Percy Harvin has returned to the NFL.

Percy Harvin Exits Retirement; WR Re-Signs With Bills

The 28-year-old wide receiver is exiting retirement to rejoin the Buffalo Bills, Harvin’s agent confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Bills will pay the wideout a whopping $1 million, including incentives, over the final eight games of the season. The one-year deal reunites Harvin and Buffalo less than seven months after he told the team he planned to retire.

Harvin, plagued by a hip injury, played five games with the Bills last season before he was placed on injured reserve in November.

“Percy is a guy that worked so hard,” said head coach Rex Ryan, via the team site. “It’s either full speed (or nothing), and sometimes you try to back him down a little bit, but that’s why last year he was so frustrated that he wasn’t able to contribute more to our team. He just needed some time away from the game to get healed up. So hopefully we catch lightning in a bottle so to speak and Percy is back to himself.”

Healthy again, Harvin now rejoins a Buffalo team in need of receiving help with Sammy Watkins (foot) out until at least Week 12, Greg Salas (groin) on injured reserve and Marquise Goodwin coming off a concussion.

Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings as a first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2009 out of Florida, and spent three seasons there before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he spent one year. The Bills (4-4) will visit the Seahawks on Monday. Buffalo is coming off a 41-25 home loss to the New England Patriots.

His first year with the Vikings, Harvin made the Pro Bowl and was also named NFL Rookie of the Year. He won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks against the Denver Broncos in 2014.

With Buffalo’s bye coming up in Week 10, we will more likely see Harvin eased into action the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills subsequently play the Jaguars, Raiders, Steelers and Browns.

Thus, there remain a few more games until it becomes evident whether Buffalo’s decision to re-sign the wideout will have truly paid off.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – SEPTEMBER 27: Percy Harvin #18 of the Buffalo Bills rushes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots pulled off one of the most surprising trades in franchise history Monday, sending Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick.

Patriots Trade LB Jamie Collins To Browns

Collins, 27, is in the final year of his contract and is one of a handful of Patriots due large pay raises in the offseason as free agents.

Fellow linebacker Dont’a Hightower, defensive end Jabaal Sheard, and cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are also up after this season.

“In the end, we did what we felt was best for the football team,’’ said coach Bill Belichick during an afternoon appearance on WEEI radio. “There were a lot of things to take into consideration. I’m sure we could bring up a lot of points to talk about, but in the end, that’s really the bottom line.

Asked specifically if Collins’s contract status was the reason for the move, Belichick said, “I think you could bring up a lot of things and they all probably play into the conversation.’’

Several of Collins’ former teammates are still shocked by his departure.

“Jamie is a huge piece of our defense, arguably our best defensive player,” Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty said in an interview with CSN New England. “So there’s gonna be a lot of changes that come from this move and I think as players that has to be our focus — how do we fix things and get things going in a positive direction.”

New England had offered Collins over $10 million annually, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday, although the imminent free agent sets his own value among the highest-paid linebackers in the league.

Former Patriots executive Michael Lombardi tweeted Monday that Collins was guilty of freelancing too much on defense, in other words frequently straying from the coaches’ script during games.

Lombardi suggests the Collins trade was Belichick’s wake-up call, sending a message to the locker room that the defense isn’t playing well enough against a string of mediocre quarterbacks.

Belichick added that neither the emergence off rookie Elandon Roberts nor the acquisitions of Barkevious Mingo and Kyle Van Noy affected the Collins trade decision.

The coach also addressed reports that the staff is growing frustrated with the Patriots defense.

“Look, we’re 7-1,’’ he said. “There’s always things we could do better. Believe me, I’ve been a lot more frustrated than what our record is right now.’’

Tuesday is the trading deadline, and Belichick didn’t close the door on the possibility of another move.

The Patriots defeated the Bills 41-25 in Buffalo on Sunday, and will next host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 13.

GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Jamie Collins #91 of the New England Patriots reacts after stopping Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Jay Cutler threw for 252 yards and a touchdown in his return from a thumb injury, rookie Jordan Howard ran for a career-high 153 yards and a TD, and the Chicago Bears gave the Minnesota Vikings quite a scare on Halloween night with a 20-10 victory at Soldier Field on Monday.

Jay Cutler, Jordan Howard Lead Bears To 20-10 Win Over Vikings

The Bears (2-6) sacked Sam Bradford five times, while the NFC North-leading Vikings (5-2) suffered their second consecutive loss.

Cutler was on his point after missing five games due to a sprained right thumb. Alshon Jeffery earned his first touchdown reception of the season, and the hosts beat Minnesota in yardage, 403-258.

Cutler had not played since he exited against Philadelphia in Week 2’s game. The QB finished 20 of 31, including an 11-yard touchdown to Jeffery early in the third that made it 20-3. In Cutler’s absence, the Bears were led by Brian Hoyer, who broke his left arm last week in a Thursday night loss at Green Bay.

Howard had a 69-yard run to the 13 on the Bears’ first possession for the longest run for Chicago in seven years. Zach Miller added 88 yards receiving as the Bears snapped a three-game losing streak.

Bradford played another rough game after getting sacked six times the previous week against the Eagles. He was 23 of 37 for 228 yards.

Matt Asiata ran for 42 yards with Jerick McKinnon sidelined by an ankle injury.

With a small and very quiet home crowd looking on, Chicago led 13-3 at halftime. They nearly led by more, but the Bears settled for field goals on their first two trips inside the 20. The drive that included Howard’s 69-yard run ended with a field goal from Connor Barth. 

Chicago scored another field goal early in the second after Xavier Rhodes broke up a pass to Jeffery in the end zone on third down at the 10.

The Bears finally broke through halfway through the second quarter when Howard scored on a 2-yard run to make it 13-0.

Minnesota drove to Chicago’s 2 in the final minute of the half. However, Akiem Hicks hit Bradford for a 10-yard sack on third down, leading to a 30-yard field goal by Blair Walsh. 

A loss would have dropped the Bears to 1-7, their worst start since coach Dick Jauron’s team posted that record in 2000 en route to a 5-11 season finish.

“We’re flying around having fun now,” linebacker Danny Trevathan said. “This is what it’s supposed to be. It can even get better. I feel like we’re progressing and working on detail, communicating.”

The Bears next have a bye, and will then travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Vikings will next host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 31: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on October 31, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Less than one week after Arian Foster retired from the NFL, another former Houston Texans star is saying goodbye to the game.

Titans WR Andre Johnson Retires After 14 Seasons In NFL

Wide receiver Andre Johnson told the Tennessee Titans early Monday he is retiring after 14 seasons in the NFL.

Johnson, 35, spent last season with the Colts after 12 extraordinary years with the Texans, who drafted him third overall in 2003 out of the University of Miami. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts before the 2015 season on a three-year deal. He was released after last offseason and then signed a two-year deal with the Titans in July.

The most accomplished player in Texans history, Johnson ended his career with an incredible 1,062 regular-season catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns. The seven-time Pro Bowl wideout is 10th all-time in receiving yardage.

His seven 1000-yard seasons are three more than Buffalo’s Andre Reed, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

A giant, 6-foot-3, 219-pound lead pass-catcher with more than enough speed, hand strength and physical characteristics to stop opposing cornerbacks. Johnson was a constant asset on a Houston squad that struggled to pair him with a premier quarterback.

Johnson had nine catches for 85 yards this season, including the game-winning touchdown grab in Tennesee’s 16-15 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 2.

Titans general manager Jon Robinson praised Johnson in a statement.

“Going back to his days at the University of Miami, Andre was one of the most impressive wide receivers I’ve scouted,” said Robinson. “He had a professional approach to the game both on and off the field and in my opinion is one of the best to have played the game. … We wish him nothing but the best moving forward in whatever endeavors he chooses.”

