AP source: Rams DL Easley to miss season with knee injury

UNDATED (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Dominique Easley is expected to miss the season with a torn knee ligament. The source spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the Rams hadn’t announced the severity of the injury for Easley, a likely starter this season. ESPN first reported Easley’s prognosis.

Easley hurt his right knee during training camp on Tuesday and was taken off the field on a cart. Easley also tore ligaments in both knees during college at Florida. After he finished two seasons on injured reserve with New England, he joined the Rams last year and had a solid season. He was expected to start in the Rams’ new 3-4 defense.

In other NFL news:

— Jacksonville Jaguars running back I’Tavius Mathers was expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday, a day after suffering a neck injury during practice. The team says Mathers will return to the football facility and the medical staff will work with him to “decide the best course of action for his recovery.” Mathers was strapped to a board and carried off the practice field Tuesday after experiencing “neurological symptoms” following a collision.

— Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (uh-JAH’-ee) has been diagnosed with a concussion and will miss several practices. Ajayi, who ran for 1,272 yards last season, sat out Wednesday’s workout after being hurt Monday. His injury will mean more snaps in practice for backups Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams. Meanwhile, safety Reshad Jones practiced for the first time in training camp after being sidelined with a calf injury. He started camp on the active-non-football injury list.

— Second-year wide receiver Sterling Shepard had to leave New York Giants practice after rolling his left ankle. Coach Ben McAdoo said after a training camp workout Wednesday that the injury was only a sprain. He said further evaluations were planned. Shepard was the Giants’ second-leading receiver last season as a rookie. The second-round draft pick from Oklahoma had 65 catches for 683 yards and eight touchdowns playing mostly in the slot.

— Los Angeles Chargers rookie offensive lineman Forrest Lamp has been taken off the field on a cart with an apparent knee injury during practice at training camp. The second-round pick out of Western Kentucky is expected to play guard for Los Angeles. He was the Hilltoppers’ starting left tackle for nearly every game of his four-year college career.

— New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton says first-round draft choice Marshon Lattimore is recovering from a minor knee injury and that it “won’t be long” before the cornerback returns to action. Lattimore hasn’t been able to practice since leaving during on-field drills at Saints training camp on Monday.