SBNation.com - Injuries, Position Battles Highlight Saturday's NFL Preseason Action

Brandon Meriweather Injury: MRI On Left Knee Shows No Significant Damage

2012-08-19T21:30:30Z

Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather underwent an MRI on his left knee Sunday after suffering an injury in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. The test showed no significant damage. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that there is no timetable yet for when Meriweather will return.

Meriweather's good injury news is the second of the day for the Redskins, who found out that pass rushing linebacker Brian Orakpo would likely be back for the season opener after leaving Saturday's Bears game with a left shoulder injury.

This is Meriweather's first season with Washington after spending the previous season with the Bears, in which he recorded 19 total tackles and two passes defensed in eleven games. Meriweather was a ball hawk earlier in his career with the New England Patriots, snaring 12 interceptions in his four seasons in Foxboro.

For more on the Redskins, head over to Hogs Haven. For all things NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Chiefs Defense 'Just Wasn't Good,' Says Romeo Crennel

2012-08-19T17:59:28Z

It may still be the preseason, but that didn't stop Romeo Crennel from giving a harsh assessment of his team's performance after a 31-17 loss to the Rams on Saturday night.

Crennel was particularly dismayed by the defense, which gave up two quick touchdowns. Rams QB Sam Bradford, who said he didn't think he was touched once, went 6-for-9 for 102 yards and hit on two touchdown passes in the first five minutes of the game.

After the game, Crennel was blunt and direct about the showing on both sides of the ball, but specifically said the defense "couldn't stop anybody." Via Joel Thorman at Arrowhead Pride:

"Not very good tonight," Crennel said. "And that's being a little generous to say that. We didn't coach well enough [and] we didn't play well enough so the results were bad. The offense tried to come on a litlte bit and give us a little lift and scored making it a seven point game but then we turned it over. Couldn't stop anybody on defense so that opened up the drain. It just wasn't good. Not enough focus, not enough concentration on the week when you're breaking camp and doing all those things. It just shows we're not mature enough yet."

Crennel, who was known as a player's coach in Cleveland, certainly knows when a hard critique is warranted. While the game was far from a catastrophe, he didn't see the need for much positive spin.

As camp breaks, the Chiefs now prepare for their third preseason game, against the Seahawks on Friday.

For the latest news and information on the Chiefs, visit Arrowhead Pride and SB Nation Kansas City.

Cole Beasley Ate A Bad Pregame Meal

2012-08-19T13:30:03Z

I'm not going to say Cole Beasley isn't in shape. He's a professional football player, so I'm going to go ahead and assume he ate something bad. Or, perhaps, he had the bodily fluids knocked out of him. Whatever the case, Beasley had a reversal of fortune on the field Saturday night. And we've got the GIFs to prove it.

First there was the precursor. This was the warning shot. It was a sign of things to come.

This, friends, is where you know something is about to go really wrong. As he comes off the field, he either gives the "I'm good" or "get back or get puked on" sign. I'm guessing it was the latter, but either one works.

I'm not sure who that is to Beasley's left, but they're a braver man than I. You just saw a man kinda, sorta puke on the field. You know he isn't done. It's best to not pound him on the shoulder pad, or get anywhere near him.

Damn I missed football, you guys.

Cowboys Vs. Chargers Final Score: San Diego Stuns Dallas 28-20

2012-08-19T06:53:11Z

By half time, the Dallas Cowboys were ahead 10-0. The San Diego Chargers first team, lead by quarterback Phillip Rivers, were unable to get in the end-zone. Dallas was about to face the rest of the Chargers in the second half, and if it was anything like the first, they were on their way to win. Yet It would be on the back of San Diego's backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, that the Chargers would go on to score 28 points in the second half of the game - 21 of which came in the fourth-quarter alone - stunning the Cowboys 28-20.

Whitehurst took over the game going 7-for-12 and throwing for 122 yards. One of Whitehurst's two touchdowns came at a price. Sophomore wide receiver Vincent Brown leaped into the air to catch an 18-yard pass in the end-zone from Whitehurst. Brown appeared to fall awkwardly on his ankle as he landed and had to be carted off the field. Following the game, the team reported that Brown has a broken ankle and will be undergoing surgery on Sunday. Following surgery, Brown will likely be out eight weeks, if not more.

Earlier in the week, Dallas had learned that tight end Jason Witten had a spleen injury suffered in a game against Oakland that will leave him out of the lineup, at the very least, until the Cowboys season opener versus the New York Giants. Being one of quarterback Tony Romo's favorite targets, the absence of Witten leaves uncertainty. Romo went 9-for-13 tonight with zero touchdowns.

