NFL notebook: Dolphins-Bucs game won’t be played Sunday in Miami

Hurricane Irma’s imminent threat to South Florida has prompted the NFL to announce that Sunday’s game between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Buccaneers will not be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as currently scheduled.

The league held a conference call Tuesday morning to discuss the situation. When or where the game will be played is still unknown.

“In the interest of public safety in light of the current state of emergency, the NFL, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, has decided that playing an NFL game in South Florida this week is not appropriate,” the NFL said in a statement.

“The league will continue to examine other options, including playing the game this Sunday at a neutral site or in Miami later this season, and will provide an update on that decision as soon as possible.”

The Category 5 storm is projected to make landfall in South Florida during the weekend.

–As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for their Week 1 Sunday Night Football game with the New York Giants, running back Ezekiel Elliott remains the focus of courtroom football between the NFL and players association.

The NFL filed a motion to dismiss the suit Elliott and the NFL Players Association filed in U.S. District Court. The NFL filing includes Elliott’s pursuit of a preliminary injunction. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET Tuesday in Sherman, Texas.

Elliott is awaiting a ruling on the appeal of his six-game suspension heard last week by arbitrator Harold Henderson. Henderson could vacate, uphold or reduce the suspension. Head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys expect Elliott to practice until the NFL tells the team the running back is not available. In that case, Darren McFadden would be the primary ballcarrier against the Giants.

–Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood took issue with the notion that the team is in the midst of tanking the 2017 season in favor of more favorable draft picks for the future.

“I think it’s hard for any organization to prepare for seasons to come, but I think we still have so much left here in Buffalo talent-wise that a tank really isn’t in our vocabulary,” Wood said Tuesday on Good Morning Football. “No one’s thinking that. We’re focused on going 1-0 this week. We’ve got the Jets at home and one of our goals is to win all of our home games. So, we’re gearing up for this week and we’re not too concerned about the outside chatter.”

Bills general manager Brandon Beane dismissed the notion of the team tanking last month after it traded wide receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby.

–Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson signed a two-year contract extension, the team announced.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the deal is for $6.5 million guaranteed, keeping the versatile fifth-year running back with the Redskins through 2019.

Thompson had signed a one-year, $2.75 million restricted tender during the offseason.

In his first four NFL seasons, Thompson had 106 carries for 584 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 90 passes for 616 yards and five TDs. Last season, the 26-year-old Thompson played in all 16 games for the first time in his career, posting career highs in rushing attempts (68), rushing yards (356), rushing touchdowns (three), receptions (49) and receiving yards (349) while matching his career high with two receiving touchdowns.

–The New England Patriots placed linebacker Shea McClellin on injured reserve, the team announced.

McClellin missed most of the preseason with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old is eligible to be a short-term injured reserve candidate and could return later in the season.

McClellin collected 41 tackles and one sack in 14 games last season. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound McClellin has record 202 tackles in 66 career contests with the Bears and Patriots since being selected by Chicago with the 19th overall pick of the 2012 draft.

–Former Tennessee Titans linebacker Tim Shaw, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease, was named as one of the team’s six captains for the season.

Shaw has had a profound effect on the Titans during his fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The 33-year-old gives motivational speeches to the team and remains a constant presence among the players.

Shaw played with the Titans from 2010-12 and was a special teams captain in his first two campaigns in Tennessee. He was released by the club in 2013 and announced that he has ALS the following year.

–Free agent wide receiver Jeremy Kerley visited one of his former teams by checking in with the New York Jets, multiple outlets reported.

Kerley is less than a week removed from being released by the San Francisco 49ers, who gave him a three-year, $10.5 million contract six months ago.

In 2016, Kerley appeared in all 16 games (13 starts) for San Francisco and led the team with a career-high 64 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. In five seasons with the Jets (2011-15), Kerley played in 74 games (24 starts) and recorded 182 receptions for 2,225 yards and nine touchdowns. He led New York in total receptions and receiving yards during his time with the team.

–The Arizona Cardinals added to their offensive line by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with guard Alex Boone.

Boone, 30, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Boone spent all of last season with the Vikings and started 14 games. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2009 and spent seven seasons there before joining Minnesota as a free agent prior to the 2016 campaign.

–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers swapped defensive lineman, signing Will Clarke and releasing Channing Ward.

Clarke spent the last three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before being let go as part of the roster cut down on Saturday. Clarke, 26, registered 22 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 35 games for the Bengals after being drafted out of West Virginia.

Ward, 24, played in five games (one start) for the Buccaneers last season and recorded a combined five tackles.