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SPORTS Tuesday 20 augusT 2019

Vikings show passing depth, versatility in win over Seahawks

By The Associated Press CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Tay-
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rook- som Hill had 191 yards of
ie tight end Irv Smith Jr. offense and directed three
and backup wide receiver second-half scoring drives
Brandon Zylstra each had to help New Orleans past
touchdown receptions for Los Angeles.
Minnesota and the Vikings In a game where Philip Riv-
displayed depth and ver- ers and Drew Brees were
satility in their passing game sideline observers, Hill sup-
in a 25-19 exhibition victory plied most of the quarter-
over the Seattle Seahawks back highlights. The third-
on Sunday night. year, all-purpose player
Kirk Cousins led the start- was 11 of 15 for 136 yards
ers for two drives, the last and a pair of touchdowns
one yielding a chip-shot and ran for 55 yards. New
field goal by Dan Bailey, Orleans trailed 17-3 at half-
and finished 6 for 8 for 68 time. Hill threw a 27-yard TD
yards without a turnover. pass to Austin Carr with 3:10
Second-string quarterback remaining in the third quar-
Sean Mannion made up for ter to bring the Saints (1-1)
an interception that safety to 17-10. Hill then directed
DeShawn Shead returned an 11-play, 69-yard drive
88 yards for a score by find- Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith celebrates with teammate Bisi Johnson (81) after catching a midway through the fourth
ing Smith with a short throw 3-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle quarter that culminated in
into the end zone just be- Seahawks, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, in Minneapolis. a 1-yard TD pass to Devine
fore halftime. Associated Press Ozigbo. The Saints went for
Then Kyle Sloter delivered for 9 for 82 yards without field goals by Jason Myers. fensive line, missing injured 2, but Hill was sacked by
the touchdown pass to a turnover after sitting out Seattle’s pass rush was right tackle Brian O’Neill, Anthony Lanier II.
Zylstra in the third quarter, the preseason opener. He strong in the first half, with was vulnerable in spots. Following a Chargers punt,
polishing off a decent night had a 33-yard completion Barkevious Mingo pressur- Cousins and rookie center Hill drove the Saints into
for an offense that under- to Jaron Brown, who has a ing Mannion as he threw Garrett Bradbury shared field goal range, where Will
went an offseason scheme starting wide receiver spot before Chad Beebe was a botched under-center Lutz made a 28-yarder with
change after an under- for now following the retire- expecting the ball after his snap resulting in a fumble 1:08 remaining.
whelming first year with ment of Doug Baldwin. First- turn on a hitch route. The the Vikings recovered. Troymaine Pope returned
Cousins at the helm. round draft pick D.K. Met- blocking for Minnesota will Mannion went 11 for 14 for a punt 81 yards for a TD for
The first team took two calf did not play because continue to be the most 88 yards. Sloter finished 11 the Chargers (0-2). Andre
turns for the Seahawks, too, of a leg injury. Brown’s scrutinized aspect of the for 13 for 116 yards. Patton had five receptions
and Russell Wilson went 6 catch set up the first of four team, and the starting of- SAINTS 19, CHARGERS 17 for 62 yards.q

Gordon back with Patriots while on non-football injury list

By JIMMY GOLEN per Bowl run. Commissioner
AP Sports Writer Roger Goodell said Gor-
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) don could participate in
— Oft-suspended wide team meetings, condition-
receiver Josh Gordon re- ing and individual workouts
turned to the New Eng- while working himself back
land Patriots’ practice field into shape.
on Monday without pads A 2012 second-round draft
and without saying when pick by the Cleveland
he might be able to play Browns, Gordon was sus-
again. pended for the first two
Gordon was seen stretch- games of the 2013 season
ing on the field during the for violating the league’s
portion of the team’s work- substance abuse policy
out that was open to the but still caught 87 passes
media. In the locker room for nine touchdowns and a
before practice, he de- league-leading 1,646 yards
clined a request for an in- and was named to the All-
terview. Pro team.
“I don’t have time today,” He was suspended again in
he said. “I’ll be around, 2015 and missed two whole
though.” seasons. In interviews, he
The Patriots placed Gordon has acknowledged using
on the non-football injury list Xanax, cocaine, marijuana New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon warms up at NFL football practice, Monday,
on Sunday, two days after and other narcotics, and Aug. 19, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass.
the NFL reinstated him from he said in 2017 he smoked Associated Press
an indefinite suspension pot before “probably every ber, pairing him with Tom the one he left behind in he said on Dec. 20 that he
that cost him the final three game of my career.” Brady and a locker room Cleveland. He had 40 re- was stepping away from
games of the 2018 regular The Browns traded him to that was supposed to be ceptions for 720 yards and football to concentrate on
season and the team’s Su- New England in Septem- more disciplined than three touchdowns before his mental health.q