After David Carr’s run in Houston, the Texans matched Johnson with quarterbacks like Tony Banks, Dave Ragone, Sage Rosenfels, Matt Leinart, T.J. Yates and Case Keenum. His best years, however, came alongside a younger Matt Schaub, who threw during four of Johnson’s seven 1000-yard campaigns.

Former Texans GM Charles Casserly made the decision to draft Johnson in 2003 and also lauded him during a Monday morning conversation with NFL Network.

“There’s not many players, when you draft them — even when you draft them high — that you figure are going to be Pro Bowl players and dominant players … but Andre did,” Casserly said. “Andre was the biggest, fastest, most-talented wide receiver that I ever scouted. We worked him out at the University of Miami on grass. He ran 4.35. And he played fast on the tape.”

Casserly continued: “To get a guy that big, that fast, that’s a great player — now that’s a rare situation. And on top of it, his work ethic was off the charts. … He was a guy who set the example by the work ethic. How hard he practiced. He went hard every rep, he was top of the charts in the offseason.”

HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 28: Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans catches a touchdown pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter in a NFL game on December 28, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Brock Osweiler bounced back from an atrocious performance last week by throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown to carry the Houston Texans to a 20-13 home victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Brock Osweiler Bounces Back To Lead Texans To 20-13 Win Vs Lions

The Texans (5-3) have only lost on the road this season, including a 27-9 loss to Denver on Monday.

Osweiler has struggled in his first season in Houston, although he’s been better at home, where he’s thrown eight of his nine touchdown passes.

On Sunday, he gave the Texans a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Fiedorowicz in the second quarter. Houston made it 14-0 when Lamar Miller raced into the end zone from a yard out later in the quarter. That score was set up when DeAndre Hopkins caught a 12-yard pass with one hand.

The Lions (4-4) scored their only touchdown when Theo Riddick connected with Matt Stafford on a 1-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.

The Texans added a field goal after that before a 34-yard field goal by Matt Prater got Detroit back within a score. Houston then recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the win.

Stafford threw for 240 yards (27 of 41 passes) and a touchdown for the Lions, who saw a three-game winning streak snapped as Detroit found itself unable to continue a string of late-game comebacks.

Two decisions by Lions coach Jim Caldwell drew heavy scrutiny both in real time and in hindsight. First, Caldwell decided against challenging a potential third-quarter fumble by Hopkins because he said his assistant coaches upstairs deemed the pass incomplete on replay. Then, he called the late onside kick with all three timeouts in his pocket.

Robert Nelson recovered the onside, which didn’t got the way the Lions hoped, and the Texans ran out the final 2:53 off the clock.

“Win or lose, you’re typically certainly going to get — in our position, you’re going to criticized in that regard and that’s the way it goes,” Caldwell said. “That’s usually what happens after the decision is made. When you make it on fourth down, there’s no issue. When you don’t, you’ve got to know that, obviously, there’s going to be people say, ‘Well, you shouldn’t have done it.’ In hindsight, I think that happens all the time.

“We didn’t execute. We didn’t get it done. So yeah, I take that on without any question. That’s the way it is. You don’t like it, you better get in another sport, all right. You better get in another line of work. And I don’t mind it, OK? I’ve done it for 39 years.”

Caldwell stated the decision for the kick came down to two factors: The look the Texans showed with their return team, lining up for a regular kick, and the fact that the Lions defense was once again getting bulldozed across the field.

The Texans have a bye for week 9, and will then visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Lions will next visit the Vikings on Sunday.

The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 30-20 at home on Sunday to snap a four-game losing streak, but Cam Newton wasn’t completely happy.

Cam Newton Rips NFL Refs After Panthers’ 30-20 Win Vs Cardinals: ‘I Don’t Even Feel Safe’

After the win, the Panthers quarterback and reigning MVP lambasted the officials for their lack of calls after he was hit.

