The Sports Xchange

The NFL issued a warning Friday about fighting after a number of recent incidents during training camp.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent sent a memo to all 32 teams reminding players that prohibiting fights during games will be a point of emphasis for officials.

Vincent’s memo, obtained by FOX Sports, reiterates that the 2015 league policy for players tells them “don’t fight, and if a fight breaks out involving other players, stay away.” The memo was sent to team executives, general managers and head coaches.

“These rules are in place for the protection and safety of our players to keep them on the field,” Vincent wrote. “As professionals, no matter how emotional the game becomes, there is nothing that should resort to fighting. Coaches are encouraged to emphasize to players, coaches, and other club personnel who are on the sidelines, that fighting will not be tolerated. We greatly appreciate all of your efforts to advance our great game, keep it competitive and professional, and to ensure that it is played at the highest standards.”

On Tuesday, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith had his jaw broken in two spots when he was punched in the locker room by teammate IK Enemkpali. Smith underwent surgery Thursday and is expected to be out six to 10 weeks.

Tempers flared at the Carolina Panthers’ training camp on Monday when quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Josh Norman ended up in a fight. The incident occurred when Norman intercepted Newton two plays into a team drill.

The joint practice last Saturday between the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins was disrupted by a series of brawls. Several fights broke out on two separate practice fields at the Redskins’ training camp facility in Richmond, Va.

—The Jets, seeking a quarterback to temporarily replace the injured Geno Smith, reportedly put free agent quarterback Matt Flynn through a physical exam.

Flynn, who was released by the New England Patriots earlier this week because of an apparent elbow injury, did not work out for the Jets on Friday, NFL Media’s Albert Breer reported.

Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick has assumed the starting position, and rookie Bryce Petty is No. 2. But Petty completed just 10 of 18 passes for 50 yards in a 23-3 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, showing that he has plenty of work to do to be a viable backup.

The Jets reportedly are not interested in bringing back Michael Vick, but they apparently are considering Rex Grossman, who is recovering from a sprained foot suffered while working out. Grossman told NFL.com on Thursday that he should be healthy in a week.

—Redskins tight end Niles Paul is expected to miss the season with a fractured and dislocated ankle, coach Jay Gruden said Friday.

Paul hurt his left ankle during the first quarter of the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The ankle was placed in an air cast before he left the field on a cart.

The Redskins are plagued by injuries at tight end. Jordan Reed (hamstring) and Logan Paulsen (toe) are running behind Paul, but both are unable to play. Paulsen’s toe injury might need surgery.

The Redskins also lost reserve running back Silas Redd, who reportedly suffered a torn ACL and partially torn MCL in his right knee in the third quarter Thursday.

—Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz underwent groin surgery and will miss the rest of the preseason.

Coach Chip Kelly said the injury was to a “core muscle,” and several news outlets specified it as a partially torn groin.

Dr. William Meyers, who recently fixed the groin of Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, performed the surgery on Ertz in Philadelphia.

Center Jason Kelce told the Philadelphia Daily News that Ertz’s tear was not as significant as the one that sidelined Kelce for five weeks last season. Ertz is expected to be ready for the season opener Sept. 14 at the Atlanta Falcons.

Meanwhile, Kelly said quarterback Sam Bradford will not play in the preseason opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Kelly said Bradford will play in the second game, Aug. 22 against the Baltimore Ravens.

—Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel found “nothing special, nothing terrible” in Thursday night’s preseason debut against the Redskins.

“I thought I was pretty good,” Manziel said after the Browns lost 20-17 to the Redskins. “Nothing special, nothing terrible. Right there in middle. We’ll go back and look at the film. It’s never as bad, never as good. For the first game, learn and move on.”

Manziel, in his second season, completed 7 of 11 attempts for 42 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in five series of work after replacing starter Josh McCown. Manziel was sacked once and ran twice for 14 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown. McCown was 5-of-5 with a 2-yard touchdown pass.

“It’s way different (from last year),” Manziel said. “This isn’t my first rodeo like it was last year. It was a little bit of a whirlwind last year. I wanted to forget about the first game against Detroit (last year), but (Thursday night) felt a little slower, I felt a little more comfortable and I did some good things.

“I want to improve and make some more out of those drives. I don’t think we were very good on third down. It was the first one and we have got a lot of ground to build on from here. I think it was good.”

—Browns head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer said the Ray Rice talk is premature after owner Jimmy Haslam said he thinks the running back deserves another shot in the NFL.

Haslam told his football staff that he would be OK with bringing in Rice as long as there is a need.

“I think it is premature to talk about that,” Pettine said after the preseason game. “We are comfortable with where our room is. We just want to get those guys back and see what we have. I know a lot of people have ‘connected the dots’ given his circumstances and ours, but it is too early to talk about it.”

Rice’s last game action came during the 2013 season with the Baltimore Ravens when he rushed for 660 yards on 214 carries in 15 games. The 28-year-old did not play last year after his suspension for striking his then-fiancee and now-wife, Janay, and subsequent release by the Ravens.

“Right now I’d say it’s all premature in my mind,” Farmer said. “We’re interested in seeing what our young guys can do. Focused on them. Giving them the opportunity to demonstrate whether they can or they can’t. I think we’ve got some talented young guys. Ray’s had his career. We kind of know what he is. We think we know. There’s a lot of tape.”

—The New England Patriots signed defensive lineman Casey Walker.

Walker, 25, spent part of the 2014 season on New England’s 53-man roster and practice squad, seeing action in five games (one start) for the Patriots and finishing with 10 tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-1, 340-pounder originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2013 with the Carolina Panthers out of Oklahoma.

—The Washington Redskins signed free agent outside linebacker Sage Harold and waived injured linebacker Trevardo Williams.

Harold joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a undrafted free agent from James Madison in May but was cut on Aug. 9.

Williams spent part of last season on the Redskins’ roster and had three tackles and a sack against the Philadelphia Eagles during a Week 16 game.

—The Denver Broncos claimed punter Spencer Lanning off waivers.

Lanning had been waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. The Bucs had claimed Lanning off waivers June 9 from the Cleveland Browns.

Lanning spent the last two seasons with the Browns, averaging 44.1 yards on 177 punts, with a net average of 38.6.

—The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive tackle Greg Hickman and waived/injured wide receiver Gavin Lutman.

Hickman, 24, joins the Vikings as a free agent entering the 2015 season. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent following the 2014 NFL Draft out of Florida International.

—The Buffalo Bills reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Caleb Holley and released him from injured reserve.

Holley suffered a partially torn right hamstring during practice on Monday and was placed on injured reserve. The 24-year-old Holley was a member of the Bills’ practice squad last year.

—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed defensive back Derrick Wells.

The Bucs waived Wells on July 29. He was placed on the active/non-football injury list prior to being waived. The 6-0, 201-pounder is an undrafted free agent after playing collegiately at Minnesota.