CANTON, Ohio - Chiefs offensive tackle Willie Jones was recovering from a sprained neck and was expected to be released from a hospital today.
Team president Carl Peterson said Jones was doing better Tuesday, a day after he was injured while making a block during the Pro Football Hall of Fame preseason game.
A nursing supervisor said Jones, 27, was released from Aultman Hospital; Aultman spokeswoman Jodi Knapik wouldn't comment on the discrepancy later and referred all calls to the Chiefs.
Jones, 6 feet 6, 355 pounds, collapsed with 17 seconds left in the second quarter after blocking linebacker Marcus Wilkins on a pass play. Jones, who had temporary paralysis on a similar play in practice last season, laid motionless for nearly 10 minutes before leaving the field on a stretcher.
CARDINALS: Dallas will get a shot at running back and former teammate Emmitt Smith in Saturday's preseason game. But it will be a short one. The former Cowboys star said he wants to play "very little, to be honest with you," the Dallas Morning News reported. When he was a Cowboy, Smith rarely played more than a series in preseason openers. Arizona coach Dave McGinnis is expected today to discuss how Smith will be used.
COWBOYS: Speaking of Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson says he did not need clarification from him on his remarks about the Cowboys. Still, the safety got a call this week from the running back, who was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying he "felt like a diamond surrounded by trash" last season.
Woodson says he knew Smith didn't mean it the way it sounded.
"He called me up and we talked for a while. He didn't have to put the record straight," Woodson said. "I just knew it wasn't a big deal at the beginning."
Also, the team reached an injury settlement with defensive end Darrell Wright, who had surgery Thursday on a broken bone in his left hand.
DOLPHINS: Cornerback Patrick Surtain had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee but is expected to be back by the regular season. Former first-round draft pick Jamar Fletcher will start in his place Friday against Tampa Bay.
GIANTS: William Joseph ended his holdout by signing a $6.95-million contract. The defensive lineman from Miami, the 25th overall pick in the draft, signed the deal at 2:30 a.m. and was on the field with the team seven hours later. Also, league single-season sack king Michael Strahan has a broken little toe and his status for Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots is uncertain. "If it was the regular season I would be playing," the defensive end said.
JAGUARS: The team medical staff held defensive tackle Larry Smith out of practice, deeming him not fit to participate in two-a-days more than a week after he collapsed because of the heat.
LIONS: Receiver Charles Rogers says he's likely to miss Saturday's preseason opener against the Steelers. The No. 2 overall draft pick dislocated his left ring finger in practice last week.
PACKERS: Tight end Wesley Walls signed to add depth behind Pro Bowl starter Bubba Franks.
RAIDERS: In closing arguments during the team's fraud trial, James Brosnahan, a defense lawyer representing the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and its chief negotiator, said the team's claim that it was lured back on the false promise of a packed stadium is bogus.
STEELERS: Running back Amos Zereoue hurt his left ankle in practice. Coach Bill Cowher said he thinks the injury is a sprain and Zereoue will be examined today.
CARRUTH CASE: Former Panther Rae Carruth lost a bid for a new trial on his 2001 murder conspiracy conviction despite an error by a lower court. A state appeals court ruled that though the trial judge shouldn't have allowed handwritten notes from the victim to be admitted, the notes didn't prejudice the jury because of the overwhelming evidence against Carruth. Carruth's lawyer, Gordon Widenhouse, said he would seek an appeal before the North Carolina state Supreme Court.
