LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — After resisting the move, Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy has made Justin Fields his first-string quarterback going forward, moving veteran Andy Dalton into the backup role.
The former Ohio State quarterback and a first-round draft pick had played against Detroit and Cleveland as the starter but only because of veteran Dalton’s knee injury.
Dalton is recovered from a bone bruise and has resumed practicing this week.
In other NFL news:
— Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio says quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a chance to practice Thursday after leaving Sunday’s game against Baltimore with a concussion. Fangio says Bridgewater is improving and was cleared to lift weights with the team and attend meetings.
— The Panthers have acquired veteran cornerback and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore from the Patriots for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. The moves comes after Gilmore and the Patriots couldn’t come to terms on a new contract.
— Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis after missing Sunday’s 36-28 loss to the Cowboys with a hamstring injury.
— Browns starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. has returned to practice and will likely be activated later this week to play against the Chargers. However, the Browns are without defensive end Jadeveon Clowney as well as cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II and nickel back Troy Hill.
— The Cowboys are moving on from linebacker Jaylon Smith without getting into the specifics of the decision to release their leading returning tackler four games into 2021. One of the factors was a looming $9.2 million guarantee on Smith’s 2022 salary if he got injured.
— Washington has put tight end Logan Thomas on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Thomas’ absence for at least the next three games could open the door for Sammis Reyes to become the first person from Chile to play in an NFL game.
— The Lions put standout center Frank Ragnow on injured reserve, another setback for a banged-up winless team. The Lions are expected to give center Evan Brown his first career start Sunday at Minnesota.
— Jaguars coach Urban Meyer publicly apologized for the third consecutive day Wednesday and said he never considered resigning after his “inexcusable” behavior at an Ohio bar was caught on camera and released on social media. Meyer says several members of the team’s leadership council have expressed their support. Team owner Shad Khan publicly reprimanded the Meyer for his actions at the bar last weekend.
— The NFL Players Association says it has sent a formal request to the league for information about Washington’s practice facility being searched by federal authorities last week. The NFLPA says the situation directly impacts player health and safety and that the collective bargaining agreement obligates teams to adhere to state and federal laws. Head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion was put on administrative leave for what a Washington spokesman called an ongoing criminal investigation unrelated to the team.
— Jets coach Robert Saleh says safety Marcus Maye has the team’s support. The star player is dealing with legal issues after being charged in February with drunken driving after a car crash in Florida. Saleh declined to say whether he and the team previously knew about the accident and arrest that was first reported Monday night.
— Suspended Dallas offensive lineman La’el Collins has sued the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Collins is seeking an injunction to stop the remaining two games of a five-game ban over substance-abuse violations. The suit claims the NFL suspended the seventh-year player for missed tests when the labor agreement reached in 2020 no longer allowed for suspensions over missed tests or positive marijuana tests.
