Vikings DE Griffen remains out

Last week, the Minnesota Vikings were concerned enough about Everson Griffen's state of mind that they barred the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end from practice until he had a mental health evaluation.

After a scary series of incidents on Saturday, Griffen remained away from the team on Tuesday and out of action indefinitely. Coach Mike Zimmer said Griffen would not travel with the team to play the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.

"The only thing we really are concerned about for Everson isn't anything to do with football. It's about him getting better," Zimmer said.

"In the five years that I've been here I've always loved Everson and the effort that he puts out, the work that he does, the chance to count on him in game time and even in practice. He's always been a really, really good model for us, and obviously he's going through some tough times now."

Griffen was already going to miss the game last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills because of a nagging issue with his knee, but even without the injury he was in no condition to play.

According to police in Minnetrista, the Minneapolis suburb where he lives, Griffen was making comments about people trying to kill him. He was eventually transported by ambulance to an area hospital for his well-being, despite jumping out of the vehicle at one point during a brief stop for crossing deer. He was never arrested or suspected of committing any crimes.

"I just hope for the best for him," Zimmer said. "In the long run he's a really good kid."

According to the police report on Saturday:

• Vikings director of security Kim Klawiter requested a welfare check for Griffen's wife, Tiffany, and their three children after a recent pattern of erratic and disruptive behavior at team headquarters had caused concern. Griffen had arrived for practice that morning and was told he couldn't participate.

• Officer Michael Kokesh met with Griffen's wife, who told him that Griffen got up in the middle of the night on Sept. 16 and left the house, which he has done before in attempt to deal with "demons in his head." Griffen was gone for several days during the week, at one point sending his wife a text message that referenced suicide. He's not on medication, she said, but should be.

• Reached by Kokesh on his phone, Griffen said he had no thoughts about harming himself or anyone else.

• Kokesh spoke with Vikings executive director of player development Les Pico, who said Griffen had been exhibiting paranoid behavior and irrational and rapid speech but did not believe he was at risk for harming himself or others. Pico met Griffen at a downtown Minneapolis hotel, where he had also created a disturbance in the lobby and threatened violence.

• Griffen showed up shirtless outside the house of teammate Trae Waynes, who lives on the same street. A little later, Griffen left his vehicle at a gas station and rode home with a man who said he didn't know Griffen and was shaking when he met officers waiting outside Griffen's house.

• After Griffen agreed to the hospital visit, officers summoned by paramedics after the stop for the deer found him walking on the side of a county road. Griffen told them he was afraid "someone was going to shoot him." The officers convinced him to return to the ambulance and lie down on a stretcher inside.

Asked if he believed the Vikings did enough to ensure Griffen received a psychiatric evaluation, Zimmer said that wasn't his area of expertise. He did, however, praise the organization's approach to providing off-the-field support for any life situation.

"Our owners do an unbelievable job of giving these players all the resources that they need. If we have to bring in experts from some other place or he has to go see other people, our owners are outstanding with that," Zimmer said.

"So we're going to do everything possible that we can, not only for Everson, but to help everybody on our team and, quite honestly, with their families as well."

Stephen Weatherly has taken the 30-year-old Griffen's place in the starting lineup. Their cubicles are next to each other in the locker room.

"It's tough. I would much rather have him here, not only as a teammate but as someone that I lean on personally and stuff like that," Weatherly said. "But we're going to continue to play hard, and we're going to do it for him."

Titans add QB Austin Davis

The Tennessee Titans have added a quarterback with Marcus Mariota dealing with an injured elbow and backup Blaine Gabbert in the concussion protocol.

The Titans made a flurry of moves Tuesday agreeing to terms with veteran quarterback Austin Davis. They also placed offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile on injured reserve to create a roster spot after he started the last two games.

Davis joins his sixth NFL team after starting his career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a rookie free agent out of Southern Mississippi. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Davis also has been with Miami, Cleveland, Denver and Seattle, and he has started 10 of his 16 career games. He appeared in three games last season with Seattle without throwing a single pass.

The Titans (2-1) also released quarterback Logan Woodside and defensive lineman Deon Simon from the practice squad, while adding wide receiver and returner Kalif Raymond and guard Ian Silberman.

