CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow was back at practice on Wednesday, more than a month after he was sidelined by a strained right calf muscle.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ Pro Bowl quarterback put on the pads and participated for the first time since he pulled up limping and then went down during a scramble on July 27.
The 26-year-old Burrow warmed up with backup quarterbacks Jake Browning and newly signed practice squad QB Will Grier in the portion of the practice open to reporters. The team said Burrow was not available for interviews Wednesday.
Receiver Tee Higgins said it seemed as if Burrow was never away when the quarterback found rookie receiver Charlie Jones with a perfect deep ball during practice.
“When Joe’s out there, it’s a little more dialed in,” receiver Ja’Marr Chase said.
The defending AFC North champion Bengals open the season Sept. 10 at Cleveland.
TITANS: Cade York will work on his kicking aim and accuracy in Tennessee.
Released by Cleveland after the Browns made a trade to replace him, York cleared waivers and signed with the Titans to be on their practice squad rather than stay with the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2022.
York’s tenure with the Browns came to a crashing conclusion after he struggled during the exhibition season, missing 4 of 8 of eight field-goal tries.
He had a potential winner blocked in the final minute on Saturday in Kansas City, perhaps the final straw for the organization that had supported him throughout the summer and an inconsistent rookie season.
The Browns were interested in bringing York back on their practice squad, but the 22-year-old opted for a change of scenery.
On Monday, the Browns acquired kicker Dustin Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers for a seventh-round draft pick.
Tennessee made a kicking move Tuesday, getting Nick Folk in a trade from the New England Patriots pending the 38-year-old kicker passing a physical.
49ERS: Nick Bosa still hasn’t reported to the San Francisco 49ers as his contract holdout moves closer to the start of the season but the Niners have no plans to trade their star defensive player away.
With Bosa’s holdout in its sixth week, there has been some talk that San Francisco could look for a trade if the two sides can’t come to an agreement. That was a notion both Coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch shot down immediately.
“I haven’t talked to many people about that but I know I feel pretty strongly,” Shanahan said. “I think everyone would agree to that.”
The 49ers have had a strong history of rewarding their own stars, giving big extensions the past three summers to tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and receiver Deebo Samuel.
But getting a deal done with Bosa has proved more complicated as he is expected to get more money than those three players after proving he can consistently be one of the top defensive ends in the league when healthy since being drafted second overall in 2019.
PANTHERS: The Carolina Panthers waived quarterback Matt Corral, their third-round draft pick in 2022, without him ever having taken a snap from center in a regular-season game for the franchise.
Corral missed his entire rookie season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in a preseason game against the New England Patriots. The Panthers drafted Bryce Young No. 1 overall and added veteran Andy Dalton via free agency this offseason under new coach Frank Reich, leaving Corral’s chances of making the roster in doubt.
Corral was 28 of 47 passing for 248 yards during three preseason games this year.
Coach Frank Reich said the Panthers would like to sign Corral to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Panthers claimed three players off waivers — offensive tackle Calvin Throckmorton from the New Orleans Saints, linebacker Claudin Cherelus from the New York Jets, and cornerback D’Shawn Jamison from the San Francisco 49ers.
Along with Corral, the Panthers also waived linebacker Chandler Wooten and wide receiver Derek Wright in corresponding moves.
DOLPHINS: GM Chris Grier said conversations with the Indianapolis Colts about 2021 All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor were “exploratory,” and no official offers were exchanged between the two teams.
The Dolphins had been linked to Taylor in recent weeks as the Colts sought trade partners for their 2020 second-round pick. Talks fizzled Tuesday as the deadline for roster cuts passed, and Indianapolis placed Taylor on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which will sideline him through the first four games of the season.
They have until the trade deadline on Oct. 31.
“It was just general talks,” Grier said. “A lot of the stuff being reported, like I tell you guys, 95% of it’s wrong. We had some discussions, but it’s no different than any player that’s ever released or available that we know about. … In terms of being close, there was nothing really close.”
Grier was asked if third-year receiver Jaylen Waddle was brought up in trade discussions with the Colts.
He laughed.
“Jaylen Waddle would not be available to anybody,” Grier said.
The Dolphins aren’t in a position where they need to be aggressive in these type of situations. They were also in talks with former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook before he signed with the New York Jets.
Grier said he is happy with the roster Miami has built, and he believes the Dolphins have the pieces to eventually compete with teams that have established themselves at the top of the AFC, including the Chiefs, Bengals and division-rival Bills.
“I think we can compete with them,” Grier said. “That’s to be determined this season. But we feel good about the players. Mike (McDaniel) and the coaching staff, they do a fantastic job. I think this is a very close group that’s focused.”
The Dolphins have also been consistent in their outward confidence in their current running back room.
They brought back Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, their leading rushers from 2022, who both averaged more than 4.6 yards per carry. Miami also has rookie running back De’Von Achane, Salvon Ahmed, who had a strong preseason, and undrafted rookie Chris Brooks, who impressed enough in the preseason to make the initial 53-man roster.
VIKINGS: The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with former Miami Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin and veteran offensive lineman David Quessenbery to address depth concerns.
Their contracts were pending completion of physical exams. The Vikings also waived wide receiver and punt returner Jalen Reagor, the 2020 first-round draft pick who was acquired a year ago in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
