cut by the team in a final meeting with coach Joe Philbin during Tuesday night’s episode.
Johnson apologized for his actions in the incident in which his wife accused him of head-butting her and asked for another chance, saying he had never been in trouble previously. Philbin then delivered the news.
“Where we are as a program and where you are and where we’re headed, I just don’t see the mesh right now,” the first-year coach said. “I wish it was different, I wish I could tell you something more encouraging. But I just think it’s best for both of us that we kind of part ways at this point in time.”
Johnson replied: “Thank you for the opportunity. There’s really not much more I can say at this point. I appreciate it, though. Thank you for the chance.”
With that, the Dolphins cleared out Johnson’s locker and parted ways with the receiver.
The documentary also aired footage that indicated the Dolphins and Johnson himself were not pleased with his performance before the on-field incident and that he might not survive roster cuts.
Johnson was shown yelling at himself during practice last week. He was frustrated enough to say he wasn’t sure whether he would even make the final roster.
“There’s no such thing as locked up,” he said. “I’ve got to earn a spot.”
Philbin spoke of Johnson struggling to learn the playbook.
“Chad hasn’t done a lot inside, we’re trying to get him – you know, the big knock when he came here was he couldn’t pick up the system,” Philbin said.
— Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten could miss the remainder of the preseason with a spleen injury and internal bleeding that occurred during Monday night’s game against the Oakland Raiders.
Witten was examined Tuesday and had an MRI, the team’s website reported Wednesday. An NFL.com report cited sources as saying there was no indication yet whether Witten would need surgery.
But it appears that the injury might be serious enough to hold the veteran out until the Sept. 5 regular-season opener against the New York Giants.
The injury apparently occurred during the first quarter of the Cowboys’ 3-0 win when Witten caught a pass from Tony Romo that resulted in a 2-yard loss. Witten took a hard hit from Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain and went to the sideline.
However, he returned for the next series and had an 8-yard reception before the starters retired to the bench for the evening.
Witten has been the model of resiliency for the Cowboys, missing only one game in his 10-year career. That came in 2003 when he sustained a broken jaw.
With Witten out, rookies James Hanna and Andrew Szczerba will get more opportunities in practice.
— The Denver Broncos received more bad injury news Wednesday when they learned that defensive end Jason Hunter will miss at least two months and possibly the season after suffering a triceps tear.
Hunter had moved ahead of Robert Ayers as a starter in the team’s 4-3 base defense two weeks ago before the injury occurred during a technique drill Tuesday, the Denver Post reported.
Also Tuesday, right guard Chris Kuper sustained a broken forearm that will keep him out of action for at least six weeks.
Hunter has started 14 games the previous two seasons. He likely will be replaced by Ayers or second-round draft pick Derek Wolfe.
–Less than 24 hours after it was suggested Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison may need to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the veteran LB went under the knife on Wednesday, according to NBCSports.com and ProFootballTalk.com.
In another report by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Harrison reportedly had the scope done Wednesday morning and that the procedure “went well,” Bouchette reported.
It’s uncertain how long Harrison will need to recover. There’s a possibility that he could even start the upcoming regular season on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
If that happens, Harrison’s wait to return to action will be delayed even further, as league rules would prevent him from practicing or playing until after the Steelers’ first six regular season games.
According to PFT, the Steelers will likely fill Harrison’s void with either Jason Worilds or Chris Carter.
“With the exception of this little knee thing, James is probably healthier now than he’s been in three years,” Harrison’s agent, Bill Parise, told the Beaver County Times on Tuesday. “He’s extremely fit. He just has to get this irritation behind his kneecap cleared up. That’s what’s causing the swelling, and (the Steelers) just want to get rid of that. … We’ll just have to wait (and) see how it plays out.”
In other Steelers news, Bouchette tweeted running back Isaac Redmon remains hampered by a groin injury. Redmon reportedly tried to practice, but fell over in pain and was unable to continue.
–The New York Jets and team general manager Mike Tannenbaum announced Wednesday that they signed cornerback LeQuan Lewis.
Lewis signed last July as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans during training camp and performed well, but wound up being one of the last cuts prior to the start of the 2011 regular season.
After he was waived by the Titans, Lewis was out of the NFL for the rest of the season.
On May 14 this year, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders, but was waived five weeks later.
Lewis is a former Arizona State star. During his college career, which spanned just two seasons, he recorded 26 tackles, one interception and also tallied a 25.0-kick return average. He also blocked a kick as a senior at ASU.