NFL notebook: NFL suspends Ravens CB Smith four games

The Ravens released a statement saying they "fully support the NFL's
decision," adding the league "found evidence of threatening and emotionally
abusive behaviors by Jimmy toward his former girlfriend that showed a pattern
of improper conduct. Our player's behavior was inappropriate and wrong. ..."

The Baltimore Sun reported in November -- during a child custody case between
Smith and Micaela Sanchez, the mother of his first child -- that details
emerged from Sanchez alleging domestic violence and drug use by Smith, which
the Ravens veteran denied. According to multiple reports, the league did not
find evidence of physical violence but discovered evidence of "threatening"
behavior.

Smith, who turned 30 last month, will forfeit about $2.12 million in salary.
He will be eligible to rejoin the team Oct. 1, a day after the Ravens play the
Pittsburgh Steelers.

--Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles won't miss any game action due to
a shoulder injury he sustained last week, as coach Doug Pederson said the
signal-caller will play Thursday against the Cleveland Browns.

According to Pederson, Foles probably will play the whole first half before
giving way to third-stringer Nate Sudfeld. Starter Carson Wentz was ruled out
on Monday as he continues his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee.

Foles returned to practice this week and split first-team reps with Wentz, who
worked his way back into team drills for the first time since early in camp
after being held out as a precaution.

--Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden praised newly signed running back
Adrian Peterson for his conditioning and said he expects the veteran to play
Friday in a preseason game against Denver.

"Oh yeah, if we get him up to speed ... I'd like to get him a few touches in
this game to see where he's at," Gruden told reporters when asked about
Peterson playing against the Broncos.

Peterson, 33, joined the Redskins on Monday on a one-year deal worth just over
$1 million, according to Spotrac. He spent 10 seasons with the Minnesota
Vikings.

--Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson told reporters that wide receiver Josh
Gordon should be back on the practice field "very soon," with an eye on being
ready for the regular-season opener.

Gordon, 27, returned to the team Saturday after missing the first few weeks of
training camp to tend to his rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addiction.

He remains on the active/non-football injury list and will not play Thursday
against the Eagles, but Jackson said he could practice on Saturday and
"there's a chance" he'll play in the Aug. 30 preseason finale against the
Detroit Lions.

--Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Eli Rogers has been suspended without pay for
the team's season opener due to a violation of the NFL Policy and Program for
Substances of Abuse, the league announced.

Rogers will be eligible to return to the Steelers on Sept. 10, one day after
the opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Rogers hasn't practiced or played in the preseason, as he remains on the
physically unable to perform list while recovering from a major knee injury
(torn ACL) sustained in a playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

--Free agent quarterback Trevone Boykin has been suspended for the first game
of the 2018 season by the NFL.

ESPN confirmed the suspension for Boykin, which the 24-year-old disclosed on
Twitter over the weekend. It's unclear if Boykin's one-game suspension falls
under the NFL's personal-conduct policy, according to the ESPN report.

The Seattle Seahawks released Boykin shortly after reports of an alleged
domestic violence attack on his girlfriend began circulating in March. Boykin
was subsequently arrested in Mansfield, Texas, on suspicion of aggravated
assault causing serious bodily injury.

--Carolina Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil will be evaluated on a week-to-week
basis after having an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right knee, the
team announced.

The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews. Kalil, 29, traveled to
Florida on Monday to get a second opinion on the injury.

As a result of the surgery, Kalil's availability for Carolina's season opener
against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 9 is unclear. The Panthers are expected to
feature 2017 second-round draft pick Taylor Moton at left tackle in their
third preseason game on Friday.

--San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated that the team would be
interested in re-signing free agent safety Eric Reid at the right price, but
noted the situation likely wouldn't interest Reid.

Asked about a report from the spring that San Francisco offered Reid, 26, a
minimum deal to re-sign, Shanahan told reporters the 49ers chose Jaquiski
Tartt -- who signed a two-year, $13 million extension in April -- over Reid as
their starting strong safety, and thus could only offer Reid a backup role at
the minimum salary.

One of the first players to join then-teammate Colin Kaepernick in kneeling
during the national anthem during the 2016 season, Reid has gone unsigned
since becoming a free agent in March despite tallying 10 interceptions, 36
passes defensed and a Pro Bowl appearance in five years with the 49ers.

--The Atlanta Falcons will once again refrain from using star wide receiver
Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman in their third preseason game
this Saturday, according to coach Dan Quinn, who added that the two will
"likely" not play until the regular-season opener.

