The Sports Xchange

Washington Redskins linebacker Junior Galette suffered a torn Achilles at the team’s morning practice Wednesday.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden told reporters that Galette suffered a left ankle/foot injury. NFL Network reported via sources that Galette will miss the season based on MRI results revealing the full tear.

The injury ends Galette’s first season with the Redskins after just one month. He signed a one-year contract on July 31.

The New Orleans Saints cut Galette on July 27 following the release of a 2013 video that appears to show a physical altercation on a beach between Galette and a woman.

—Quarterback Johnny Manziel has no structural damage on his sore right elbow but is unlikely to play Saturday night in the Cleveland Browns’ third preseason game.

Coach Mike Pettine said an MRI revealed no damage.

“We just wanted to confirm there was nothing structural, and that is the case,” Pettine said. “The MRI was certainly a positive result. He’s still experiencing a little soreness. It hasn’t bounced back. Err on side of caution. Could he play (Saturday) if he had to? More than likely he could. But why do that in the preseason?”

—A small group of animal rights protesters gathered outside the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice facility on Wednesday in reaction to the team signing quarterback Michael Vick a day earlier.

Another 15,000 people put their names on a petition calling for the team to dump Vick, who was convicted in 2007 on federal conspiracy charges for his part in a dogfighting ring and served time in prison.

The Steelers signed Vick to a one-year contract on Tuesday to serve as a backup to starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

—Jonathan Martin, who recently retired from the NFL after just three seasons, says he tried to commit suicide several times during his short stint in the NFL.

In a long post on Facebook late Tuesday night, the 26-year-old Martin wrote about the problems he had growing up as a racially mixed youth and said his unhappiness peaked in the NFL.

“Your job leads you to attempt to kill yourself on multiple occasions,” he wrote, using second-person literary narrative to refer to himself. “Your self-perceived social inadequacy dominates your every waking moment and thought. You’re petrified of going to work. … You drink too much, smoke weed constantly, have trouble focusing on doing your job, playing the sport that you grew up obsessed with.”

A second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2012, Martin left the team in 2013 amid a bullying scandal that sparked an investigation into Richie Incognito and other teammates.

—Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has been fined $75,000 for not talking to media after the NFC Championship Game.

It was the second fine for Lynch from that game as he also was levied a $20,000 penalty for grabbing his crotch after scoring against the GreenBay Packers.

Pro Football Talk reported that the NFL notified Lynch on Tuesday that he will have a hearing about the larger fine on Thursday. The fine had never been previously reported nor disclosed. Lynch had filed his appeal months ago.

—Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson attributes his quick recovery from a possible concussion to a special healing water he imbibes.

Wilson told Rolling Stone magazine that Recovery Water was responsible for his speedy recuperation after he absorbed a vicious hit to the head by Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews in the NFC Championship Game. Wilson did not miss a play in the game.

“I banged my head during the Packers game in the playoffs, and the next day I was fine,” Wilson said. “It was the water.”

Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, clarified: “Well, we’re not saying we have real medical proof.”

—The Seahawks released quarterback Jake Waters and signed wide receiver Deontay Greenberry.

Waters, who signed with Seattle on Aug. 18, was a two-year starter at Kansas State. As a senior, he set a school record for passing yards (3,501), total offense (3,985 yards) and total touchdowns (31).

Greenberry signed with the Dallas Cowboys on May 8 but was released last week. He was the University of Houston’s leading receiver last season with 72 receptions for 841 yards and six touchdowns.

—Rex Grossman and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to a one-year deal after the 35-year-old journeyman quarterback passed his physical.

Grossman worked out for the Falcons on Tuesday, under the watch of first-year Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who coached Grossman in Cleveland and Washington and was on staff when both were employed by the Houston Texans.

To make roster room for Grossman, the Falcons waived/injured running back Evan Royster, who spent just 10 days with the team.

T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree are the other quarterbacks behind Matt Ryan.

—Brandon McManus is slated to open the season as the Denver Broncos’ kicker for the second consecutive year after veteran Connor Barth was released.

Barth was signed for the final five weeks of the 2014 season after McManus was inconsistent as suspended Matt Prater’s replacement. Prater was ultimately released and McManus made 9 of 13 field-goal attempts, but the Broncos wanted a more proven kicker down the stretch. Barth connected on 15 of 16 (.938) field-goal attempts over the finale five weeks of the regular season, including making his first 11 attempts. He twice tied the team record with five field goals in a game.

However, the team continued to value McManus’ booming leg, and the two waged a close battle during training camp, with McManus reportedly hitting a 70-yard field goal during practice in the high Denver altitude.

—Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is on schedule to play in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Clowney continues to make daily progress and should be ready for the Week 1 game on Sept. 13.

“The knee is feeling decent. We’ll keep inching him forward to get him ready to play in the first game,” O’Brien said. “I think he’s doing well. I think we’ve got a good plan in place for him from a medical perspective … little bit more every day. He wants to be in there more, which is a great sign. It means he’s probably feeling pretty good.”

—Former Southern Cal safety Taylor Mays signed with the Oakland Raiders.

The 27-year-old Mays, a former second-round draft pick out of USC, started just four games over four years with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He also spent a year with the San Francisco 49ers and was with the Detroit Lions in training camp before requesting his release because he didn’t play in the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins.

—The New England Patriots acquired offensive tackle Michael Williams from the Detroit Lions for an undisclosed future draft pick.

The Patriots released rookie defensive back Jimmy Jean to make room on the roster.

Williams, 24, originally entered the NFL as the Lions’ seventh-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2013. The 6-foot-6, 304-pounder was drafted by Detroit as a tight end.

—The Lions signed center Joe Madsen to replace Williams, who was traded to the New England Patriots.

Madsen, 25, went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2013 and spent the 2014 season with the Los Angeles KISS of the Arena Football League.

This year, he has spent short stints with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. He has not played in an NFL game.

—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed punter Jacob Schum.

Schum entered the league as a college free agent out of Buffalo in 2013. He spent the 2014 offseason between the Buccaneers and the New York Jets, and was on Tampa Bay’s practice squad last season. In two preseason games this year, Schum punted four times for a 51.3-yard average, with one downed inside the 20.

The Bucs also waived safety Derrick Wells, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota.

—Former defensive end Osi Umenyiora officially retired Wednesday after 12 seasons in the NFL.

Umenyiora was a two-time Pro Bowl selection during his 10 seasons with the New York Giants. Umenyiora had 75 of his 85 career sacks with the Giants. Only Hall of Famers Michael Strahan (141.5) and Lawrence Taylor (132.5) and Leonard Marshall (79.5) had more sacks in a Giants uniform.

A second-round draft choice in 2003, Umenyiora played with the Giants through the 2012 season before concluding his career with the Atlanta Falcons.

—A construction worker was killed after falling from the roof of the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium.

A second worker was seriously injured while doing roofing work. Both were treated at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital.

Construction on the $1 billion downtown stadium just passed the halfway mark last month. U.S. Bank Stadium is expected to open in time for the 2016 season.

—Joe Buck has gone on a Twitter rant against St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke for attempting to move the NFL franchise to Los Angeles.

Buck, who was raised in St. Louis and is the No. 1 broadcaster for NFL games on FOX, called out Kroenke with a series of tweets Tuesday:

“Suck the life out of a team, run it down, raise prices, then say it isn’t supported and leave. Great example for the NFL to celebrate. JOKE!”