Los Angeles Times - 09.08.2019

L ATIMES.COM/SPORTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019D3

NAPA, Calif. —It hap-
pened, perhaps, because it
was the second day of practice
between the Rams and the
Oakland Raiders. Or maybe
the Raiders offense simply did
not want to be pushed around
two days in a row.
Of course, with cameras
for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” se-
ries on site, any opportunity
for drama was welcome. So no
one got too angry Thursday
after punches were thrown
during a brief mini-brawl
between the Raiders offense
and Rams defense.
“A little bit of pushing and
shoving never hurt nobody,”
Rams defensive lineman
Aaron Donald said.
Rams coach Sean McVay
agreed.
“What I love was the fact
that our guys were able to re-
gather themselves,” he said.
“We had a poise and compo-
sure about ourselves in terms
of being able to finish out the
practice.
“A credit to both teams to
be able to do that because, you
see when things get chippy
early on, sometimes you end
up having to cancel those
practices.”
McVay and his players said
they got valuable work during
joint practices last week with
the Chargers and this week
with the Raiders.
The four workouts served
as what will qualify for estab-
lished starters as their most
intense preparation for the
season. Those players will be
held out of the preseason

opener Saturday against the

Raiders, and preseason

games against the Dallas

Cowboys, Denver Broncos

and Houston Texans.

The goal, McVay has long

maintained, is to get to the

Sept. 8 opener against the

Carolina Panthers with a

healthy roster. So far, the

Rams are on track.

Linebacker Justin

Lawler had foot surgery this

week, and linebacker Sam-

son Ebukam did not partici-

pate in practices against the

Raiders because of a ham-

string issue, but the Rams

otherwise appear physically

sound, especially Donald.

In 2017 and 2018, Donald

stayed away from training

camp because of a contract

dispute.

He focused on condition-

ing and technique during

workouts in his hometown of

Pittsburgh, and won the NFL

defensive player of the year

award two years in a row.

Since his arrival for training

camp last month, Donald ap-

pears to be enjoying being

around teammates and “the

live speed of playing football

in pads” as they prepare for

the season.

“I like this better than just

running,” he said.

Tackling was not allowed

during the joint practices.

Had it been, Donald and edge

rusher Dante Fowler would

have been credited with multi-

ple sacks Thursday.

“I feel like the defense

came out a lot better than we

did [Wednesday],” Donald

said, “so that’s what I was

happy about.”

But that did not stop

Raiders quarterback Derek

Carr from passing for multi-

ple touchdowns and big com-

pletions.

On Wednesday, the Rams

defense had set the tone when

cornerback Aqib Talib inter-

cepted Carr’s first pass in a

seven-on-seven drill and re-

turned it down the left sideline

amid jeers from Raiders fans.

Talib did not practice Thurs-

day, getting the day off along

with running back Todd Gur-

ley and offensive tackle An-

drew Whitworth.

Carr came out firing on the

first play, connecting with re-

ceiver Marcell Ateman for a

touchdown pass as safety

John Johnson defended.

Carr quickly passed for anoth-

er touchdown when running

back DeAndre’ Washington

got behind linebacker Cory

Littleton.

Meanwhile, in a drill at the

other end of the same field,

things got heated between

Donald and Raiders guard

Gabe Jackson.

“Just got to do what I got to

do to help my guys,” Donald

said.

The physical and vocal ex-

change might have set the

stage for the excitement to

come. After a play in a full-

squad drill, Rams linebacker

Josh Carraway threw a

punch. Raiders offensive line-

man Tyler Roemer also was

reportedly involved.

“It’s going to happen,”

Rams cornerback Marcus

Peters said of the fights.

“Guys get chippy, especially

up front.”

As players for both teams

tried to defend teammates

and break up the fight, McVay

sprinted from the adjoining

field where he was monitoring

the Rams’ offense.

