Titans’ Taylor Lewan Loses Appeal
Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan has officially been suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to a team announcement. Lewan was first hit with the ban late last month and the official denial of his appeal means that he will be out for the first four games of the season. 
Lewan vehemently denied the use of PEDs and even said that he took a polygraph test to prove his innocence. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t enough to sway those in charge.
“It’s a really horrible situation to feel like this, and to walk into the locker room and tell those guys you’re not going to be with them for four games – it breaks my heart,” Lewan said last month. “It’s tough, man. But I’ve been very candid with [GM] Jon (Robinson) and [head coach] (Mike) Vrabel and [owner] Amy (Adams Strunk) and told them right away. I don’t want the legacy, or whatever I have done in the last five years, to be tarnished because of this, because of something like this, that was a complete accident that I’m going to try and make up for.”
According to the league, Lewan popped positive for ostarine, which is used to combat muscle wasting. Lewan, meanwhile, says he didn’t “knowingly” take anything to skirt the rules.
Lewan will be eligible to play for the first time in 2019 on October 6 vs. the Bills.
Equanimeous St. Brown To Miss Time
The Packers will be without Equanimeous St. Brown to start the season. The wide receiver has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain that will keep him out of action for 5-6 weeks, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
Initially, it seemed like things would be much worse for the rising NFL sophomore. St. Brown, 23 in September, was hit hard up top after catching a slant pass in the second quarter of the Packers’ preseason game against the Raiders. As he went down, his left ankle contorted in an unnatural direction and he had to be carted off of the field. All things considered, St. Brown is likely relieved by the diagnosis and outcome.
If St. Brown is out for a full six weeks, he’ll be sidelined for regular season games against the Bears, Vikings, Broncos, Eagles, and Cowboys. Of course, he’ll also be held out of the team’s preseason finale against the Chiefs on Thursday.
St. Brown, taken in the sixth round of last year’s draft, finished out his rookie season with 21 catches for 328 yards across 12 games.
Antonio Brown Ruling To Come Next Week
For the second time this month, an independent arbitrator has concluded a grievance hearing regarding Antonio Brown‘s helmet (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). A ruling is expected to come next week, according to one source. 
This seemingly minor issue has had – and may still have – major implications for Brown and the Raiders. The NFL barred Brown from playing with his beloved Schutt AiR Advantage helmet and the wide receiver reportedly walked out of training camp due to his dissatisfaction. Later, agent Drew Rosenhaus claimed that Brown’s absence was actually due to the malady he sustained while receiving cryotherapy treatment.
Brown is now back in camp and practicing with a certified helmet, but there’s no telling what could happen next with the mercurial star if he does not win his second grievance. The 31-year-old has not suited up for preseason action in the midst of all of this and it not be a shock if he were to change course yet again before the start of the season.
The Raiders open their season in Oakland on Sept. 9 against the Broncos.
Jordan Reed In Concussion Protocol
Awful news out of D.C. – Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has landed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). There’s no further update on his status just yet, but it’s troubling to hear as this is at least the fourth known concussion of his pro career. 
Reed, 29, is among the league’s most talented tight ends, when healthy. However, injuries – including head trauma – have been a major issue for him through his career. In his six NFL seasons, Reed has missed 31 regular season games.
Reed missed much of the 2017 season with a hamstring injury, but bounced back last year to haul in 54 catches for 558 yards and two scores across 13 games. Prior to that, he lost time due to concussions in 2013 and 2016.
For his career, the 6’2″, 242-pound tight end has 329 catches, 3,371 yards, and 24 touchdowns to his credit. He enjoyed his best season in 2015 (87/952/11) and earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod in 2016.
Falcons May Replace Giorgio Tavecchio
Giorgio Tavecchio might be on shaky ground. After another rocky preseason performance, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn indicated that he might look into replacing the kicker. 
“Any time at any position, when we miss the mark, we want to find out why and what we can do to get better,” Quinn said. “It’s definitely a spot we are continuing to evaluate and that is always the case.”
Tavecchio’s latest miss came on a 39-yard try, which is a chip shot by NFL standards. That was his fourth miss in eight attempts this preseason, which could be enough for Quinn to kick him off the roster.
“My focus is always on myself and controlling the controllable,” Tavecchio said. “There’s a lot of things out of your control in this business. I know when I wake up every morning, I say a little prayer of gratitude and give my best each day.”
