NFL notebook: Broncos WR Sanders reportedly tears ACL

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders sustained a torn Achilles tendon during practice on Wednesday, and probably will be placed on injured reserve, multiple media outlets reported. Sanders was helped to the locker room by trainers after falling to the ground on a pass play near the end of the open portion of practice. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Sanders leads the Broncos (6-6) with 71 receptions and 868 yards in 12 games this season. In addition to reeling in four touchdown passes, the 31-year-old also has rushed and thrown for a score in 2018. Sanders has collected 535 catches for 7,024 yards and 37 touchdowns in 127 career games with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Broncos. He was a third-round selection of the 2010 draft by the Steelers. --Quarterback Mitch Trubisky of the Chicago Bears said that he expects to play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Trubisky has missed the last two games because of a right shoulder injury. Chase Daniel started the two games in place of Trubisky, a victory over the Detroit Lions and an overtime loss to the New York Giants. Nagy was optimistic when talking about Trubisky's availability. "I feel strong that he will play, but I have to see more," Nagy said. "I feel good about it. I'm anxious to get him out there and see him throw the ball around in practice with the guys." --Quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers was a limited participant in practice because of discomfort in his right shoulder, but that doesn't necessary mean he will miss Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Newton did not throw during the portion of practice open to the media, but said that he will continue to play through the pain. Newton, who had surgery on the shoulder last year, tied a career high by throwing four interceptions and was sacked four times last Sunday as the Panthers (6-6) lost their fourth consecutive game, 24-17, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Ron Rivera didn't commit when asked if Newton would start against the Browns. "We'll see," Rivera said. "We just do the best we can with it. ... He's going to do whatever he can to try to win." --Cornerback Xavien Howard of the Miami Dolphins, who was selected the AFC's defensive player of the week on Wednesday, might not be able to face the New England Patriots this week because of a knee injury. Howard did not practice on Wednesday and head coach Adam Gase later revealed that Howard is dealing the knee injury. Howard missed only one snap last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, when he made two interceptions and had three tackles in a 21-17 victory. He suffered the injury on his second interception. Nickel cornerback Bobby McCain is expected to replace Howard if he can't play against the Patriots. The Dolphins bolstered their secondary by claiming cornerback Dee Delaney, formerly with the Carolina Panthers, on waivers. --The Green Bay Packers parted ways with associate head coach Winston Moss, the team announced. Moss, who also coached outside linebackers, was let go on Tuesday by interim head coach Joe Philbin. Moss, 52, was part of former head coach Mike McCarthy's original staff in 2006. McCarthy was fired on Sunday after the Packers (4-7-1) lost their third straight game with a 20-17 setback to Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. Earlier on Tuesday, Moss tweeted his thoughts on what the Packers needed in a head coach: "Ponder this... what Championship teams have are great leadership! Period! It's not the offensive guru trend, it's not the safe trend. Find somebody that is going to hold #12 (Aaron Rodgers) and everybody in this building to a #LombardiStandard! Period! #losingsucks!" --NFL umpire Roy Ellison was placed on administrative leave by the league Tuesday after he was accused of using derogatory language toward the Buffalo Bills' Jerry Hughes on Sunday. Hughes confronted Ellison, a 16-year veteran, after Buffalo's 21-17 loss to the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. A video taken in the tunnel near the Bills locker room showed Hughes as he screamed at Ellison. Ellison was suspended one game in 2013 for using derogatory language toward Washington's Trent Williams. This has been an unusual year for the NFL as far as disciplining officials. Down judge Hugo Cruz was fired in October for not meeting the standard performance level -- the first removal of an official during a season in the Super Bowl era. --San Francisco 49ers long snapper Kyle Nelson has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the NFL announced. This is the second offense for the 32-year-old Nelson, who was also banned for violation of the same policy prior to his time with the 49ers. Nelson, who will become an unrestricted free agent after the season, will miss the final four contests of 2018 and the first six of the 2019 campaign. --The Arizona Cardinals signed free agent Joe Barksdale and placed fellow tackle D.J. Humphries on injured reserve, the team announced. Barksdale was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday after missing the team's 33-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers the previous night due to personal reasons. The 6-foot-5, 326-pound Barksdale was a former starter at right tackle before losing his job to Sam Tevi with the Chargers. Barksdale, 29, is an eight-year NFL veteran who has played in 102 games (74 starts) in his career with the Oakland