Dallas had a parade of quarterbacks during the game. Following Romo came Rudy Carpenter, Kyle Orton, and Stephen McGee. Of those four, only one, the undrafted Rudy Carpenter, was able to get the sole touchdown for Dallas. With 0:53 seconds left, Carpenter connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Harris bringing Dallas within eight after the PAT. It just was too little, too late for Dallas.

For more news and analysis on the Chargers, check out Bolts from the Blue. For information on Dallas, saddle up to Blogging with the Boys.

Seahawks Vs. Broncos Final Score: Seattle Stops Denver 30-10

2012-08-19T06:06:38Z

Tavaris Jackson, who? For a second straight game, the $4 million dollar-a-year quarterback was left off the game night roster by head coach Pete Carroll. Although Carroll maintains that he has three quarterbacks competing for the starting job, it would seem that three has become two as Matt Flynn and rookie quarterback Russell Wilson lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 30-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

With a few amazing games while backing up Aaron Rogers on the Green Bay Packers, Matt Flynn became a highly sought after free agent in the off-season. Once signing with Seattle, Flynn was touted as the likely candidate for the starting job. After a below average game going 6-for-13 and 31 yards, Flynn was replaced by the rookie out of Wisconsin, Russell Wilson. Wilson went on to score two touchdowns and going 10-for-15 for 177 yards. Making his return to football was Terrell Owens. Owens was unable to get in sync with Flynn and went 0-for-5.

As for Denver, Peyton Manning had an average night (for Peyton Manning) against Seattle going 16-for-23 for 177 yards, with two interceptions. The two interceptions aside, Denver fans breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Manning take his first big hit after returning from neck surgery. Towards the end of the first half, Manning was knocked to the ground by defensive end Bruce Irving. He popped right back up and completed a 22-yard play to Brandon Stokely. Manning's backup, rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler, was unable to spark the Broncos offense, and neither quarterback scored a touchdown.

For more analysis of this game, check out Field Gulls and Mile High Report.

Vincent Brown Injury: Chargers WR Breaks Ankle, Out At Least 8 Weeks

2012-08-19T04:55:49Z

Per Kevin Acee, San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Brown will be out approximately eight weeks after breaking his ankle in Saturday night's game 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He will undergo surgery tomorrow.

Brown appeared to land awkwardly on his ankle after catching an 18-yard pass from QB Charlie Whitehurst. With his foot elevated, Brown was carted off the field. Prior to his injury, Brown had 2 catches for 32 yards on the night.

After a strong college career at San Diego State, Brown was drafted by the Charges in the third round of the 2011 draft. In the 2011 season, he played in 14 games for the Bolts and amassed 329 yards on 19 receptions.

Going into training camp, he was expected to take the place of former Charger Vincent Jackson and was thought to be out-playing current veteran WR Robert Meachem. Coach Norv Turner was quoted as saying, "He’s in the middle of having an outstanding training camp, and he obviously is a playmaker, so he’s a guy that’s going to figure real strongly in what we do."

For continuing updates to this story, visit Bolts from the Blue.

Brian Orakpo Injury Update: Redskins LB To Have MRI On Sunday

2012-08-19T04:11:12Z

Brian Orakpo of the Washington Redskins is scheduled to have an MRI on his left pectoral after injuring it on Saturday night against the Chicago Bears, according to Tarik El-Bashir via twitter.

Orakpo was attempting to make a tackle in the first quarter before hurting himself and staying down for several moments. Eventually, he left the field with the training staff and didn't return to the game at any point.

The injury is worrisome especially because it occurred to the same pectoral muscle that required surgery following last years season finale.

Orakpo is a major part of the Redskins defense coming into his fourth season with the team. In his first three campaigns, Orakpo has 28.5 sacks to lead the team in that time-frame. Any time without him on the field would be a serious hit to the Redskins and their dreams for 2012.

For more on Brian Orakpo and the Redskins, please be sure to check out our blog Hogs Haven, our football hub, SB Nation DC and SBNation.com for all the latest news and updates.

LaMichael James Injury: 49ers RB Says He Won't Miss Any Practices

2012-08-19T03:58:30Z

LaMichael James, rookie running back for the San Francisco 49ers, says he will not miss any practice time despite an injured ankle suffered Saturday night against the Houston Texans, according to Matt Maiocco of Comcast Sports Network.

James was injured when he was caught in a pileup late in the fourth quarter and had his left ankle severely twisted, having to be helped off the field before being carted to the locker room. it was the second injury of the game for the 49ers, with expected starter Brandon Jacobs injuring his knee in the first quarter.

A second round pick for the 49ers int he 2012 NFL Draft, James had put up 19 yards on four carries before being injured.

The 49ers lost the game 20-9 to the Texans.

For more on the 49ers, head over to Niners Nation. For all your Texans updates, pay a visit to Battle Red Blog.