NFL News for Aug. 19: Kaepernick in Smithsonian; Patriots, Seahawks Injuries

NFL news? We’ve got you covered! The following are the Grueling Truth’s top stories from around the league for Saturday, August 19th.

1) Seattle loses starting tackle George Fant to ACL injury

The Seattle Seahawks offensive line was already in trouble and it just got worse: Starting left tackle George Fants is out for the season with a torn ACL. Fant’s right leg rolled up in the second quarter, and his leg was in an air cast as he was carted off the field to the locker room. Guard Rees Odhiambo took over the left tackle duties afterward.

As an undrafted rookie last season, Fant started 10 games at left tackle; he’d also added 20 pounds in the off-season and was looking at possibly having a breakout season. Where do the Seahawks go from here? Odhiambo could transition to tackle permanently or Luke Joeckel, who came as a free-agent from the Jacksonville Jaguars, might step in. Given that Joeckel has struggled at left tackle, though, it looks to be Odhiambo who will get the nod. Either way this injury is cause for huge concern in Seattle.

2) Chris Carson outplays Eddie Lacy

With Thomas Rawls out nursing a minor ankle injury, this game should have been Eddie Lacy’s time to shine, but instead of Lacy, Chris Carson took advantage of the situation, with six carries for 27 yards. The rookie was also effective out of the backfield, taking one Russell Wilson pass for 17 yards. Maybe even more important than that was Carson’s blocking, as he picked up blitzes with ease and looks like he could be a big-time contributor in spots for Seattle.

3) Cam Newton sitting this week, expected back next week

Cam Newton will sit this week yet again, but no worries, Carolina Panthers fans, it looks like there is a good chance he will play next week. Newton’s recovery has gone well and the Panthers have played it safe from the outset of rehab with him. The question is: Will the inevitable rust last into September?

4) Derek Rivers out for the season with ACL tear

Bad news for the New England Patriots as they have lost draft pick and edge pass rusher Derek Rivers for the season. The Patriots are dangerously thin at the edge position and normally I would be concerned for them, but there’s no reason to think Bill Belichick won’t figure this out.

5) Colin Kaepernick in Smithsonian Museum

USA Today reported Friday that Kaepernick’s game-worn jersey, shoes and a photo of his controversial protest will be displayed as part of a Black Lives Matter exhibit at the famous museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibit will reside in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History.

“The National Museum of African American History and Culture has nearly 40,000 items in our collection,” Damion Thomas, the museum’s sports curator, told USA Today via email. “The Colin Kaepernick collection is in line with the museum’s larger collecting efforts to document the varied areas of society that have been impacted by the Black Lives Matter movement.”

I support Kaepernick’s right to protest although I disagree with many of his points, but the fact that BLM is in the Smithsonian is scary. Especially considering who funds the movement. I find it amazing that BLM gets this kind of respect, with funding from George Soros, a rich white man who could care less about anything that doesn’t make him money.

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