Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts after a play in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 48-33. Photo Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was diagnosed with a concussion Sunday in a 48-33 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Newton left the game in the fourth quarter.
He eased up running with the ball before floating a pass attempt on a two-point try. Falcons rookie linebacker Deion Jones clobbered Newton, who had connected with wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin on 6-yard touchdown pass on the previous play.
Newton was 14-of-25 passing for 165 yards. He was replaced by veteran backup Derek Anderson, who threw touchdown passes of 14 yards to Greg Olsen and 16 yards to Corey Brown before Robert Alford’s first of two late interceptions and 30-yard TD return closed out the Atlanta victory.
–Tony Romo left a preseason game at Seattle with a compression fracture in his back in August, and the Dallas Cowboys think he could return to the lineup on Oct. 30.
Romo would be nine weeks removed from the injury. He began doing advanced rehab work last week and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been vocal in his belief that Romo is the quarterback that gives Dallas the best chance to reach the playoffs.
–Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson wore custom cleats during warmups before Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns at FedEx Field to make a social statement about the “senseless killings of both citizens and police.”
Jackson’s white-and-blue cleats had yellow caution tape painted on them.
The Redskins declared their support for Jackson, who was one of four Washington players to raise their fists during the national anthem before last Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
–The Cleveland Browns, who appear to be done with suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon, may have pursued a trade before the troubled wide receiver decided to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility.
The Browns had discussions about Gordon with other teams as recently as last week and were looking to acquire a first- or second-day draft pick, multiple sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The NFL has suspended Gordon four times for violating its substance abuse policy. He was suspended for two games in 2013, 10 games in 2014, all 16 games in 2015 season and the first four games this year. He was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in July.
–Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian was knocked out of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and replaced by rookie Paxton Lynch.
Siemian was driven to the turf on a sack by Tampa Bay defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. The team announced that Siemian suffered an injury to his left shoulder.
Lynch, the team’s first-round pick out of Memphis, stepped in to make his NFL debut.
Earlier, Buccaneers Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy injured his left calf and left the game.
–New York Jets right guard Brian Winters suffered a head injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Winters was hurt on the same play — a rush for no yards by running back Matt Forte — in which he was charged with a personal foul. The penalty came one play after Seahawks outside linebacker Cassius Marsh was flagged for roughing the passer to give the Jets a first down at the Seattle 44-yard-line.
Winters remained on the ground after the play before slowly walking off the field under his own power with 9:25 left in the first half.
–The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots started their hostilities about 45 minutes before Sunday’s kickoff when a melee broke out on the New England sideline.
New England rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was set to make his second NFL start despite a right thumb injury, was jogging, just around midfield. He was confronted and shoved by Buffalo safety Robert Blanton. Patriots rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell stepped in, as did other Bills — as Brissett kept going.
Blanton punched and head-butted Mitchell. New England coaches, including defensive line coach Brendan Daly, stepped in and at least two Bills, safety Aaron Williams and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, threw punches, inadvertently hitting the coaches — Williams shoving Daly more than once.
–Oakland Raiders tight end Lee Smith injured an ankle with 7:23 left in the first half against the Baltimore Ravens.
Smith caught a 1-yard pass from Derek Carr and was injured on a tackle by Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. Lee Smith had to be helped off the field.
Smith is a six-year veteran from Marshall and is also a key blocker for the Raiders, who have been ravaged with injuries on the right side of the offensive line.
–Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan left the Redskins’ game against the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter with a left elbow injury .
Kerrigan injured his elbow on the first play of the second quarter. A trainer came out and Kerrigan was able to walk off the field but was holding his left forearm.
–Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron exited Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears because of injuries to his right knee and ankle, but he returned in the second quarter.
Ebron sustained the injuries with 3:14 to go in the first quarter. He was blocking during a running play, and several other players pushed into him from behind and appeared to cause his leg to be twisted.
