Nov 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles punter Arryn Siposs (8) punts against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles activate P Arryn Siposs, elevate pair

The Philadelphia Eagles activated punter Arryn Siposs from injured reserve and elevated two players from the practice squad for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Siposs has missed the past six games with an ankle injury. He returned to practice last week.

Brett Kern has averaged 42.2 yards per kick in place of Siposs, who last played in Week 14. Kern remains on the active roster, however, since the Eagles had a roster spot open due to Josh Sills being placed on the Commissioner Exempt List.

Siposs averaged 45.6 yards per punt in 13 games this season prior to the injury.

The Eagles elevated wide receiver Greg Ward Jr. and safety Anthony Harris from the practice squad. Ward is insurance in the event punt returner Britain Covey is unable to play. Covey (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Ward has yet to appear in a game for the Eagles this season after playing in 33 games (10 starts) the past two seasons.

Harris has not appeared in a game since rejoining the Eagles in mid-December.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Browns CB Denzel Ward remains in concussion protocol

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward remains in concussion protocol, coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection has missed the last two games and his availability for the Week 8 contest against rival Cincinnati is in jeopardy.

The Browns (2-5) host the Bengals (4-3) on “Monday Night Football” next week.

Ward, 25, sustained a concussion while making a tackle in the fourth quarter of the Oct. 9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Ward has 21 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery for a touchdown in five games this season.

He has 207 tackles, 11 picks and four fumble recoveries in 57 games (56 starts) since being selected by the Browns with the fourth overall pick in 2018.

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins (27) is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Jihad Ward (55) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins to have knee surgery

Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and be sidelined for four to six weeks, ESPN reported on Friday.

The report surfaced shortly after the Ravens (3-3) officially ruled out Dobbins for Sunday’s game against the visiting Cleveland Browns (2-4).

Dobbins started the team’s last four games following his return from an ACL injury sustained last year. He was limited to just 16 snaps in Baltimore’s 24-20 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday.

Running back Kenyan Drake likely will be in for a larger workload in place of Dobbins, who has 35 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown this season.

Dobbins, 23, has rushed 169 times for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns in 19 career games since being selected by the Ravens in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tight end Mark Andrews (knee) is listed as questionable to play against the Browns after being a limited participant in Friday’s practice. He sat out both sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot), cornerback Marcus Peters (quad), guard Ben Cleveland (foot), outside linebacker Justin Houston (groin), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (heel) and fullback Patrick Ricard (knee) also are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Cleveland, in turn, ruled out Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller (calf), two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion) and offensive tackle Joe Haeg (concussion) for Sunday’s contest.

Fourth-year veteran Hjalte Froholdt is expected to replace Teller and make his first career start.

“I think he’s gotten better from a technical standpoint,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said of Froholdt. “That’s just from him putting in the work. He’s playing next to (center) Ethan Pocic, a guy who also got here in the spring, but has gotten better and has worked hard at it. Part of it is understanding schematically, but also continuing to work on your craft and getting better in your technique.”

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow) and Isaac Rochell (undisclosed) were listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers free safety Jimmie Ward (1) during Training Camp at the SAP Performance Facility near Levi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Tashaun Gipson to join 49ers with Jimmie Ward hurt

Safety Tashaun Gipson agreed to a contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The 49ers are looking for safety help because of free safety Jimmie Ward’s hamstring injury, which puts his status for Week 1 at the Chicago Bears in doubt.

“It was a pretty bad hamstring injury,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said last week of Ward. “We’ll see here over the next couple of weeks how it plays out.”

Ward is the longest-tenured player on the 49ers’ roster. He was injured last week and the team is thin in the secondary, with Dontae Johnson also ailing with a rib injury.

Strong safety Talanoa Hufanga is expected to start for the first time in his career, but whether Ward, Tarvarius Moore or Gipson lines up alongside him in Chicago is to be determined.

Gipson started 28 games for the Bears over the past two seasons, but the 32-year-old was not re-signed in the offseason.

In 10 NFL seasons, Gipson has 27 interceptions, 57 passes defended and 563 tackles in 140 games (132 starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2021; El Paso, Texas, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Jayden de Laura (4) drops back to pass the ball against the Central Michigan Chippewas defense in the 88th annual Sun Bowl football game at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Washington State QB Jayden de Laura enters transfer portal

Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura entered the transfer portal on Friday, according to multiple reports.

The Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year passed for 2,798 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.

Reports suggest de Laura’s decision to enter the portal may be tied to the possibility that FCS All-American quarterback Cameron Ward will transfer to Washington State. Ward was a star at Incarnate Word and his coach there, Eric Morris, was recently hired as the Cougars’ offensive coordinator.

Ward passed for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while helping Incarnate Word to a 10-3 record.

In 2020, de Laura played in four games for Washington State and passed for 886 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He retained his freshman eligibility by playing in four or fewer games.

Washington State went 7-6 this season, finishing with a 24-21 loss to Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl.

–Field Level Media