“You kind of hear the skir-

mish,” McVay said. “It was

really already under control

by the time I got over there.

But what was pretty cool was

when you hear the way the

players amongst themselves

were communicating and

gathering themselves.

“We talk about that owner-

ship all the time, and I

thought our leaders did a

great job of getting everybody

under control.”

Etc.

With quarterback Jared

Goff and other experienced

starters being held out Sat-

urday against the Raiders,

Blake Bortles is expected to

start at quarterback. McVay

said the coaching staff had

not determined whether cen-

ter Brian Allen and guard Jo-

seph Noteboom would play.

The two linemen, both sec-

ond-year pros, are projected

starters for the regular season

opener. Nose tackle

Sebastian Joseph-Day and

linebacker Micah Kiser, also

second-year pros projected to

start, are expected to play a

few series, McVay said. ... Jack-

son, the Raiders guard, was

carted off the field with a leg

injury that appeared serious.

“We’re concerned, obviously,

really concerned about him,”

Raiders coach Jon Gruden

said. “We’ll get more informa-

tion here when we can be spe-

cific for you. I don’t want to

speculate.”

“A LITTLE bit of pushing and shoving never hurt nobody,” Aaron Donald said of the practice skirmish.

Eric RisbergAssociated Press

RAMS REPORT

Rams and Raiders mix it up

By Gary Klein

has spoken so glowingly of
the veteran quarterback
since he signed as a free
agent in the offseason.
Geno Smith was Rivers’
backup last year. And, al-
though Rivers hasn’t missed
a start since taking over in
2006, Lynn and the Chargers
were interested in upgrading
the insurance policy behind
him.
The Taylor-Lynn pairing
represents a reunion since
they also worked together in
Buffalo. A starter for three
seasons with the Bills, Tay-
lor won a Super Bowl as the
backup in Baltimore and be-
gan last season as the starter
in Cleveland.
In his first action as a
Charger, he finished six for
six for 72 yards and ran twice
for 34 yards. Both of Taylor’s
scrambles picked up first
downs and the latter set up
the Chargers’ first score.
Early in the second quar-
ter, Justin Jackson capped a
nine-play, 87-yard drive with
a four-yard run for a touch-
down. Immediately before
that play, Taylor had dashed
for 11 yards.
“Tyrod, he’s a luxury to
have on this football team,”
Lynn said. “He’s a starter in
this league. It didn’t surprise
me at all that they moved the
ball.”
Entering his ninth sea-
son, Taylor, 30, is content to
be the second-stringer to a
future Hall of Famer.
When he joined with the
Chargers, Taylor said one of
his primary motives was the
team’s Super Bowl potential.
Already in training camp,
he has spoken highly of the
opportunity to learn daily

from Rivers.

“Philip is a smart guy,

very smart,” Taylor said last

week. “He’s seen a bunch on

the football field.... There’s a

lot I can take from him.... I’m

always writing things down

and just trying to pick his

brain on how he sees the

game.”

The Chargers’ first drive

with Taylor on Thursday

also moved to within striking

distance until Austin Ekeler

fumbled inside the Arizona

five-yard line.

With starting running

back Melvin Gordon not

here because of a contract

dispute, Ekeler and Jackson

both had flashy moments.

Ekeler carried five times for

40 yards and Jackson five

times for 22.

Both benefited from the

work of the Chargers’ under-

construction offensive line, a

group that is missing left

tackle Russell Okung, who

suffered a pulmonary embo-

lism in June.

Center Mike Pouncey

also didn’t dress for the

game. Instead, incumbent

left guard Dan Feeney

started at center and Forrest

Lamp moved into Fenney’s

spot. Feeney and Lamp have

been battling for the starting

job at left guard.

Like all preseason games,

this one featured plenty of

young players receiving

chances. Chargers rookie

quarterback Easton Stick, a

fifth-round pick, had a 31-

yard run for a touchdown.

