BEARS Ex-Hog Anderson released
CHICAGO - The Bears signed defensive tackle Eric Foster on Saturday to give them more depth in the middle of the line and another player to evaluate as final cuts loom just two weeks away.
The Bears also announced they have signed quarterback Jordan Palmer and waived linebacker Andrew Starks.
Foster will take the place of Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas Razorbacks), who has been released. Anderson, a former first-round draft pick, was hampered some in training camp by a sore knee after he took the place of Sedrick Ellis, who did not report for training camp. Anderson was a first-round draft pick of the Falcons when General Manager Phil Emery was the college scouting director for them, and he originally was selected to play end.
Foster last played in a regular-season game with the Colts in 2011 when he suffered a gruesome ankle injury that kept him out about two years. He spent four seasons with them and played in 49 games, making 19 starts. He has six career sacks and played in every game for the Colts in 2009 and 2010.
BILLS Manuel has ‘procedure’
PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Buffalo quarterback EJ Manuel had what Bills coach Doug Marrone would only call “a procedure” on his left knee Sunday morning and will miss the rest of the preseason.
Marrone, who declined to characterize the medical attention the quarterback received as anything other than a “procedure,” says it was “very, very minor” and that Manuel has agood chance of returning before the start of the regular season.
Manuel was hurt in Buffalo’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. He did not leave the game due to injury but had swelling in the knee Saturday morning. Marrone said that Manuel will miss the rest of the preseason and be evaluated daily after that. The Bills chose Manuel out of Florida State with the 16th overall pick in the draft.
DOLPHINS
Keller lost for season
MIAMI - Miami Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller will miss the entire season because of a right knee injury, a person familiar with the diagnosis said Sunday.
The person confirmed the extent of the injury on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins hadn’t commented.
Keller was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday’s exhibition game at Houston. His leg bent unnaturally when he was tackled by D.J. Swearinger on an incompletion, and he was carted off the field.
Keller signed a $4.25 million, one-year contract with the Dolphins in March after five seasons with the New York Jets. He had hoped to parlay a big season in 2013 into a multiyear deal.
The injury leaves the Dolphins without an experienced tight end. Options to replace Keller include fourth-round draft pick Dion Sims, who has had a good camp, and Michael Egnew, who played in only two games last year after being drafted in the third round.
Keller has 17 career touchdown receptions, but he played in only eight games in 2012 because of hamstring and ankle injuries.
Sports, Pages 15 on 08/19/2013