Nov 22, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass in the third quarter against the St. Louis Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Flacco rallied the Baltimore Ravens to a 16-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday and his performance was even more spectacular in this context: Flacco suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament is out for the season.
Coach John Harbaugh confirmed the news after the game.
“Joe just had a season-ending knee injury,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll be out for the rest of the season.”
Flacco overcame a pair of costly interceptions, orchestrating three fourth-quarter scoring drives. Flacco was 27 of 44 for 299 yards and a touchdown.
The Ravens suffered another debilitating injury when starting running back Justin Forsett suffered a broken right arm when he got slammed to the turf by Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald late in the first quarter.
Already, leading receiver Steve Smith (Achilles tendon) is on injured reserve.
—NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants to be the realist in the daily fantasy forum that helps protect fans from crossing a line state and federal legislatures are still trying to define.
“Season-long fantasy — many people probably play here in this room — it’s for fun,” Goodell said during a fan forum in Minneapolis on Sunday morning, per ESPN. “It’s social. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the game, and we encourage our kids to do it. They have clubs in school. It’s a way to connect people, and we think that’s a wonderful way. Daily fantasy’s taken a little different approach. We want to make sure we understand how it would be done. We love people who are going to engage in the game and have fun with it. It’s not about making money. It’s about enjoying the game and enjoying the team, enjoying the players you pick.”
In the past 45 days, several ominous developments created doubt about the direction of daily fantasy. In the wake of Nevada ruling daily fantasy games were gambling and not a “game of skill” as some companies suggest, several other states followed suit, the most significant being New York.
Banks, credit card companies and others, in addition to DraftKings and FanDuel, were listed in a nationwide class-action suit filed in the Southern District of Florida over the weekend. It charges 40 individuals with negligence, breach of contract and unjust enrichment and other violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
—Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman went to the locker room with a concussion early in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Freeman, who entered the week as the NFL’s third-leading rusher with 721 yards, had three carries on the Falcons’ second drive, including a 39-yard run, before exiting the game.
—Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, according to multiple reports.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed a Tampa Tribune report of Alexander’s impending suspension. He will have the option to appeal the suspension.
Alexander, 21, tested positive for a banned substance during training camp, a source told the Tampa Tribune.
Alexander played in Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles because the suspension isn’t expected to be handed down until Monday, according to multiple reports. He had eight tackles in the 45-17 win.
Alexander received national prominence earlier this month when he played with a heavy heart in the upset victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 1 — less than 48 hours after his 17-year-old brother was shot to death. In the game, he recorded a game-high 11 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Following the Bucs’ 23-20 overtime win and playing with all emotion, Alexander acknowledged the loss of his brother, Broderick Taylor II, who was killed during a fight in their hometown of Anniston, Ala.
—The San Francisco 49ers are not done with quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was placed on injured reserve with an injury to his non-throwing (left) shoulder, ending his season.
At least that’s the position of general manager Trent Baalke, who denied Sunday before the 49ers played the Seattle Seahawks that the move meant Kaepernick had played his last down in a 49ers uniform.
“I wouldn’t say that at all,” Baalke said Sunday in the press box at CenturyLink Field. “I think people are reading into that. For me, where we stand right now, I wouldn’t read too much into that.”
Blaine Gabbert started Sunday’s game, his second since replacing Kaepernick atop the San Francisco depth chart. Gabbert won his first start, beating the Atlanta Falcons, but finances might be as great a factor as performance.
Kaepernick was 29th in passer rating (78.5) when he went to the bench. The 49ers can avoid paying his $11.9 million base salary if he is traded or release by April 1.
—The Seahawks were without running back Marshawn Lynch for Sunday’s game because of an abdominal injury.
Lynch had been listed as questionable, and coach Pete Carroll said Friday he expected Lynch to play. Lynch played last week after being listed as questionable in the days leading up to the game.
However, this time Lynch was on the inactive list before the game.
Running back Carlos Hyde was among those inactive for the 49ers because of foot injury.
—Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Sanders had been listed as questionable with ankle and finger injuries. He was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday.
Bears running back Matt Forte (knee) and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (groin) were inactive.