Tavecchio joined the Falcons in the middle of the 2018 season to fill in for longtime Falcons kicker Matt Bryant. This offseason, they parted ways with the clutch-kicking veteran and moved forward with the former Raider, but they might be having second thoughts about that plan.
Ravens To Sign LB Paul Worrilow
The Ravens plan to sign veteran inside linebacker Paul Worrilow on Friday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley. The deal will be finalized upon Worrilow’s passing of a physical. 
Worrilow, a former UDFA with the Falcons, wound up starting in Atlanta for three seasons. He was used as a depth player for the team’s 2016 NFC championship season and later hooked on with the Lions, where he started in eight games. He lost the 2018 season to injury, however, and the Eagles just recently cut him due to health concerns.
Worrilow, 29, can provide experienced depth at inside linebacker as ILBs Patrick Onwuasor, Chris Board and Kenny Young have just combined 29 starts. Worrilow, meanwhile, has started 52 games over five seasons.
Patriots’ Patrick Chung Indicted For Felony Cocaine Possession
Patriots safety Patrick Chung was indicted for felony cocaine possession on August 8, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). It’s a shocking development for the Patriots’ long-time defender, who just inked a contract extension with the club this offseason.
“We are aware of the reports regarding Patrick Chung. We will not be commenting while his judicial proceedings take place,” the Patriots said in a statement (Twitter feed).
Under the terms of his new deal, Chung is under contract through the 2021 season. The 31-year-old was set to keep a level of stability on a Patriots defense that has undergone several changes since they won the Super Bowl in February. Gone are several coaches, including defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who took the head coaching gig with the Dolphins shortly after the victory over the Rams.
Chung suffered a broken forearm in the Super Bowl and underwent offseason surgery to repair it. He has not played thus far in the preseason. Now, he could be subject to a suspension in 2019, though the league might not act swiftly enough to keep him off of the field for Week 1, assuming he is healthy enough to take the field.
Chung is scheduled to be arraigned on a charge of cocaine possession on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. According to Volin (Twitter link), if Chung’s case goes to trial, the target date for jury selection is next March.
Chris Crouse contributed to this post
Eagles’ Richard Rodgers To Miss Time
Eagles tight end Richard Rodgers will miss “multiple weeks” with a foot injury, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Without him, the Eagles will have to find a No. 3 tight end elsewhere to start the season. 
Currently, the Eagles have Josh Perkins, Alex Ellis, and Will Tye in camp. One of those three could slide in as the Eagles’ new No. 3 TE, but they could also explore free agents and late summer cuts from around the league.
Rodgers, a former third-round pick of the Packers, inked a one-year deal with the Eagles last year. Unfortunately, a knee injury cut his first season in Philly short. After recording just one catch for seven yards, Rodgers is eager to show what he can do in green and white. He inked a new two-year deal with the Eagles in March.
Rodgers’ best season to date came in 2015, when he hauled in 58 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had a quietly productive 30/271/2 stat line in 2016. He never quite lived up to expectations in Green Bay, but he could make for a fine supporting TE behind Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert if healthy.
Now, he’ll just have to wait a little while longer before making an impact in Philly.
Jets To Work Out Quincy Adeboyejo
The Jets’ search for wide receiver depth continues. On Thursday, they’ll audition former Baltimore receiver Quincy Adeboyejo today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
If signed, Adeboyejo could provide reinforcements to a WR group headlined by a much better known Quincy – Quincy Enunwa. The Jets also have Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder leading the way.
Adeboyejo signed with the Ravens as a UDFA in 2017 and appeared in one game during his rookie season. Then, last year, he spent the year on the PUP list with a leg injury. The Ravens waived him prior to this year’s training camp, making him available for the Jets and other clubs.
Broncos Claim Tyler Jones, Dadi Nicolas
The Broncos have claimed offensive tackle Tyler Jones (Jets) and linebacker Dadi Nicolas (Colts) off waivers. They’ll take the spots of tight end Bug Howard and cornerback Horace Richardson, who were placed on injured reserve.
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Nicolas, 27 in September, appeared in eleven games as a reserve for the Chiefs in 2016. Since then, he’s been a frequent guest in Pro Football Rumors’ workout roundups and Minor NFL Transactions posts. Jones, a product of N.C. State, went undrafted this year despite having solid foot speed for the offensive line.
Howard, a UNC product, made noise as a senior in 2016 with 53 grabs for 827 yards and eight touchdowns. Since then, he’s made the rounds in the NFL, but has yet to see live action.