NFL notes: Tannehill may have ACL injury
Miami Dolphins fear that quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Sunday’s 26-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
An ACL injury would likely end Tannehill’s season with three games remaining as the Dolphins aim for their first playoff berth since 2008.
Tannehill went down with 1:19 left in the third quarter after taking a low hit from Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell.
Coach Adam Gase said after the game that the Dolphins fear it is an ACL injury.
Gordon’s breakout year may be over
Melvin Gordon’s breakout second season might have come to a premature end after he was carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to Carolina.
The Chargers running back injured his left hip when he tried to recover a Phillip Rivers fumble, but Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis landed on Gordon – causing his leg to bend awkwardly.
Gordon entered the game fourth in the NFL with 992 yards rushing, a season after the 2015 first-round pick rushed for only 641 yards for the entire season. He’s expected to undergo an MRI on Monday.
Concern over Stafford’s finger
Matthew Stafford added to his MVP case Sunday when he ran for a 7-yard touchdown with 3:17 to play to lift the Lions to another come-from-behind victory, 20-17 over the Chicago Bears. But Stafford left Detroit’s Ford Field with his right middle finger bandaged and in a splint and said he probably will undergo X-rays on the digit.
According to ESPN, Stafford suffered torn ligaments and a joint dislocation in the finger.
Stafford did not miss a snap Sunday, but he didn’t look like his usual self completing 21 of 35 passes for 223 yards and throwing two interceptions.
Another fuss over deflated footballs
The NFL says no formal complaint was filed last week by the New York Giants, who reportedly alerted the league that the Pittsburgh Steelers were using deflated footballs during their game.
Fox reported Sunday that after the Giants forced two turnovers during their 24-14 loss last Sunday, they tested the footballs on their sideline. After both of the footballs tested below the NFL standards for PSI, according to the report, the Giants sent them to the league office.