Jones and Freeman have each sat out the Falcons' first two preseason games
even though they have been healthy and practicing. Jones hauled in 88 catches
for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns last season despite recovering from foot
surgery and a hip flexor injury.

Freeman, 26, had 865 rushing yards and seven scores in 14 games last season.
He dealt with ligament damage in his right knee toward the end of the campaign
and has a history of concussions.

--Panthers rookie wideout D.J. Moore was cited for speeding earlier this month
after being clocked at 113 mph in a 65 mph work zone on Interstate 77 in
Charlotte, N.C.

According to the state trooper's report, Moore was pulled over at 2:52 a.m. on
Aug. 10, shortly after the team returned to Charlotte from their preseason
game at the Buffalo Bills. He was charged with speeding and speeding in a work
zone at over 80 mph. Moore has a court date set for Oct. 2.

Moore, 21, was the team's first-round pick in April, the first wideout off the
board at 24th overall. He had four catches for 75 yards against the Bills in
the preseason opener before going catchless on two targets against the Miami
Dolphins on Friday.

--Former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz announced his retirement
from the NFL and is set to join ESPN as an NFL analyst.

Cruz announced his intentions in a video posted on Uninterrupted. He will make
his ESPN debut on Wednesday.

Cruz, 31, said in May he had a date in mind that he would retire if he
remained unsigned, hinting at training camp being the unofficial deadline. He
finishes his career with 303 receptions in 70 regular-season games. A Pro
Bowler in 2011, Cruz caught 303 passes over six NFL seasons, all with New
York.

--The Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Rishard Matthews agreed to a one-year
contract extension, the team announced.

The extension is reportedly a team option worth a base value of $7.75 million
for 2019. According to ESPN, the Titans must make a decision on the option by
the third-to-last day of the 2018 league year. Exercising it would include
paying Matthews an option bonus of $3.25 million. His base salary for 2019
under the option would be $4.5 million.

Between 2018 and 2019, Matthews' deal includes new money of close to $11
million available via bonuses, according to ESPN. NFL Network reported
Matthews fired his agent and negotiated the deal, which includes no guaranteed
money.

--The New Orleans Saints released veteran running back Terrance West,
according to multiple reports.

West gained 36 yards on seven rushes between two games this preseason.
Competing for the chance to back up Alvin Kamara while Mark Ingram serves a
four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs
policy, West fell behind Jonathan Williams on the depth chart.

West, 27, joined the Saints in June after three seasons with the Baltimore
Ravens. West finished last season with 39 carries for 138 yards and two
touchdowns, a year after totaling 774 rushing yards and five scores for the
Ravens.

--Seahawks running back J.D. McKissic sustained a Jones fracture in his foot
and will be sidelined four to six weeks, ESPN reported.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll made no mention of McKissic when running down a
list of injuries with reporters following Tuesday's practice.

The injury likely means C.J. Prosise will begin the season as the fourth
running back behind Chris Carson, first-round pick Rashaad Penny and Mike
Davis. A receiving specialist, Prosise has 295 receiving yards and 195 rushing
yards through two seasons while battling a series of injuries.

--Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting left tackle Donovan Smith left practice early
with a knee injury, but it appears he won't miss significant time.

Smith, 25, had his legs rolled up on from the backside of a running play
during team drills. He tossed his helmet off and remained on the ground for a
few minutes before being helped off by trainers.

Coach Dirk Koetter offered few details after practice, saying, "We'll have to
see," but the Tampa Bay Times reported later in the evening that the Bucs are
optimistic Smith can return in time for the team's Sept. 9 regular-season
opener against the Saints.

--The New York Jets claimed kicker Jason Myers off waivers from the Seattle
Seahawks and reportedly will bring former Vikings kicker Kai Forbath in for a
workout Wednesday.

Both kickers were let go by their previous teams, as Sebastian Janikowski beat
out Myers for the job in Seattle, and rookie fifth-rounder Daniel Carlson made
Forbath expendable in Minnesota.

The Jets are expected to move on from Cairo Santos, who has been out for much
of the summer with a groin injury after he was waived/injured by the Kansas
City Chiefs with a similar issue last September. Santos, 26, joined the Bears
for two games last season before a groin injury flared up in December.

--Former Seahawks punter Jon Ryan is expected to sign with the Buffalo Bills,
according to multiple reports.

Ryan was cut by the Seahawks on Monday after reportedly requesting his
release.

Ryan, 36, had spent the past 10 seasons with Seattle, winning one Super Bowl
title. He has remained a highly effective punter into his mid-30s but was also
due to count $2.6 million against the salary cap in 2018.

--Field Level Media