NFL roundup: Geno Smith's ankle injury not serious
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith isn't expected to be on the sidelines for long as the result of a mild ankle sprain suffered in Friday night's preseason opener.
The first sign that Smith's injury wasn't serious came Sunday morning, when he took the field in pads with the other Jets' quarterbacks for a scheduled team practice.
Smith suffered the injury while scrambling in the third quarter of the Jets' 26-17 loss to the Detroit Lions. Prior to the play, he had completed 6 of 7 seven passes for 47 yards.
The rookie is locked in a battle with veteran Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback job.
The Jets' next preseason game is Saturday against Jacksonville. Ryan didn't discuss a planned rotation for the game. Sanchez started at Detroit and was relieved by Smith on the Jets' fourth offensive series.
---The Baltimore Ravens signed veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley on Sunday.
Stokley, 37, is an established possession receiver who caught 45 passes for 544 yards with five touchdowns last season for the Denver Broncos. He has 384 career receptions for 5,224 yards with 39 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons.
Stokley provides a reliable route-running presence and sure hands for a receiving corps that lost veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin via an offseason trade to the San Francisco 49ers following a contract dispute. Baltimore also lost tight end Dennis Pitta to a season-ending fractured and dislocated hip.
---Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Sharrif Floyd was scheduled to have an MRI on his left knee, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. However, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said he does not believe there is a long-term injury for the rookie defensive tackle.
"We're not overly concerned," Frazier said. "From what I've been told, he's just sore. So we just want to err on the side of caution. He fell on the knee. He's pretty sore this morning. The fact that he's sorer than he was yesterday makes us decide to make sure there's nothing else going on."
Minnesota fell to the Houston Texans 27-13 in Friday's preseason opener. Floyd fell awkwardly while being blocked in the first half and left the game. He had a pass deflection and a tackle for loss.
---The Chicago Bears placed cornerback Kelvin Hayden on injured reserve and signed long snapper Brandon Hartson to a three-year contract.
Hayden is lost for the season because of a torn hamstring. He will undergo surgery to repair the damage, the team announced. The eight-year veteran had signed a one-year contract with the Bears during the offseason.
Hayden was used primarily as the Bears' nickel back last year. He had one interception and 37 tackles and started one game. Hayden was expected to see increased action this year.
---The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Myron Lewis, according to multiple media reports.
Though talented, Lewis has struggled. The Lions are looking for depth in their secondary and improvement for their special teams.
Lewis, a third round draft pick in 2010, was waived Thursday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lewis was an All-SEC selection out of Vanderbilt before the Buccaneers drafted him No. 67 overall.
