NFL notes Democrat- Gazette Press Services
SAINTS Long snapper acquired
NEW ORLEANS — The Saints have acquired veteran long snapper Jon Dorenbos from the Philadelphia Eagles for a seventh- round draft pick in 2019.
Dorenbos is a two- time former Pro Bowl who is entering his 15th NFL season. His trade to New Orleans on Monday comes after another Saints long snapper, Justin Drescher, appeared to be injured during Saturday night’s preseason victory over Houston.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ executive vice president of football operations, said the decision to trade Dorenbos was “one of the most difficult decisions” the club has had to make because of Dorenbos’ “performance on the field for so many years” and his relationships within the organization and the Philadelphia community.
Dorenbos has been with the Eagles since late 2006. His 162 regular- season appearances for Philadelphia are the sixth most in franchise history.
Saints Coach Sean Payton said Dorenbos will play in New Orleans’ preseason finale against Baltimore on Thursday night. TE Phillips on IR
Coach Sean Payton said the club has placed tight end John Phillips on injured reserve and released defensive end Jason Jones.
Payton has not disclosed Phillips’ injury, which apparently occurred before Phillips was held out of New Orleans’ third preseason game against Houston on Saturday night.
Phillips, a seven- year veteran, was acquired half way through last season.
Jones, a 10- year- veteran who has played with Tennessee, Seattle, Detroit and Miami, was signed by New Orleans as a free agent after training camp, playing in two preseason games and making one tackle.
COLTS
CB Davis week to week INDIANAPOLIS — Two- time Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis is listed as week to week after Coach Chuck Pagano said he was diagnosed with a “pretty significant” groin injury.
Davis was injured Saturday at Pittsburgh. He missed practice Monday to get a second opinion.
On Tuesday, Pagano said Davis did not need surgery. And although he didn’t provide a timetable for Davis’ return, Pagano’s wording usually indicates a player will miss multiple weeks.
The addition of Davis to the injury list is yet another complication with cutdowns looming Saturday.
Andrew Luck has not yet been activated, starting center Ryan Kelly is out after foot surgery and now the Colts’ top defensive player is out. STEELERS TE McDonald acquired
The Steelers have traded a fourthround draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for tight end Vance McDonald and a fifth- round pick.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the move was made because he has been unhappy with the consistency of the tight ends on the roster. Jesse James is the incumbent starter, and Xavier Grimble, David Johnson and Jake McGee had been serving as his reserves during training camp.
McDonald, a second- round pick in 2013, is entering his fifth NFL season and started 30 games for the 49ers during his first four NFL seasons, including 11 in 2016. He caught 24 passes for 391 yards and 4 touchdowns last season.
In 48 career games, McDonald has 64 receptions for 866 yards and 7 touchdowns.
CHIEFS LB Ragland checks in
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Alabama standout Reggie Ragland reported to the Chiefs but was not on the practice field Tuesday, one day after the Buffalo Bills shipped the linebacker to Kansas City for a fourth- round draft pick.
Ragland was injured all of last season and had fallen out of favor in Buffalo, which is in the midst of switching from a 3- 4 to a 4- 3 defense. The Chiefs play a 3- 4 similar to what the Bills ran with Rex Ryan when they chose Ragland in the second round of the 2016 draft.
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid would not say when he expects Ragland to make it on the field. The Chiefs play their preseason finale Thursday night against Tennessee.
Reid did say that kicker Cairo Santos, who has missed most of training camp with a groin injury, could try field goals against the Titans, but backup Sam Ficken would continue to handle kickoffs.
TITANS Decker, Davis return
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee wide receivers Eric Decker and rookie Corey Davis have returned to practice, and Coach Mike Mularkey isn’t ready to rule either out of the Titans’ preseason finale Thursday night at Kansas City.
Mularkey said the Titans will practice again today and will see how both receivers feel after limited work.
Both could use work with quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Titans signed Decker after their offseason program ended in June, while Davis, the fifth overall pick in the draft, was limited through the offseason coming off ankle surgery.
Davis did more in the team’s final minicamp the last week of the offseason, but he hurt his hamstring Aug. 3 after missing the opening day of training camp.