NFL PLAYER NEWS

NFL Notes: Eagles acquire Ajayi, Bills get Benjamin

The Sports Xchange

October 31, 2017 at 8:58 pm.

Jay Ajayi has been traded to Philadelphia. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jay Ajayi has been traded to Philadelphia. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Pro Bowl running back Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

The swap came just hours before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Ajayi joins a backfield in Philadelphia that also includes offseason acquisition LeGarrette Blount. The Eagles own the NFL’s fifth-ranked run offense, earning 129.2 yards per game on 30.8 rush attempts.

The 24-year-old Ajayi has rushed for 465 yards this season on 138 carries, but has been held out of the end zone. He rushed for 1,272 yards last season.

Ajayi rushed for just 23 yards on 14 carries in a 40-0 rout by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.

He is signed through 2018 on a four-year, $2.5 million contract.

The Dolphins likely will turn to second-year running back Kenyan Drake as their starter.

–The Buffalo Bills acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers for two draft choices prior to the trading deadline.

The Bills announced they sent their 2018 third- and seventh-round picks to the Panthers. The seventh-round choice is conditional.

Benjamin has 32 receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns this season.

–New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, the club announced.

The suspension takes effect immediately, with Jenkins scheduled to miss Sunday’s home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Jenkins is the second cornerback for the Giants (1-6) to be suspended this season, with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie receiving a ban three weeks ago after leaving the field during the team’s setback to the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 8.

–The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns failed to work out a trade that would have sent quarterback AJ McCarron to Cleveland, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

The Bengals notified the NFL of the proposed trade at 3:55 p.m. ET, and the Browns notified the league shortly after. Because the Browns were past the 4 p.m. trade deadline, the league denied the trade. Cleveland protested with the league, asking that the trade be approved, but were denied.

Cincinnati would have received a second- and third-round draft pick in 2018 for McCarron, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

–Suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon is scheduled to meet with the NFL in New York on Wednesday seeking reinstatement, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing a source.

Schefter also noted that the source said teams have inquired about Gordon prior to the NFL’s trade deadline, which is slated for 4 p.m. ET.

Gordon has not played in an NFL game since Dec. 21, 2014.

The NFL has suspended Gordon four times for violating its substance-abuse policy.

–The New York Jets acquired cornerback Rashard Robinson from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round draft pick.

The 49ers also released quarterback Brian Hoyer in addition to cornerback Will Redmond from the injured reserve list. The team officially acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots.

Robinson started the first seven contests this season being replaced by rookie Ahkello Witherspoon in Sunday’s 33-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

–Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley will receive a suspension from the NFL for an undisclosed violation, multiple outlets reported.

The length of the ban was not immediately known.

Kerley has reeled in 22 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown.

–Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will not be suspended for their actions during last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL announced.

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said that both players still could face fines, however.

Alonso hit a sliding Joe Flacco in the head during the second quarter, leaving the Ravens quarterback in need of stitches for his ear and with a concussion.

Suh took issue with Ryan Mallett late in the game, grabbing the backup quarterback by the throat and pushing him away.

–The NFL Players Association filed an emergency motion for an injunction appeal on behalf of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The filing comes one day after Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied the request for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Failla stayed her ruling for 24 hours to give Elliott’s side a chance to appeal.

Failla’s decision reinstated Elliott’s six-game suspension from the NFL due to domestic violence allegations.

–Former Pro Bowl receiver Derrick Mason was arrested and charged with felony aggravated domestic assault after an incident on Monday in Nashville, Tenn.

A 43-year-old woman contacted police and said she was physically assaulted, struck in the stomach and grabbed in the neck by Mason on Monday morning after informing him she wanted to end their relationship.

Mason, 43, left before police arrived but turned himself in Monday night upon learning there was a warrant for his arrest.

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