The other Chargers start-

ers who didn’t play included

wide receiver Keenan Allen,

defensive end Joey Bosa and

edge rusher Melvin Ingram.

This ultimately was a pre-

season game. After being

called for no penalties in the

first quarter, the Chargers

were flagged for four on

one play in the second quar-

ter.

The night also marked

two notable exhibition de-

buts for the Cardinals: head

coach Kliff Kingsbury and

quarterback Kyler Murray.

Kingsbury was going to

be USC’s offensive coordina-

tor until Arizona hired him

away just a month after he

accepted the Trojans’ offer.

Murray, the No. 1 overall

pick in the 2019 draft, was six

for seven for 44 yards.

Taylor shows why Chargers like him as Rivers’ backup

[C hargers, from D1]

ARIZONA’S Trent Sherfield hauls in a touchdown pass from Brett Hundley, the former UCLA quarterback.

Ross D. FranklinAssociated Press

Dallas Cowboys defen-

sive end Robert Quinnhas

been suspended for the first

two games of the regular

season for violating the

NFL’s ban on performance

enhancers.

Quinn was acquired in a

trade with the Miami Dol-

phins in the offseason. The

league said Thursday the

ninth-year player is eligible

to practice and play in pre-

season games, but he is out

until the regular season af-

ter breaking his left hand in

practice at training camp.

The 29-year-old Quinn

will be eligible to return in

Week 3 at home against the

Dolphins.

Quinn’s agent, Sean

Kiernan, said in a statement

released on Twitter he was

“extremely disappointed” in

the NFL’s decision to sus-

pend Quinn.

Kiernan said Quinn takes

medication to control seiz-

ures. The agent said it is be-

lieved Quinn’s medication

was contaminated with pro-

benecid when a prescription

was filled at a pharmacy.

Probenecid was used as a

masking agent for steroids

in the 1980s and ’90s, Kier-

nan said, but is used now as a

prescription drug to treat

gout. Kiernan said records

showed that a prescription

for probenecid was filled be-

fore Quinn’s prescription at

the pharmacy he uses.

Browns’ Johnson

traded to Texans

Duke Johnson got his

wish, and the Cleveland

Browns got more than ex-

pected for him.

Cleveland traded the dis-

gruntled running back to

the Houston Texans for an

undisclosed 2020 draft pick.

Aperson familiar with the

deal told the Associated

Press that the Browns are

getting a fourth-round pick

that can become a third-

rounder.

One of the NFL’s most

versatile backs the last four

seasons, Johnson had grown

unhappy with his role and

asked to be traded earlier

this year after the Browns

signed suspended free agent

running back Kareem Hunt,

who will sit out the season’s

first eight games.

Etc.

The Kansas City Chiefs

agreed to terms with corner-

back Morris Claiborneon a

one-year deal to fortify a thin

and unproven secondary.

The deal is said to be worth

about $3 million with incen-

tives. ... Rookie defensive

end Nick Bosa’s debut in a

San Francisco 49ers uniform

is on hold until the regular

season, and uncertainty

looms whether the No. 2

overall pick out of Ohio

State will be healthy for the

Sept. 8 opener at Tampa Bay

after a serious ankle injury. ...

Eagles backup quarterback

Nate Sudfeldbroke his left

wrist on a late hit in Philadel-

phia’s 27-10 loss to the Ten-

nessee Titans. Sudfeld fell

backward after a personal

foul by Isaiah Mackand was

wearing an air cast on the

cart ride to the locker room.

He is scheduled for surgery

Friday, but Eagles coach

Doug Pedersonsaid the in-

jury is not season ending. ...

