PATRIOTS
Gronk suspended 1 game
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was suspended without pay for one game for a late hit on Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White on Sunday.
With four minutes left in the game and the Patriots leading 23-3, Gronkowski and White tangled as Tom Brady threw a pass in their direction. White came up with the interception, and after he landed on the ground, Gronkowski dived on top of him, driving a forearm into White's neck.
The Patriots were penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, but Gronkowski was not ejected. White was helped to the locker room and placed in the concussion protocol.
In a letter to Gronkowski on Monday, the NFL said, "Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury."
COWBOYS
Prescott: Hand is fine
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott participated in the team's annual visits to children in hospitals Monday no worse for wear after injuring his right throwing hand in Thursday's 38-14 victory against the Washington Redskins.
Prescott didn't miss any snaps and played with a swollen hand after X-rays came back negative.
The hand was slightly swollen as he visited sick children along with some of his teammates at Medical City Dallas Hospital.
Prescott said he will practice this week and play against the New York Giants on Sunday in another must-win game for Cowboys (6-6), who need to sweep their final four games in hopes of keeping their playoff hopes alive.
"It's great," Prescott said of his hand. "I'm signing autographs. Everything is going to be fine."
BILLS
If healthy, Taylor to start
Sean McDermott is sticking with Tyrod Taylor as the Bills starter so long as the quarterback's bruised left knee holds up.
Tests revealed Taylor suffered a bruised patellar tendon. The unresolved question is whether Taylor will be physically capable to start Sunday, when Buffalo (6-6) hosts the Colts (3-9).
"The ligaments are fine," McDermott said in listing Taylor as day to day. He added he'll have a better idea on Taylor's status once players return to practice Wednesday.
McDermott later told The Associated Press that Taylor's knee is very sore, when asked whether there was any significant swelling.
Taylor was hurt on the first play from scrimmage, and played through the first minute of the fourth quarter before being sidelined in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman. Taylor nodded "yes" when asked by The AP if he was OK after the game.
If Taylor can't play, the Bills would return to Peterman . The rookie fifth-round pick threw five interceptions in the first half of a 54-24 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago.
RAVENS
Four-game ban for CB
Cornerback Jimmy Smith, whose best NFL season came to an end Sunday when he tore his left Achilles tendon, may not have been available for the Ravens' playoff push anyway.
The Ravens' top cornerback was facing a four-game suspension after he was found in violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Smith and the Ravens learned of the pending suspension last week, according to multiple sources.
Smith was in the process of appealing the suspension but he'll drop the appeal, according to ESPN, now that his season is over anyway because of the Achilles injury. Players can serve suspensions while on injured reserve.
If Smith didn't suffer the Achilles injury in the first half of Sunday's 44-20 victory over the Detroit Lions, he could have technically served the four-game ban over the final four regular-season games and then been ready to return if the Ravens qualify for the playoffs. The Ravens are 7-5 and have a one-game lead for the second wild-card spot with four games to play.
But with Smith unable to return this year anyway and facing surgery to repair the Achilles, that's now a moot point.
TITANS
DL tears bicep
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman DaQuan Jones has a torn bicep muscle and will have season-ending surgery.
Coach Mike Mularkey said Monday that Jones will be placed on injured reserve.
The timing of the injury couldn't be worse for Jones, whose contract expires after this season. The lineman was playing possibly the best of his career with two sacks last week against Indianapolis and 1½ sacks in the 24-13 victory over Houston before being injured.
Cornerback Logan Ryan is in the concussion protocol, and Mularkey said wide receiver Rishard Matthews (hamstring) and tight end Delanie Walker (right ankle) both are day to day. Matthews missed his second consecutive game against Houston.
Sports on 12/05/2017