NFL notebook: Ex-UW tight end waived by Tampa By after DUI stop
Published 5:40 pm Friday, September 23, 2016
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived tight end Austin-Seferian Jenkins on Friday, hours after the third-year pro was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
The Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release that Seferian-Jenkins, a second-round draft pick out of the University of Washington in 2014, was driving between 75 and 80 mph on Interstate 275 when the football player’s vehicle cut in front in front of a trooper’s cruiser and began weaving back and forth.
Sgt. Steve Gaskins said Seferian-Jenkins was charged with DUI and violation of an ignition interlock device restriction from an arrest in Washington in 2013. The player refused a breath test at the Hillsborough County Jail.
“We are very disappointed in today’s news,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. “After careful consideration, we felt this was the right decision at this time.”
The move was announced about two hours after practice, which Seferian-Jenkins did not attend.
Coach Dirk Koetter was unavailable for comment on the decision. Earlier, he said the team was still gathering information on the arrest, which occurred shortly before 4 a.m.
“By the time we found out, we were into meetings this morning and we’ve been on the practice field,” Koetter said, adding he and Licht planned to meet later.
Seferian-Jenkins had three receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown in two games this season. He started 12 of 16 games he appeared in the previous two years and has 45 career receptions for 603 yards and seven TDs.
The Bucs promoted tight end Alan Cross from the practice squad to fill the roster opening.
Brissett injures thumb
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots could be looking for yet another quarterback — or two — after third-stringer Jacoby Brissett injured his right thumb in Thursday night’s victory over the Houston Texans.
Brissett was shown on the sidelines with the training staff having the thumb examined after 325-pound Texans defensive lineman Vince Wilfork landed on him in the third quarter of New England’s 27-0 win. Brissett finished the game, completing 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards, and he also ran in a 27-yard touchdown.
After the game, Brissett did not seem to be favoring his hand at all, shaking hands with his right when other players came up to congratulate him for the victory in his first NFL start. He spoke at his locker afterward without any bandage or ice on the hand.
New England improved to 3-0 while four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is serving his “Deflategate” suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo started the first two games but left with a right shoulder injury after being slammed to the turf by Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso in Week 2.
With just four days between games, the Patriots did not have a backup for Brissett on the depth chart on Thursday night. Receiver Julian Edelman, who played quarterback at Kent State, was expected to be available if anything happened to the rookie third-round pick. The team now has 10 days before playing Buffalo on Oct. 2 to bring in a free agent if one is needed.
Brady is eligible to return on Oct. 9, against the Cleveland Browns.