Josh Rosen(UCLA) threw

for 191 yards and directed

three scoring drives of more

than 60 yards to help Miami

win its exhibition opener

against the Atlanta Falcons

34-27. ... Sam Darnold

(USC) led the New York Jets

on their opening series, go-

ing 75 yards in seven plays

against a defense that many

think is the New York Gi-

ants’ weak link. Darnold hit

passes of 32 and 28 yards be-

fore finding Jamison Crow-

derfrom three yards in the

Jets’ 31-22 loss. ... Baker

Mayfield threw a touch-

down pass in his only series

as the Browns beat the

Washington Redskins 30-10

in Freddie Kitchens’ exhib-

ition debut as coach. May-

field whipped a 24-yard

touchdown pass to Rashard

Higginsas the Browns drove

89 yards in just 2:13 to open

the game. ... Detroit receiver

Jermaine Kearse was

carted off early in the first

quarter of the Lions’ 31-3 loss

to New England with what

appeared to be a broken leg

and associated ankle in-

juries.

Thursday’s

results

NFL PRESEASON

8 Arizona 17, Chargers 13

8 Buffalo 24,

Indianapolis 16

8 Cleveland 30,

Washington 10

8 New England 31,

Detroit 3

8 Miami 34, Atlanta 27

8 Tennessee 27,

Philadelphia 10

8 Baltimore 29,

Jacksonville 0

8 Carolina 23, Chicago 13

8 Green Bay 28,

Houston 26

8 Seattle 22, Denver 14

8 New York Giants 31,

New York Jets 22

CHARGERS...................0 7 0 6 — 13

Arizona .........................0 7 3 7 — 17

Second Quarter

CHARGERS— Jackson 4 run (Badgley kick), 13:33.

Ari— Sherfield 22 pass from Hundley (Gonzalez kick),

:29.

Third Quarter

Ari— FG Gonzalez 55, 6:16.

Fourth Quarter

Ari— Hills 7 run (Gonzalez kick), 13:49.

CHARGERS— Stick 31 run (pass failed), 7:23.

TEAM STATISTICS LAC ARI

First downs............................20 19

Total Net Yards .....................357 289

Rushes-yards ..................28-179 25-83

Passing...............................178 206

Punt Returns ........................3-8 2-8

Kickoff Returns....................2-32 1-25

Interceptions Ret. ..................1-4 1-52

Comp-Att-Int ..................17-23-1 23-32-1

Sacked-Yards Lost ...............3-19 2-13

Punts..............................4-46.8 4-47.5

Fumbles-Lost ........................1-1 1-0

Penalties-Yards..................10-85 9-73

Time of Possession ............31:05 28:55

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Chargers, Stick 2-51, Ekeler 5-40, Taylor

2-34, Jackson 5-22, Pope 6-15, D.Newsome 5-13, Ca-

.Jones 1-4, Cox 1-0, G.Davis 1-0. ARIZONA, Hills 8-37, Lo-

gan 5-20, Hundley 1-14, Strickland 2-9, D.Johnson 2-4,

Edmonds 2-4, Foster 2-(minus 1), Kanoff 3-(minus 4).

PASSING: Chargers, Taylor 6-6-0-72, Ca.Jones 4-6-0-

47, Stick 7-11-1-78. ARIZONA, Murray 6-7-0-44, Hundley

10-14-0-104, Anderson 3-7-1-29, Kanoff 4-4-0-42.

RECEIVING: Chargers, Ekeler 3-29, Dupre 2-32, Pope

2-20, Henry 2-15, Mi.Williams 1-28, Vollert 1-25, Small-

wood 1-20, Mayle 1-14, Culkin 1-9, A.Scott 1-3, Cox 1-2,

D.Newsome 1-0. ARIZONA, Sherfield 4-44, Zico 3-30,

Byrd 3-17, K.Johnson 2-29, Seals-Jones 2-28, Cooper 2-

24, D.Johnson 1-14, C.Wilson 1-12, Daniels 1-9, Butler

1-6, Logan 1-5, Fitzgerald 1-1, Foster 1-0.

FIELD GOALS MISSED: None.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Quinn suspended

for first two games

wire reports

NFL