NFL report

QB Smith exits with hurt knee

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith made his first start of the season Sunday, but was forced to make an early exit after injuring his right knee during the second quarter.
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith made his first start of the season Sunday, but was forced to make an early exit after injuring his right knee during the second quarter.

Geno Smith's return to the starting lineup came to a premature end on Sunday, with the New York Jets quarterback exiting a 24-16 victory over Baltimore with a right knee injury in the second quarter.

The start was Smith's first of the year, and he was replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started the previous 22 games for New York before being bench after last week.

Smith injured his knee while taking a sack from Baltimore's Matthew Judon. He was taken to the locker room and later returned to the field in street clothes, and he'll have an MRI this week. Before the injury, Smith finished 4 of 8 for 95 yards and a touchdown.

"It's frustrating to get injured, no matter what point in the game it is," Smith said. "The key thing is we won the game today."

Also on Sunday, Cleveland's quarterback woes continued with Cody Kessler suffering a concussion. Kessler was hit hard while throwing a shovel pass on a scramble, and he was replaced by rookie Kevin Hogan. Kessler was 9 of 11 for 82 yards before his injury.

In Buffalo, LeSean McCoy's nagging left hamstring issue flared up, with the NFL's second-leading rusher being forced to leave the Bills game at Miami in the third quarter. It was decisive as Miami rallied to win with McCoy sidelined.

Bills safety Aaron Williams suffered a head and neck injury when Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a block in the second quarter. Landry hit Williams high, leading with his shoulder. Williams remained on his back for a couple of minutes before he slowly rose and was led to the locker room.

Washington cornerback Josh Norman was forced to leave the Redskins game against Detroit, suffering a concussion and appearing to injure his left shoulder while defending a catch by the Lions' Marvin Jones.

Norman laid on the turn before walking off the field very slowly and being carted to the locker room.

In Philadelphia, Eagles cornerback Ron Brooks was carted off the field after suffering a right knee injury late while making a tackle in the first quarter. Brooks stayed down on the ground for a few minutes and appeared to be in pain while trainers worked on his leg. He was immediately ruled out.

The injury woes for Tennessee, which has already lost right guard Chance Warmack to injured reserve, continued with left guard Quinton Spain carted off with a right knee injury early in the second quarter.

Spain went down during an incomplete pass. Trainers and a doctor examined his right knee, then put him on a cart to take him to the locker room.

In a late game, Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman hurt his hamstring in the third quarter. Coleman, who splits carries with starter Devonta Freeman, ran eight times for 64 yards and a touchdown against San Diego before getting hurt.

For San Diego, defensive tackle Caraun Reid was carted off the field with a left knee injury.

Reid was injured midway through the first quarter when his teammate, linebacker Denzel Perryman, dived down and accidentally trapped Reid's left leg under the weight of his body. Both players were defending a catch by Atlanta tight end Levine Toilolo.

Milestones

The Colts' Adam Vinatieri kicked a pair of field goals, and the second, a 33-yarder with 3:46 left in the third quarter, gave him an NFL-record 43 consecutive field goals made. His first tied him with former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who made 42 consecutive between 2002 and 2004. ... The Chiefs' Andy Reid coached his 300th game Sunday. Most of those were over his 14 seasons in Philadelphia, where he was 140-102-1. He is 36-21 in his fourth season in Kansas City. ... Playing in his 100th game, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has 27,890 passing yards, the most by any player in his first 100 games to begin a career.

Byrd honored

The New York Jets honored Dennis Byrd with a pregame video tribute after he was killed last weekend in a car accident in Oklahoma.

Byrd was an inspiration to many after he overcame brief paralysis and walked again just a few months after injuring his neck during a play in 1992. The defensive lineman, who played for the Jets for four seasons, died in a two-vehicle collision last Saturday. He was 50.

Sports on 10/24/2016

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