ARLINGTON, Texas. — Tamba Hali is available to play for the Kansas City Chiefs for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys after the veteran linebacker was activated from the physically unable to perform list and added to the active roster.
He had been on the PUP list all season because of sore knees.
Hali, who turned 34 on Friday, has 89.5 sacks, tying him for 44th on the NFL’s all-time list.
He hasn’t played since last season, and his only practice sessions of the year came on Thursday and Friday. But he could play a significant role against the Cowboys. The Chiefs will be without starting outside linebacker Dee Ford, who has a back injury.
The Chiefs released backup cornerback D.J. White to clear roster room for Hali.
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have ruled out three starters, including tight end Jordan Reed, and declared two others as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Seattle, further depleting a team that has dealt with a number of injuries in recent weeks.
In addition to Reed, who is battling a hamstring injury, left guard Shawn Lauvao (stinger) and defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis (hand) won’t play. Reserve tight end Niles Paul (concussion) also was ruled out.
Left tackle Trent Williams (knee) and center Spencer Long (knees) are doubtful, along with backup offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (core muscle).
Meanwhile, six players were listed as questionable, including five starters: wide receiver Jamison Crowder (hamstring), guard Brandon Scherff (knee), running back Rob Kelley (ankle), cornerback Bashaud Breeland (groin) and safety Montae Nicholson (shoulder).
In all, three-fifths of the Redskins’ starting offensive line won’t play, and a fourth, Scherff, is questionable. But Scherff at least participated in practice the past two days, though in limited fashion. Coach Jay Gruden had said Thursday that “things are looking up” in regard to Scherff, and Friday did nothing to alter that outlook.
Crowder could be the biggest question mark. Gruden expressed concern Thursday, and Crowder said his focus remains on the long term. He was hampered by a sore hamstring early in the season but said in recent weeks that it had felt good.
“I don’t want to make it worse and have it lingering for the rest of the season,” Crowder said. “It’s kind of tricky. It feels good at times, and then I go out and work, and it doesn’t feel like bad, but it doesn’t feel I can be as explosive to [where] I feel I can go out and compete at a high level.”
Along the line, T.J. Clemmings will start at left tackle with Arie Kouandjio at right guard and rookie Chase Roullier at center. If Scherff can play, it would give the Redskins two starters on the right side, along with tackle Morgan Moses.
At tight end, rookie Jeremy Sprinkle will play in any sets using two tight ends along with veteran Vernon Davis.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The DeMarco Murray to Dallas rumors picked up before this year’s trade deadline, primarily due to Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension. Murray heard them, and understood them, but he’s still the Titans’ starting running back and he plans it to remain that way for the rest of his career.
“That was all speculation by social media fans and obviously, people talking about the whole Dallas deal,” said Murray, who was acquired by the Titans in a March 2016 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles “I’m happy here. They’re happy to have me here. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Titans organizations for the last two years and I see myself retiring here and being an asset here moving forward.”
“The chances of me going back there is probably closer to Roger Staubach coming back and playing for them.”
DeMarco Murray on chances of a return to Dallas
Fans began speculating about a Murray to Dallas trade after Ed Werder tweeted that Murray “heard rumblings” that he could be traded and noted his connection to Dallas.
“That’s been circulating every year since I left there,” Murray said to the ‘rumblings’ report. “The chances of me going back there is probably closer to Roger Staubach coming back and playing for them.”
Murray said it wouldn’t have been bad to take a handoff from Staubach, who retired from the NFL in 1980, eight years before Murray was born, but he enjoys taking handoffs from Marcus Mariota a little more.
The 29-year-old running back has battled through a hamstring injury all season, but he says his body is finally feeling good. Murray said his hamstring feels the best it has since training camp when he first suffered a strain
“I’m faster, not worried about hamstrings, not worried about anything,” Murray said. “I can go out there, focus on my assignments, focus on my game and focus on helping this team get the job done.”
“I know I got to be that spark and I’ll get back to doing that.”
Murray has 86 carries for 372 yards through seven games this season. He’s been in a running back tandem with Derrick Henry.
In 2016, Murray had an AFC-leading 1,287 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 293 carries.
The winless Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers are the front-runners at midseason for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants aren’t far behind.
