LANDOVER, Md. — Tom Brady and Jason Campbell put on a regular-season show in preseason, combining for 359 yards, six scoring drives and a sore throwing shoulder that isn’t the best of news for Patriots fans.
Brady again put up strong numbers in his return from a knee injury, while Campbell helped ease the doubts from two disappointing August performances in New England’s 27-24 win over the Redskins on Friday night.
Brady played the first half and completed 12-of-19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Randy Moss had his way with the Redskins secondary, catching six passes for 90 yards and both of Brady’s TDs.
While much of the preseason has centered on how Brady would respond to a hit on his surgically repaired knee, the hardest blow came when his right shoulder was crushed to the turf by massive defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth after throwing an incomplete third-down pass late in the second quarter. Brady went to the bench, where he flexed and rotated his throwing arm as the half came to a close and again after returning from the locker room after halftime.
Brady did not play the second half, though most of the first-team offense returned for the first drive of the third quarter. He then left the sidelines to return to the locker room. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots announced Brady’s injury as a sore shoulder.
Coach Bill Belichick said Brady had only “some bumps and bruises, just like everybody else who played in the game.”
Campbell was feeling the heat after a 4-for-13 start to the preseason, but went 13-for-22 for 209 yards.
In an unsightly breach of patriotic etiquette, Redskins fullback Mike Sellers, carrying the American flag onto the field during pregame introductions, flung the Stars and Stripes onto the ground near the 50-yard line. After a few seconds, linebacker Robert Hanson walked over and rescued the flag off the turf.
Dvoracek out for season
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Bears defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek is going on injured reserve with a torn ACL in his right knee.
Dvoracek underwent arthroscopic surgery after initial tests were inconclusive about damage to his right knee from Saturday’s game against the Giants.
Dvoracek, who is in the final season of a four-year contract, should be all right to continue workouts in seven to 10 months.
Do-overs in Texas
IRVING, Texas — For now, the digital $40 million scoreboard inside Cowboys Stadium will stay at 90 feet above the field. The NFL elected not to make the team raise the center-hung board despite calls for it from the Competition Committee.
In a memo sent to every team, commissioner Roger Goodell said if a punt hits the board — or a guide wire, sky cam or any other object at any stadium — the down will be replayed, just as the rule stated before a punt by Tennessee’s A.J. Trapasso nailed it a week ago in the first football game at the $1.15 billion stadium.
The do-over rule will be in place for the rest of this season; however, the issue could be revisited.
• Cowboys receiver Roy Williams has only a bruised shoulder from a hard collision with a teammate, but might not play tonight against the 49ers.
Jennings injured in game
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Packers starting wide receiver Greg Jennings left Green Bay’s game at Arizona early in the first quarter after a blow to the head.
Jennings was hurt when he was sandwiched by the Cardinals’ Bryant McFadden and Aaron Francisco after catching a 25-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. Jennings lay on the turf for several minutes before he was able to walk off.
Saints marching nowhere
BATON ROUGE, La. — The final step of a financial deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans has been approved by Louisiana lawmakers.
Denver Post wire services