Bills trade Newhouse to Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have addressed their injury-depleted offensive line by acquiring veteran Marshall Newhouse in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo acquired a conditional draft pick from Carolina in the trade on Tuesday. The Bills then filled Newhouse's spot by signing offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year contract.

Sirles was cut by the Panthers three weeks ago. He has three seasons of NFL experience, including starting 28 games with Minnesota in 2016 and '17.

Carolina was missing three offensive line starters in a 31-21 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. Tackles Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams are on injured reserve, while guard Trai Turner did not play because of a concussion.

Newhouse has experience playing tackle and guard in 70 starts over nine seasons. He joined the Bills by signing a one-year contract in March, and has been credited with playing just 14 snaps in Buffalo's first three games.

Rams corner Talib set for surgery

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib will undergo surgery Thursday to repair an ankle injury.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that a timetable for Talib's return will not be known until after the procedure is completed and the full extent of the injury he sustained in the second half of the 35-23 win over the Chargers on Sunday is determined.

"It depends on once you get in there. We'll find out once that surgery takes place," McVay said.

Talib has six tackles, two passes defended and one forced fumble in three games this season, helping the Rams limit opponents to 199 yards passing per game and two touchdown passes. The Rams acquired the 2016 All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl defensive back in a trade with Denver for a fifth-round pick in the offseason.

Marcus Peters, the Rams' other starting cornerback, is day to day because of a calf injury and will likely be a game-day decision for their home game against Minnesota on Thursday night, McVay said.

"It's a great representation of his toughness to even still have it be a chance that he's going to play when you look at what occurred and you talk about what that position requires and entails in terms of the movements. He's taking steps in the right direction," McVay said.

"If we get him, we'll be extremely excited and that's a big boost to us. If not, we have a whole lot of confidence in Sam Shields and Troy Hill, and Nickell Robey is going to be a guy that we're going to continue to lean on as well."

Bucs' Winston returns to work

Jameis Winston is back on the job, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still aren't saying if it's as the team's starting quarterback.

Winston's three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy ended Tuesday, the first day the fourth-year pro was permitted to return to the team's training facility and have contact with coaches and teammates.

It was a day off for players following Monday night's 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, however coach Dirk Koetter said the first overall pick from the 2015 draft showed up bright and early, ready to begin preparation for the Chicago Bears.

What Koetter declined to say was whether Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has the Bucs off to a 2-1 start while throwing for more than 400 yards in a league-record three consecutive games will start Sunday.

"I know there's a lot of interest in the quarterback thing. I did talk to both Jameis and Fitz," Koetter began.

"It's great to see Jameis back in the building. He was here early and working hard. We welcome Jameis back, glad to have him. Short week," the coach added. "He assured me he was ready to go, which I don't doubt for a minute that's he's been working hard."

Without elaborating, Koetter said he shared the team's plans with both quarterbacks.

"We know what we're going to do. Both guys know what we're going to do," the coach said, "I hope everybody can appreciate it doesn't do us any good to tell our opponents what we're going to do. That'll work itself out as the week goes on."

Winston started 45 of 48 games over the past three seasons, going 18-27 while throwing for 11,636 yards, 69 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner has topped 4,000 yards passing twice, but has yet to lead Tampa Bay to the playoffs.

Fitzpatrick, a 35-year-old journeyman who played for seven teams in 14 seasons, has thrown for 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns in Winston's absence.

The Bucs rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit to make Monday night's game close. Fitzpatrick finished with 411 yards and three TDs, however he also helped dig the hole Tampa Bay couldn't escape with interceptions on three consecutive pass attempts in the second quarter.

Winston is expected to meet with the media on Wednesday, when team begins preparation for the Bears.

Fitzpatrick was asked Monday night about Winston's impending return and what it might mean for his role moving forward.

"You know, I have so much fun playing this game. ... I'm here just ready to do whatever it takes to help the team win, and I think that will be my mindset going forward," Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick also started three games last season, going 2-1 while Winston was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

"This quarterback issue we have right now is not an adversity," Koetter said. "We are blessed. I think we have three good quarterbacks on our roster right now. Not all teams in the league can say that."