The Browns have a strong need for a quarterback, and the 49ers have flexibility after trading a second-round pick to the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo. The Colts, meanwhile, already have their quarterback in Andrew Luck but could be positioned to take a top defensive player or an explosive player on offense, such as Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants still have Eli Manning under contract but could consider a quarterback to groom under the two-time Super Bowl champion.
Here’s a closer look at the four teams contending for the No. 1 overall pick and the direction each could go with the selection:
Cleveland Browns
Record: 0-8
Target if Browns keep No. 1 pick: DeShone Kizer has some work to do to convince the Browns not to take a quarterback with the first overall pick, which the Browns seem destined to have for the second consecutive year. The player they take should be the consensus best quarterback, be it Josh Rosen of UCLA or Sam Darnold of USC or another QB who emerges. If the Browns fiddle around with this pick and trade down or take another position, fans should turn in every ticket and bit of gear they have and the league should step in and disband the front office, and the Browns should simply forfeit every game until they get a quarterback. The Browns have used 24 picks the past two seasons and only two on quarterbacks — Kizer and Cody Kessler — and none in the first round. They have five picks in the first two rounds in 2018. In theory — and with the Browns everything is really just theory — that massive number of picks used properly should provide the foundation for a roster. But until they get a quarterback, they will be just another team. In the upcoming draft, the team that passed on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson absolutely has to take a quarterback.
Target if Browns trade down: The mere thought of a trade down by the Browns is like 100 sets of fingernails scratching down a chalkboard. The Browns traded out of the picks that turned out to be Wentz (Philadelphia) and Watson (Houston) the past two years. If they even entertain the thought again, they’d need to have someone check their water because something would be wrong. Trading down would be the definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Pat McManamon
San Francisco 49ers
Record: 0-8
Target if 49ers keep No. 1 pick: After Monday’s franchise-altering trade for Garoppolo, the Niners now have a world of possibilities in front of them for the 2018 NFL draft, particularly if they land the first pick. In a perfect world, they could auction the top spot for a bounty of draft picks capable of filling some of their other many holes. Short of that, the 49ers would be in a prime position to add the type of difference-maker they so desperately need. That would be Barkley. It’s hard to envision Niners coach Kyle Shanahan using a top pick on a running back but Barkley looks like the type of generational talent who could change any team’s mind and immediately become Garoppolo’s best friend. If this scenario happened, the Niners’ desperate need for a game-breaker on offense probably would win out, even above positional needs like edge rusher, cornerback and wide receiver.
Target if Giants keep No. 1 pick: The Giants are going to be one of these teams hoping Darnold comes out in the draft. He’s generally considered the best quarterback in college football. This isn’t the ninth or 10th pick that the Giants had in 2016 and ’15, respectively. This is the No. 1 selection, a rare opportunity to grab a franchise quarterback with Manning close to the end. He’ll be 37 years old and will have missed the playoffs in five of the past six years. Davis Webb, this year’s third-round pick, will be an unknown. The Giants can’t pass on an opportunity to grab a potential franchise-changing quarterback in Darnold. If they end up with two (Darnold and Webb), that is the kind of a problem any team would like.
Target if Colts keep No. 1 pick: The Colts need a running back to ease the workload of quarterback Andrew Luck. But using the No. 1 overall pick on a running back could be looked at as a risk, no matter how good Barkley is. A running back hasn’t been taken No. 1 overall since Ki-Jana Carter, also from Penn State, was selected by Cincinnati in 1995. The other pressing need is a pass-rusher, a position the Colts have been trying to fill since Robert Mathis started slowing down after the 2013 season, to go with their young secondary. North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb fits that mold. Chubb has 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in only seven games this season.
Target if Colts trade down: This would be more of an ideal scenario for the Colts because of the number of potential quarterbacks that could be taken No. 1 overall. The Colts, barring anything happening with Luck and his shoulder, don’t need to address the quarterback position. Trading back would allow general manager Chris Ballard to stockpile more picks to try to accelerate rebuilding the roster. The Colts could be in a position to get more picks and also be able to address their pass-rush problems because Chubb could still be on the board depending on how far back they trade. If Indianapolis goes for an offensive player, Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey is one on whom to keep an eye. McGlinchey has played right and left tackle in college. Those are both positions of need for the Colts’ dreadful offensive line. — Mike Wells