PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali said it was never his intention to hurt New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, and added that he's grateful to get a second chance at his career with the Buffalo Bills.
Enemkpali also apologized to the Jets team, his former teammates and fans for sucker-punching Smith and breaking his jaw in a locker-room altercation Tuesday. He said he should have walked away.
As for joining the Bills, the second-year player vowed to be an accountable teammate.
He spoke for only 45 seconds and did not take any questions after reporting to the Bills training camp facility and passing his physical Thursday afternoon. Buffalo claimed Enemkpali off of waivers Wednesday, a day after he was released by the Jets for punching Smith.
BRONCOS
Manning will sit
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning isn't expected to play in the Denver Broncos' preseason opener at Seattle tonight.
Coach Gary Kubiak has been managing Manning's snaps at training camp, giving the 39-year-old quarterback every few days off to keep his legs and mind fresh.
Manning faded down the stretch last season when he was hobbled by a strained right thigh. He looks fitter, trimmer and more mobile this summer as he adapts to a new offense that has him doing roll-outs and bootlegs and this week said "I do feel good moving around out there, arm feels good."
Another benefit of keeping Manning's snaps limited is getting a look at backup Brock Osweiler.
Entering his fourth season of his prolonged apprenticeship -- and the last year of his rookie contract -- Osweiler is getting his biggest chance yet to prove he's a worthy successor to Manning. Osweiler has shown flashes of solid play but still makes some mistakes on days that Manning watches practice in a golf cap.
"I just think he's gaining a little confidence running the football team when it's his," Kubiak said last weekend. "You can see when he comes out here on those days it's not a shock. It's, 'Let's go.' I think it's important for the group, and obviously it's important for his career."
Osweiler won't exactly be working with the first-team offense in Seattle because Pro Bowl receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders also are expected to sit this one out along with new tight end Owen Daniels.
Thomas missed the offseason program before agreeing to a five-year, $70 million contract last month and is still getting into football shape and Sanders is coming off a strained hamstring.
VIKINGS
Zimmer upset
MANKATO, Minn. -- An angry Mike Zimmer ended the Minnesota Vikings' practice early after a lackluster effort from his players.
The Vikings were set to have their final practice of the Mankato portion of training camp Thursday morning and head back to Minneapolis in the evening.
Perhaps with their eyes on leaving town, the players coasted in practice. That infuriated Zimmer, who made the entire team run a lap.
The coach called the players together on the field, expressed his dismay and dismissed them. He said the only positive from the day was that the team was going home.
Asked if he will lean on his veterans to get the team back in gear, Zimmer replied: "I will lean on my size 10s."
NFL
Talks enter day 2
NEW YORK -- Lawyers for the NFL and its players' union have completed two days of negotiations with a Manhattan federal court judge over the deflated ball controversy stemming from January's AFC Championship Game.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Commissioner Roger Goodell did not attend two hours of talks Thursday morning when lawyers on both sides met separately with Judge Richard Berman.
There are no additional talks with the judge scheduled before a hearing next week, though lawyers are expected to continue negotiations on their own.
The talks Thursday occurred because lawyers had not finished their meetings with Berman when they left the courthouse Wednesday after four hours of discussions.
If there is no settlement, Berman will be left to decide whether Goodell's four-game suspension of Brady stands.
FALCONS
CB Trufant out
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant has a sprained shoulder and is expected to miss tonight's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans.
Trufant missed his second consecutive day of practice Thursday.
Coach Dan Quinn said he is "leaning" toward holding Trufant out of the game. Quinn said rookie Jalen Collins, a second-round pick from LSU, and veteran Phillip Adams could see bigger roles.
Adams started four games for the Jets last season.
Trufant, a first-round pick in 2013, has started every game the past two seasons. He had three interceptions in 2014.
Sports on 08/14/2015