Agencies/New York
Kam Chancellor returned to the Seattle Seahawks after a two-week holdout and coach Pete Carroll made it official Saturday—he’s back.
The Seahawks (0-2) activated the All-Pro strong safety for yesterday’s game against the Chicago Bears (0-2) and waived safety Dion Bailey, who started in Chancellor’s spot Week 1 at St. Louis.
Chancellor ended a 54-day holdout Wednesday but it was uncertain when the team would place him on the 53-man roster.
Carroll said Friday it looked pretty clear to him that Chancellor was ready to play.
Chancellor missed all of training camp, all four preseason games and two regular-season games waiting for the Seahawks to adjust his contract.
When that did not happen and with fines accrued for his prolonged absence, Chancellor blinked and appeared at the team’s Renton, Washington, facility this week to “get back to work”. His holdout did not result in getting a pay raise.
•The NFL Players Association is investigating whether Minnesota Vikings guard Brandon Fusco played with a concussion last Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
According to Pro Football Talk, citing a league source, the game’s ATC spotter failed either to recognize or act in response to Fusco apparently struggling to get to his feet after a block that included helmet-to-helmet contact.
The spotter now has the power to stop the game and require an immediate examination of an injured player.
The change came, at least in part, after New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman needed to be examined for a concussion during February’s Super Bowl. Despite that, the spotter was not allowed to have Edelman closely examined until after that drive ended.
•The Dallas Cowboys remain optimistic that All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant will be back after the Week 6 bye, missing only four games.
Bryant left the Cowboys’ Week 1 victory over the New York Giants with a fractured right foot and had surgery on Sept. 14.
•Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson and Chicago Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee were each fined $17,363 for hits on quarterbacks during last Sunday’s game at Soldier Field.
Johnson was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who later left the game with a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Johnson was not penalized for the hit.
McPhee’s fine was for a late hit early in the third quarter on Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. McPhee was flagged for roughing the passer and received a 15-yard penalty.
•The Cincinnati Bengals signed left tackle Andrew Whitworth to a one-year contract extension worth $9 million, according to reports.
The deal runs through 2016 and includes a $2 million signing bonus and a base salary of $5.8 million, ESPN.com reported. Whitworth entered 2015 with $5 million on his final year.
