Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is a beneficiary after the NFL revised its gambling policy. Williams is one of the three players who were initially suspended six games, but the penalty was reduced to three games. Paul Sancya/Associated Press
The NFL has revised its gambling policy and is reinstating three players who previously received longer suspensions.
Nicholas Petit-Frere of Tennessee and Jameson Williams of Detroit can return to their teams Monday. Free agent Stanley Berryhill will be eligible to participate in all activities, including games, starting Tuesday. All three players were initially suspended six games.
The new policy reduces the punishment for gambling on non-NFL sports from within team facilities to two games.
The minimum suspension for gambling on NFL games increases to one year and betting on your team has been raised to two years.
In a memo sent to teams and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said it periodically reviews the gambling policy “to ensure that it is responsive to changing circumstances and fully addresses our commitment to protect the integrity of our game.”
The league consulted with the NFL Players Association and teams in recent weeks to ensure policies are “clear, properly communicated, and focused on protecting the integrity of the game and the reputations of everyone connected with the NFL.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell or a person he designates decides violations of the gambling policy.
PATRIOTS: New England listed five players as questionable on its final injury report of the week ahead of Sunday’s game at Dallas. Shaun Wade (shoulder) was a new addition, but there were no surprises beyond that: Christian Barmore (knee), Davon Godchaux (ankle), Jonathan Jones (ankle) and Cole Strange (knee) are all also questionable.
Barmore played through his knee injury last weekend in the Meadowlands, while Strange was hindered by his and replaced by Atonio Mafi. Jones has missed back-to-back games with this ankle issue, while Godchaux hurt his ankle against the Jets. Sidy Sow cleared the concussion protocol and was removed from the report.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys could be dealing with some serious offensive line issues again.
Starting tackle Tyron Smith (knee) has already been ruled out, while guard Zack Martin (ankle) and center Tyler Biadasz (hamstring) are both questionable. Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise raved about Martin, a six-time first-team All-Pro, when asked about him this week.
“Great guard. Great guard,” Wise reiterated. “Very physical at the point of attack. Great run blocker. I think he does a good job of having (good) hands and keeping his feet moving at all times. So even if guys do try to get off (blocks), his feet are always moving. He’s very aggressive. One of those just blue-collar type of players. Comes to work every day with one thing on his mind. ”
PANTHERS: Rookie quarterback Bryce Young will start against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Coach Frank Reich made the decision official Friday after saying earlier in the week that Young was trending in the right direction after missing the team’s Week 3 game at Seattle with an ankle injury. Young practiced full all three practice days this week.
“I thought it was good,” Reich said of Young’s week. “Probably even better than I expected it to be. … Bryce will be our quarterback.”
Both Carolina and Minnesota are 0-3.
RAIDERS: Defensive end Chandler Jones was arrested on accusations of violating a domestic violence temporary protection order, authorities said.
Vegas-area police arrested the 33-year-old edge rusher early Friday. He’s being held at the Clark County Detention Center with bail set at $15,000, according to online records. He’s scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4.
There has been growing concern for Jones’ mental health due to peculiar behavior on social media. In one video, he spent about 25 minutes talking about a variety of topics before breaking down in tears when discussing Aaron Hernandez’s death, whom he referred to as “Chico.”
Monday, in a since-deleted post of a handwritten journal entry, he said he was taken to a hospital “against my will” by the Las Vegas Fire Department a week prior. He wrote that Las Vegas police were on hand when the firefighters arrived.
Jones has not played this season for the Raiders and is on the non-football illness list.
BROWNS: Deshaun Watson watched most of practice from the sideline Friday as Cleveland hopes the extra rest will help its star quarterback be ready for a division rival.
Watson was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Baltimore because of a shoulder injury that limited him all week. Coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s “hopeful” Watson will be healthy enough to go.
DOLPHINS: Receiver Jaylen Waddle cleared the NFL’s concussion protocols, Coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Friday, and will be available when Miami heads to Buffalo to face the division rival Bills on Sunday.
Waddle missed the Week 3 win over Denver after a helmet-to-helmet hit against New England in Week 2.
JAGUARS: Return specialist Jamal Agnew (knee) will be a game-time decision Sunday for Jacksonville, which confirmed wide receiver Zay Jones (knee) won’t play against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium.
RAMS: Los Angeles signed tight end Tyler Higbee – the top receiving tight end in franchise history – to a two-year contract extension through 2025.
Higbee was a member of the Rams’ first draft class after the franchise returned to Los Angeles in 2016, and has been a starter whenever healthy since his second NFL season.
COLTS: Quarterback Anthony Richardson is expected to start Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams after clearing the concussion protocol, Coach Shane Steichen said Friday.
CHARGERS: Los Angeles center Corey Linsley will be placed on injured reserve with a heart issue, the team said Friday.
The 32-year-old Linsley is in his 10th NFL season and third with the Chargers. He played in all 215 offensive snaps in the first three games.
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