Off-Topic » Telvin Smith broke toward the sideline during practice

JACKSONVILLE http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/john-cominsky-jersey , Fla. (AP) — Wednesday and had newly signed running back Jamaal Charles in his sights.For a second anyway.Smith said Charles “hit me with a little step” that got the linebacker’s attention and gave everyone else a glimpse of what the four-time Pro Bowl selection still has to offer to the Jacksonville Jaguars.“I said, ‘OK, OK,'” Smith said. “It was good to see him get out there and move and have that step. We’re just ready to see that on Sunday.”The Jaguars (3-2) signed Charles to a one-year contract Tuesday and expect him to contribute at Dallas (2-3) on Sunday.Jacksonville will be without Leonard Fournette for the fourth time in six games and lost third-stringer Corey Grant to a season-ending foot injury. The team also signed running back Dave Williams off Denver’s practice squad.All eyes were on Charles, though. And for good reason.The 31-year-old running back had a successful career in Kansas City and insisted he has plenty to offer despite tearing a ligament in his right knee in 2015 and needing a second surgery the following year. Charles also tore a ligament in his left knee in 2011.“I can’t look back and get those years back, but I’m excited where I’m at right now,” said Charles, who played 14 games as a backup in Denver last year. “I feel good. I feel like last year was just trying to get back the feel of the game and get back to healthy again. Now I’ve been out for a while, but I’ve also had time to get my body right and get stronger and get healthy, so I feel great.”The Jaguars certainly need a boost on offense.Fournette is out indefinitely, quite possibly until after the team’s Week 9 bye, and is one of four starters sidelined. Receiver Marqise Lee (knee) and left tackle Cam Robinson (knee) are out for the season, and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (core muscle) is out at least eight games. Backup left tackle Josh Wells (groin) also won’t play against Dallas Qadree Ollison Jersey , leaving Jacksonville with its third starter (Josh Walker) at the all-important position.Making the situation more dire, center Brandon Linder (back) and guard Andrew Norwell (foot) also missed practice Wednesday.“It’s difficult,” coach Doug Marrone said. “It’s adversity, and it gives us a chance to show where we can improve ourselves and do a better job. No one ever feels sorry for you, and we don’t feel sorry for ourselves.“I kind of get excited. It’s a great challenge. It’s a challenge to play in this league when you get to the level where you’re bringing people in that are getting ready to play for you. I’m excited for those guys to have an opportunity, and I’m excited for us as coaches to see how we can use those players and the players that we have to the best of our ability.”Charles worked out for New Orleans in May and had a more recent interview with Washington.But his first offer came from Jacksonville. He was more than willing to jump on a plane and head east from his home near Houston.“I want to win a Super Bowl,” Charles said. “That’s why I kept my options open because I did want to win. I want to win a Super Bowl and they have a good chance to do that, so I came here to contribute.”Charles has 7,556 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, plus 2,586 yards receiving and 20 more scores.He will play behind T.J. Yeldon for now, a part-time role that gets him back on the field and gives him another chance to prove his worth.“I’m just trying to bring energy, excitement Brian Burns Jersey , big plays and show them that I can still play,” he said. “I want to give them a new boost, get them hyped, get them excited that I’m here. Be like a spark, you know what I’m saying, a spark to the fire and hope that we can make a flame.” CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)Cam Newton proved the Carolina Panthers can win in multiple ways. After dominating opposing teams on the ground with three straight 200-yard rushing games at home, the Panthers turned to their 28th-ranked passing game on Sunday and took a big step toward reaching the postseason. Newton threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns, and the Panthers spoiled Aaron Rodgers’ return from a broken collarbone with a 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers.Article continues below ... Damiere Byrd had two touchdown catches, and Christian McCaffrey had 136 yards from scrimmage, including a 7-yard touchdown reception and the Panthers won their fourth straight at home. Greg Olsen had his most productive game since returning from a broken foot, catching nine passes for 116 yards and a TD as the Panthers (10-4) kept pace with the first-place New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. ”It’s something we pride ourselves on being a complete offense, being able to run the ball when we can and pass when we can http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/greg-little-jersey ,” McCaffrey said. ”Guys showed up and made plays today.” That included Carolina’s defense, which forced four turnovers, including a strip by cornerback James Bradberry on Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison with 1:28 to seal the win and prevent the Packers from possibly playing in their third straight overtime game. ”I need to do a better job of squeezing and securing it and there wouldn’t be an argument,” Allison said. Rodgers, making his first appearance since Oct. 15, threw for 290 yards with three touchdowns but was intercepted three times as the Packers’ playoff hopes took a potentially critical blow. At 7-7, the Packers are on the cusp of not making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. ”I’m disappointed in my performance today,” Rodgers said. ”Obviously, I didn’t play well.” Bradberry also had an interception of Rodgers, and said he plans to put the football in a trophy case. ”Going against him and getting able to get as many turnovers and we did puts a stamp on this defense,” Bradberry said of the Panthers, who have forced seven turnovers and had nine sacks in the past two weeks. The Panthers trailed 14-10 at halftime, but Newton threw TD passes to Olsen and Byrd in the third quarter to give them a 24-14 lead. Byrd’s first touchdown Will Grier Jersey , a 9-yard grab in the back of the end zone , came with some controversy. The play was initially ruled an incompletion, but coach Ron Rivera challenged the play and officials overturned the call ruling that Byrd’s buttocks landed inbounds. ”Initially I wasn’t sure if they were going to count just one cheek or both cheeks,” Byrd said with a laugh. ”I think I got lucky on that one.” ”I guess it pays to have little cheeks,” Newton said of the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Byrd. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he didn’t have a problem with the decision, calling it a good catch. Olsen was seen screaming at the Carolina sideline before the review, urging Rivera not to challenge the play because he was certain Byrd was out of bounds. ”I was like, `Greg, you are being obnoxious right now,”’ Newton said with a laugh. ”He’s saying, `No, he did not catch it! Coach http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/christian-miller-jersey , don’t waste a timeout!’ I was like, `Greg, whose team are you on?”’ Olsen said sheepishly: ”I was 150,000 percent wrong.” ADAMS CONCUSSION: It didn’t help that Rodgers lost his most productive receiver in the third quarter with a concussion. Davante Adams took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis on an interception return by Colin Jones. As Adams was running to make the tackle on Jones, Davis appeared to launch himself at Adams with a peel-back block, immediately sending the wide receiver to the ground and out of the game. Davis was flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Aaron Rodgers called it ”unnecessary hit” and called Davis a ”repeat offender.” Davis could face a fine or suspension from the league. ”I’m sure the league will deal with him accordingly to that,” Rodgers said. Davis immediately realized what he had done, cupping his head in hands as he sat on the Panthers bench. Adams had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. Davis was not available for comment after the game. COMING IN BUNCHES: After going 12 games without an interception, Panthers starting cornerbacks Bradberry and Daryl Worley both have interceptions in back-to-back games. Worley got Rodgers in the first half on a deep route along the left sideline, while Bradberry got one on an underthrown deep ball. INJURIES: Packers: Linebacker Nick Perry left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter and did not return. Panthers: Wide receiver Russell Shepard left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury and did not return. UP NEXT Packers:Host the Vikings on Saturday night. Panthers: Host the Buccaneers on Sunday. —