Raiders (2011), then-St. Louis Rams (2012-14) and Chargers (2015-18). The Cardinals also secured the services of offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo on Wednesday by signing him off the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad. Odhiambo started seven games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 before a hand injury ended his season. Earlier this season, the 6-4, 315-pound Odhiambo was signed to the Atlanta Falcons' active roster off the Colts' practice squad before being released. --The Washington Redskins signed journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson, the team announced. The Redskins also signed defensive end Marcus Smith, guard Zac Kerin and center Demetrius Rhaney while placing cornerback Quinton Dunbar, wide receiver Trey Quinn and guard Jonathan Cooper on injured reserve. The move for Johnson was necessitated after quarterback Colt McCoy sustained a fractured right fibula during the final play of the first quarter of Monday's 28-13 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles. McCoy previously replaced Alex Smith, who is out for the season with a broken leg. Coach Jay Gruden offered the following on Tuesday when asked if free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick had been discussed for the position: "Oh, he's been discussed for sure and right now at this point, we already had a workout last week for the few guys. ... He's been talked about and discussed, but we'll probably go a different direction." --Free-agent running back C.J. Anderson is expected to sign a contract with the Oakland Raiders, according to published reports. Anderson would join a backfield that consists of Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. Oakland saw workhorse back Marshawn Lynch placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 with a groin injury. At the time, the 32-year-old Lynch led the Raiders with 376 yards rushing through six games and was averaging 4.2 yards per carry with three touchdowns. Anderson was released by the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 12, mere months after signing a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the club. The 27-year-old had 104 yards on 24 carries this season to go along with one reception that went for 24 yards and a touchdown. Anderson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2014, and he rushed for a career-high 1,007 yards for the Denver Broncos last season, when he started all 16 games. For his career, Anderson has 717 carries for 3,155 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has totaled 104 receptions for 883 yards and five touchdowns. --New York Giants safety Landon Collins is in need of shoulder surgery and will be placed on injured reserve, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday. Coach Pat Shurmur told reporters that Collins will "most likely require surgery," but noted a final decision has not been made on the status of the 24-year-old for the rest of the season. Collins sustained the injury during Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over the Chicago Bears. He has been ruled out as the Giants (4-8) bid for their fourth victory in five outings on Sunday (1 p.m.) against the host Washington Redskins (6-6). A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Collins has recorded a team-leading 96 tackles and one forced fumble through 12 games this season. The 6-foot, 222-pound Collins has collected 437 tackles, eight interceptions and four sacks in 59 career contests since being selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2015 draft. Collins is in the final year of his contract and is eligible to become a free agent in 2019, unless the Giants designate him as a franchise player or sign him to a contract extension ahead of the league's new calendar year. With Collins injured, New York likely will look to fellow safeties Curtis Riley, Michael Thomas and Sean Chandler. --Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley recorded his second NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season, the NFL announced Wednesday. Gurley helped the Rams clinch the outright NFC West title after rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-16 win over the Detroit Lions. He also had three receptions for 33 yards. Denver Broncos rookie running back Phillip Lindsay captured AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after erupting for 157 yards on just 19 carries in Sunday's 24-10 victory over the struggling Cincinnati Bengals. Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after reeling in two interceptions and making three tackles in Sunday's 21-17 win over the Buffalo Bills. Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner secured NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after recording a game-high eight tackles and a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown in Sunday's 43-16 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. Los Angeles Chargers returner Desmond King was tabbed as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after collecting nine tackles and a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's 33-30 victory versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas captured NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making all three field-goal attempts -- including a 44-yarder in overtime -- during Sunday's 30-27 win versus the Chicago Bears. He is 26 of 27 on field-goal attempts, with his lone misfire coming from 52 yards out.