Sports

The Browns claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers, the team announced on Monday.

The Texans recently released Bates.

In a corresponding move, the Browns waived cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

Bates is in his second NFL season out of Kentucky. He originally signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

Bates has appeared in 10 games with the Jets, Browns and Texans. He played three games with Cleveland in 2024 and spent time on the club’s practice squad in 2025.

Bernard-Converse appeared in five games this season.

Former Raiders safety George Atkinson has died, the team announced on Monday. He was 78.

No cause of death was given, though Atkinson disclosed in a 2016 interview with the San Jose Mercury News that he was experiencing symptoms consistent with CTE.

"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of George Atkinson, a life-long Raider whose physical style of play helped define an era of football," the team wrote in a statement. "He . . . anchored the defense as a part of the famed 'Soul Patrol' secondary of the 1970s, helping lead the Raiders to unprecedented success as the Silver and Black advanced to five consecutive AFC Championship Games and won Super Bowl XI following the 1976 season. George's contributions as a friend and mentor to everyone in the Raiders organization continued long after his playing career, and his genuine personality and wonderful sense of humor will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. The prayers of the Raider Nation are with Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig, and the entire Atkinson family at this time."

The Raiders drafted Atkinson in the seventh round in 1968. He was part of a draft class that included Hall of Famers Ken Stabler and Art Shell.

He played 144 games in his career, spending 10 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and a final season with the Broncos. Atkinson was part of seven AFL or AFC championship games and helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XI.

His 33 career interceptions in the regular season and playoffs still rank fourth all-time in team history.

Quarterback Carson Wentz was not spotted at Minnesota's practice on Monday after gutting out a performance against the Chargers last Thursday night.

Now there's been reporting as to why that was the case.

According to multiple reports, Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery on his non-throwing (left) shoulder. The Vikings announced he's been placed on injured reserve.

Wentz has started the last five games for Minnesota, with the club going 2-3. He completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,216 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He also had three fumbles.

Wentz was clearly in pain and struggling during Minnesota’s loss to Los Angeles last week. He had been sacked five times.

J.J. McCarthy is likely to return in Week 9, as the Vikings take on the Lions. It will be McCarthy’s first start since Week 2 when he suffered an ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined since.

As a corresponding move, the Vikings have claimed tight end Ben Sims off waivers. Max Brosmer is the only other quarterback currently on the team’s roster, aside from McCarthy.