“It’s really taking the fun out of the game for me,” he said in a post-game press conference. “At times I don’t even feel safe. And enough is enough.”

Newton, 27, said he particularly objected to how referees reviewed hits against him while he was in the pocket.

“I don’t think there’s a person that can go through what I go through and still keep their heads,” he said. “Hits to the head, that’s one thing. But when you’re not protected in the pocket, that’s another thing.

The QB continued: “The story of my life ever since I came in is, ‘Oh, oh, well, we missed that one. I’m sorry. I’ll try to get it.’ That’s bullcrap. As player in this league if we do something stupid we get fined. If you do something derogatory to somebody else, we get fined. I just can’t keep accepting, ‘Oh, we missed that one.’ Or ‘I apologize for doing that.’ Or ‘I didn’t see it.’ That’s horsecrap.”

With about seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell hit Newton below the knees, and the latter became visibly upset when officials did not call a penalty on the play.

“I’m speechless,” Newton said of the no-call on the hit by Campbell. “I could’ve torn my ACL. That was the breaking point.”

Newton added that he plans on meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his complaints with what he views as officiating inconsistencies.

The league and the NFL Players’ Associated led investigations after Newton took multiple hits to the head during the season opener against the Denver Broncos, but he was never removed from the game.

According to the joint statement, neither side discovered any mistakes with the way things were handled by the team, although they did come up with “enhancements” to concussion protocol.

On Sunday, Jonathan Stewart ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, and Thomas Davis returned a fumble 46 yards for a score to lead the Panthers (2-5) to a win over the Cardinals. Carolina, who has struggled to generate a pass rush all season, sacked Arizona QB Carson Palmer eight times– three of those by Star Lotulelei – and forced two turnovers.

Palmer finished 35 of 46 for 363 yards with three touchdowns, two to J.J. Nelson. 

Davis exited the game with a left knee injury after scoring the first touchdown of his 12-year NFL career. Stewart added touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards to boost the lead to 21-0 against a Cardinals defense that hadn’t allowed a touchdown in its previous two games.

Arizona (3-4-1) fought back within 30-20 and had the ball at the Carolina 36 with 3:18 remaining. However, defensive end Kony Ealy tipped Palmer’s pass and intercepted it to help seal the Carolina victory.

The Panthers will next visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, while the Cardinals will have a bye for Week 9 and then host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 13.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 16: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers scrambles out of the pocked during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 16, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson called out NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Twitter late Thursday, claiming his report of Anderson’s season-ending knee injury is false.

C.J. Anderson Calls Out Ian Rapoport For False, ‘Season-Ending’ Injury Report

Rapoport rarely gets his reports wrong, yet Thursday morning’s evidently was. The NFL Network Insider tweeted that Anderson would miss the rest of the season due to an undisclosed injury sustained during the Broncos’ win over the Houston Texans on Monday night.

Although the running back did not practice with the team Wednesday, there didn’t seem to be much concern about his long-term viability.

Anderson, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, responded to the tweet just minutes later, simply saying ‘False.’

The Broncos (5-2) will next host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Hopefully, Rapoport has learned his lesson and will never jump to report anything again without any sort of actual confirmation.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 9: Running back C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos is introduced before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Marcus Mariota threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns to end his home woes, DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown, and the Tennessee Titans scored their highest point total of the season in a 36-22 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.

Marcus Mariota, DeMarco Murray Lead Titans To 36-22 Win Over Jaguars

Since the beginning of the 2014 season, the Titans’ home record is 3-0 against the Jaguars and 1-17 against all other teams. Tennessee is also 3-8 in home games started by Mariota, a second-year pro out of Oregon.

Mariota finished 18 of 22 for 270 yards and had a 148.1 passer rating, the second-highest of his career.

The Titans (4-4) also gained a season-high 494 total yards and earned their third win in four games. Tennessee led 27-0 at halftime and scored on six consecutive possessions during a stretch that began in the first quarter and extended into the third period.

