NFL notebook: Cowboys owner remains evasive about Elliott's status

Aug 21, 2017 - 12:56 AM Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones continues to be non-specific about star running back Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy over alleged domestic violence against a former girlfriend.

Jones and the Cowboys were blindsided when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed down Elliott's suspension on Aug. 11. Jones, who earlier this month predicted Elliott would not be suspended, continues to say the second-year running back has the team's support in his fight against the ban, but the owner has yet to criticize the league's decision.

Elliott and the NFL Players Association filed notice of appeal last week, and the hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29. Goodell appointed Harold Henderson as the arbiter to hear Elliott's appeal.

Elliott did not play against the Colts and the team has not announced whether he will play next Saturday against the Oakland Raiders.



--The Cincinnati Bengals terminated the contract of veteran defensive tackle Brandon Thompson on Sunday.

A day after a 30-12 preseason loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team also cut undrafted rookie running back Boom Williams and wide receiver Karel Hamilton.

Thompson, 27, was the Bengals' third-round pick out of Syracuse in 2012. He missed the 2016 season recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the 2015 season finale. Thompson played in three games as a rookie and then appeared in 27 games (seven starts) in 2013 and 2014. He played in nine games in 2015 before the injury. Thompson recorded 53 career tackles and three sacks with the Bengals.



--The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran running back DuJuan Harris to add depth at the position.

T.J. Yeldon suffered a hamstring injury in the Jaguars' 12-8 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. With Yeldon and Leonard Fournette (foot) sidelined, Harris can help fill a void at running back for the rest of the preseason.

To make room on the roster, the Jags waived injured cornerback Charles Gaines.

The 5-foot-7, 206-pound Harris began his NFL career with the Jaguars in 2011 when he played in five games and had nine rushes for 42 yards during his rookie season. His six-year career includes two years in Green Bay (2012, 2014), one stop in Seattle (2015) and most recently two seasons in San Francisco (2015-16). He was released by the 49ers in May. Harris rushed for a career-high 38 times for 138 yards last year with the 49ers and had eight receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown.



--The Buffalo Bills signed tight end Rory Anderson and safety Adrian McDonald.

The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Anderson is a former seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. He did not make the 49ers' 53-man roster as a rookie but was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad. By midseason, he landed on the Bears' practice squad/injured list.

The 5-9, 190-pound McDonald was an undrafted rookie signing of the San Diego Chargers in 2016. He spent his rookie year on the Chargers' practice squad but was released by the team last week.

To make room for Anderson and McDonald on the roster, the Bills released kicker/punter Austin Rehkow and waived/injured tight end Jason Croom, who was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night in the second preseason game and was seen wearing a walking boot.



--The Minnesota Vikings signed former University of Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner.

The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Leidner joins the Vikings as the team's fifth quarterback after not being selected in this year's draft. He attended the Baltimore Ravens' rookie minicamp but did not sign with the team.

Leidner, 23, completed his collegiate career at Minnesota ranked second in passing attempts (1,029) and completions (580), ranked third in passing yards (7,287) and fifth in passing touchdowns (36).

Quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Taylor Heinicke played against the Seahawks on Friday night. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater remains on the physically unable to perform list after dislocating his left knee and tearing the ACL at the outset of training camp in 2016.



--The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed cornerback Mariel Cooper.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Cooper originally entered the league as an undrafted college free agent with the Washington Redskins in the 2016 offseason before being waived at the end of that preseason. He played collegiately at The Citadel.

The Bucs also waived running back Quayvon Hicks.



--The Washington Redskins activated tight end Jordan Reed off the active/physically unable to perform list on Sunday.

Reed, who has been sidelined with a sprained toe, is now eligible to return to practice.

Last season, Reed played in 12 games and had 66 receptions for 686 yards and six touchdowns. In four NFL seasons and 46 regular-season games, Reed has 248 catches for 2,602 yards and 20 touchdowns.