NFL notebook: Patriots release WR Matthews

New England Patriots wide receiver Jordan Matthews has been released by the team, the Patriots announced Wednesday. Matthews was nursing a "significant" right hamstring injury, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the day. Rapoport added that the injury likely explained the Patriots' interest in free-agent wide receiver Eric Decker. Matthews, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, missed his third straight practice on Wednesday after injuring his hamstring during Sunday's session, per the Boston Globe. Matthews spent an injury-plagued season with the Buffalo Bills in 2017, appearing in 10 games (seven starts) and recording 25 receptions for 282 yards and two touchdowns -- careers lows in each category. The Patriots also announced they signed rookie free agent fullback Henry Poggi. --Green Bay Packers linebacker Jake Ryan has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and is expected to miss the upcoming season, multiple media outlets reported. Ryan, who was slated to start at inside linebacker this season, injured his right leg during Monday's practice. He quickly clutched at his knee and screamed in pain as teammates gathered around him, per Michael Cohen of The Athletic. The 26-year-old started 12 of the 15 games in which he played last season and recorded 81 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. --Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jack Mewhort announced his retirement at the age of 26. Mewhort started all 45 games in which he played during his four NFL seasons, but knee injuries limited his playing time the past two seasons. A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft by the Colts, Mewhort started 30 games in his first two NFL seasons. But he played just 10 games in 2016, and played just five contests last season before being placed on season-ending injury reserve because of lingering problems with his knee. Mewhort signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Colts in March, and in June, he said he expected to play at a high level this year. --Colts starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo passed his physical and was activated from the non-football injury list, the team announced. The 29-year-old Castonzo, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, will re-join an offensive line that saw the return of fellow left tackle Austin Howard on Tuesday. --Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson is being evaluated for a left shoulder injury, the team announced. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the injury is believed to be a "not major" AC joint sprain or shoulder bruise. Doctson took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to alleviate fans' fears by writing: "#imgood." --It was reported Tuesday that Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin would miss at least two weeks with soreness in his knee, what coach Pete Carroll called "little bit of a problem." However, on Wednesday Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Baldwin is expected to miss "most, if not all, of the preseason." According to that report, doctors are "hopeful and confident" that Baldwin will be able to return to the practice field before the start of the regular season. --Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht received a one-year contract extension that runs through the 2019 season, multiple media outlets reported. The Buccaneers have posted a 22-42 mark under Licht's watch, including a 9-7 record in 2016 during head coach Dirk Koetter's first year at the helm. It was the first winning season the team has experienced since 2010. --Former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman has signed a contract with the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation to participate in a match this year. Merriman, 34, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection while playing for the San Diego Chargers, and he last played in the NFL in 2012 as a member of the Buffalo Bills. He has hinted previously about his interest in combat sports. But instead of mixed martial arts, Merriman has chosen bare-knuckle fighting. No date or opponent has been set for Merriman's first bout, but a site has been announced. It will take place in Casper, Wyo., and is expected to be broadcast via pay-per-view online. --Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel passed his physical and has been activated from the non-football injury list, the team announced. Samuel had been working his way back from left ankle surgery. The 21-year-old Samuel recorded 15 receptions for 115 yards in nine games after being selected by Carolina with a second-round pick of the 2017 draft. --The Oakland Raiders activated rookie defensive tackle P.J. Hall from the physically unable to report list, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Hall, who was dealing with a pectoral strain, was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2018 draft. --The NFL released a fact sheet regarding the new helmet rule after several players admitted to being confused this past week. The league implemented the new rule in late March. Under the new directive, it is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with the helmet on an opponent. The contact is not limited to an opponent's head or neck area, as initiating contact to a player's torso, hips and lower body is also an infraction. According to the fact sheet released Wednesday, the penalties for a violation include a loss of 15 yards or ejection, which includes a set of standards. An ejection would be considered if a player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet, if he has an unobstructed path to his opponent or if contact clearly is avoidable and player delivering the blow had other options. --The Washington Redskins signed linebacker Dadi Nicolas to a contract, the team announced. Nicolas was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason after an attempted trade to the Cleveland Browns was voided due to physicals. He signed on with the Seattle Seahawks, only to be cut loose a month later. Offensive lineman Alex Balducci was waived in a corresponding move. --Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants to see a slight difference in Le'Veon Bell upon the star running back's expected return to training camp this year. Tomlin told CBS Sports that he would like to see Bell in camp, albeit in better shape than last year. "I'm hopeful that he'll get to us sooner," Tomlin said. "I'm hopeful that he'll be in better condition even than he was a year ago. Those are two key components that are allowing me to have a wait-and-see attitude." --The retirement of cornerback DeAngelo Hall was reported in the spring, but he held a press conference Wednesday to make it official. Despite being named to three Pro Bowls during his 14 NFL seasons, he is not a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. He offered one thing that might have helped his bid for the Hall. "If I could have played against Jay Cutler more, I probably would be in the Hall of Fame by now, but it didn't quite work out," he said