“We’re just sick and tired of losing, man,” Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan said. “Sick and tired of being a pushover in this division. I think we’ve had some games that were close and (we) shouldn’t even be .500. We should be over .500.”

The Titans already led 3-0 before Mariota tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Wright on the first play of the second quarter. Rookie Derrick Henry ended Tennessee’s following drive by scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 6-yard run.

Murray added a 14-yard touchdown run three minutes later.

Thte Titans capped the first half with a 90-yard drive that resulted in Ryan Succop’s 22-yard field goal on the last play of the second quarter.

Blake Bortles threw three touchdown passes for the Jaguars and went 33 of 54 for 337 yards, although most of his production came with the game out of reach.

The Titans will next visit the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 6, while the Jaguars will visit the Kansas City Chiefs that same day.

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on October 27, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

C.J. Anderson is the latest NFL player to suffer a major injury.

Broncos RB C.J. Anderson To Have Knee Surgery, Placed On IR; Season Likely Over

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Denver Broncos running back told people close to him that he’s done for the season. Rapoport added, per a source familiar with the situation, that Anderson will have an arthroscopic procedure on his torn meniscus on Thursday, and will be placed on injured reserve.

The running back initially denied the report, writing “false” on Twitter, but deleted the posts afterwards.

Anderson suffered the injury early in Monday night’s home victory over the Houston Texans.

The initial diagnosis was a bone bruise in his right knee that would have cost him at least a few weeks. That diagnosis worsened following a second opinion.

Anderson was coming off the strongest performance of his season: 107 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. The 6.7 yards per tote average was more than two yards better than his season average.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Broncos in 2013, will now be replaced by rookie Devontae Booker. Booker saw his role significantly increase in Week 7, carrying the ball 17 times. Third-year pro Kapri Bibbs will play a support role with fullback Andy Janovich possibly seeing increased snaps.

The Broncos (5-2), who recently got their head coach Gary Kubiak back after he suffered a health scare, will next host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 9: Running back C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos is introduced before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Landon Collins intercepted two of Case Keenum’s passes to propel the New York Giants to a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Twickenham Stadium in London.

Landon Collins Intercepts Case Keenum Twice To Lead Giants To 17-10 Win Over Rams

The matchup marked the first NFL game played at London’s home of English rugby. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also had two interceptions.

Keenum, coming off the strongest start of his career, had Los Angeles at the Giants 15-yard line with 50 seconds remaining when he lobbed a throw in the left corner of the end zone that Rodgers-Cromartie picked off. Keenum’s intended target, Brian Quick, had broken off his route.

The Giants entered the game with the worst turnover differential in the NFC at minus-10. That became -11 on their second play from scrimmage as tight end Larry Donnell fumbled the ball on the Giants 35, an error that led to the Rams’ lone touchdown, a 10-yard catch by Tavon Austin.

However, Los Angeles was unable to capitalize on that early edge and instead sabotaged itself. Keenum threw two interceptions, both off high-flying deflections, to safety Collins and two to Rodgers-Cromartie.

Collins returned his first pick 44 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, zig-zagging across the field and making several Rams miss tackles before bowling over center Tim Barnes to tie the game 10-10.

The safety did not score on his second interception, which came with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Collins’ catch did set up the winning drive. This drive featured a 22-yard catch by Odell Beckham Jr to the Rams 6. Eli Manning then handed the ball off to Rashad Jennings, who scored from the 1.

Los Angeles’ last two possessions ended in the end-zone interceptions by Rodgers-Cromartie. The pro-Giants crowd of more than 74,000 cheered loudly.

The Giants (4-3) have a bye for Week 8, and will then host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 6.

The Rams (3-4), who have now lost three straight, also have a bye and will host the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 6.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Landon Collins #21 of the New York Giants during the NFL International series game between Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium on October 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)