Oct 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrate against the New York Giants during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The National Football League announced Tuesday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans’ one-game suspension for his blindside hit on New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been upheld by appeals officer James Thrash.
Evans drilled Lattimore during Sunday’s game after the cornerback had turned to confront Jameis Winston following a push from the Tampa Bay quarterback. Evans’ actions set off a wild skirmish, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for the wideout rather than an ejection.
On Monday, Evans was suspended for one game by the NFL, and he appealed. He will sit out for the Buccaneers (2-6) in this Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets (4-5) and will be eligible to return to the team’s active roster on Nov. 13.
–Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson will undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Wednesday morning, multiple outlets reported.
Watson sustained the injury during a non-contact play in practice last Thursday. He will have the procedure performed by Dr. Walter Lowe, the Texans’ team doctor, and is expected to make a full recovery within eight to nine months.
On Tuesday, the team announced it has signed quarterback Josh Johnson to the active roster and released quarterback Matt McGloin.
–Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during the fourth quarter of Monday’s 30-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, according to a report.
Citing a source, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday the severity of the injury for Bulaga.
The 28-year-old Bulaga has also torn his ACL in his left knee, causing him to miss the 2013 season.
–The Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Quan Bray on injured reserve and promoted nose tackle Joey Mbu from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, the team announced.
Bray had three receptions for 39 yards in nine games this season with the Colts before being shut down due to an undisclosed injury.
–New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been reinstated from his indefinite suspension after serving a one-week ban for a violation of team rules, the club announced.
Jenkins, who joined fellow cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie in serving essentially one-week suspensions this season, was punished after he did not return from the team’s bye week on time.
Without the Pro Bowl cornerback in the lineup on Sunday, the Giants (1-7) were gashed for 311 passing yards by Jared Goff and five plays over 30 yards in a 51-17 romp by the Los Angeles Rams.
–Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon decided to come clean in an interview with the magazine GQ.
Gordon admitted in an interview that was published Monday that he used drugs or alcohol before every NFL game he played.
Gordon, who last played in a game on Dec. 21, 2014, has been conditionally reinstated to the league after being suspended indefinitely since September 2016 for multiple violations of the NFL-NFLPA Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated quarterback Ryan Griffin from injured reserve and waived cornerback Deji Olatoye.
Griffin was sidelined by an injury to his passing shoulder.
–Jacksonville Jaguars executive vice president Tom Coughlin is backing Jalen Ramsey following the cornerback’s ejection, along with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, in the first half of Sunday’s game.
“I want to voice my support for Jalen Ramsey following the incident in our game on Sunday,” Coughlin said in a statement released by the team’s public relations office. “Our players are instructed to not retaliate or get involved or do anything that would result in eviction because that would hurt the team. Team comes first, and Jalen was trying not to hurt his team.
“While he did push his opponent — something that happened with other players during the game — he did not retaliate, he threw no punches, and he did not fight back…There was banter going back and forth during the game, but Jalen was playing football within the rules.”
–Defensive back Antone Exum Jr. has signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced.
In order to make room on the roster, the 49ers placed offensive lineman Garry Gilliam on injured reserve with a knee injury.
–The Denver Broncos signed rookie linebacker Joseph Jones to their 53-man roster from the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad and waived linebacker Kevin Snyder, the team announced.
–Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s revealed on Twitter that he is now a certified driver in Pennsylvania.
Teammates Alejandro Villanueva and Le’Veon Bell have helped teach the 20-year-old Smith-Schuster how to navigate his way on the streets behind the wheel of a car.
Smith-Schuster famously claimed his bike was stolen two weeks ago before Mount Oliver (Pa.) Police retrieved it from someone who purchased it for $200.
