ORCHARD PARK Connor McGovern Jersey , N.Y. (AP) —perfect preseason in franchise history, the Bills have even more promising news on the horizon.General manager Brandon Beane announced during Buffalo’s 27-23 win over Minnesota on Thursday that starting center Mitch Morse has been cleared after spending the past month in the NFL’s concussion protocol.Morse was Buffalo’s key free-agent addition in an offseason overhaul of the offensive line. Aside from missing a majority of training camp, he also missed a large portion of spring practices while recovering from surgery to repair a core muscle injury.Article continues below …And Beane added tight end Tyler Kroft has a chance to start the season on the active roster given the progress he’s shown recovering from a broken right foot sustained in May. Beane said he will first consult with doctors Friday before determining whether Kroft will be added to the roster or open the season on the physically unable to perform list, which would sideline the player for at least the first six weeks of the season.“We’re optimistic,” Beane told The Associated Press following the game.On the field, undrafted rookie Tyree Jackson hit David Sills for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 8 seconds left to cap Buffalo’s run of scoring three touchdowns in the final 3:53 to overcome a 23-6 deficit.The rally began with Jackson scoring a 6-yard run followed by Marcus Murphy scoring on a 79-yard punt return. Jackson’s touchdown was initially credited to Victor Bolden, who recovered the quarterback’s fumble in the end zone.“It was awesome,” said Jackson, who came out of college after his junior season at Buffalo. “It’s something I’ll remember for a long time, coming back and winning like that.”Facing third-and-goal, Jackson stayed patient in the pocket and threaded a pass to Sills cutting across the middle.Jackson finished 22 of 33 for 175 yards, and had a team-best 78 yards rushing in playing the entire game.Minnesota’s third-string quarterback Kyle Sloter hit Ameer Abdullah for a 15-yard touchdown pass, and De’Angelo Henderson scored on a 3-yard run for the Vikings (3-1).Receiver Laquon Treadwell caught all three passes directed his way for 30 yards in what could be the 2016 first-round draft pick’s final appearance with the Vikings.While the Vikings rested their starters, Treadwell played the entire first half amid speculation he could be traded or cut by Saturday, when NFL teams are required to set their 53-player rosters. Treadwell has been passed on the depth chart by Chad Beebe, Jordan Taylor and Jeff Badet after three mostly unproductive seasons since the Vikings selected him with the 23rd pick in 2016.“I’m not really worried about that now,” Treadwell said, referring to his uncertain future.As for what he might read into playing the fourth preseason game while numerous teammates rested Foster Moreau Jersey , Treadwell said it might a combination of reasons.“More reps. They want to see more out of you and also they can be up in the air with the decision. I really don’t know,” he added. “Everybody’s fighting for a job. Everybody’s going out there giving it their best, and let the best man win.”Coach Mike Zimmer downplayed speculation regarding Treadwell’s future.“I don’t think you can read too much into that,” Zimmer said. “Looked like he did well. Last couple of games, he had opportunities to make plays and he’s done it.”Treadwell caught Sloter’s first attempt for 14 yards and also converted a third down by making a 9-yard catch on a crossing pattern. He finished the preseason with eight catches for 89 yards.KICKING CONCERNSThe Vikings’ kicking competition continued tilting decisively toward Dan Bailey keeping his job and against Kaare Vedvik.Acquired by Minnesota for a fifth-round pick from Baltimore in a trade earlier this summer, Vedvik has mostly struggled. A week after missing from 43 and 54 yards, Vedvik pushed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide right against Buffalo. He finally connected on a 27-yarder in the final minute of first half.Vedvik, who is also challenging Matt Wile for the punting duties, punted twice, including a 45-yarder which Murphy returned for a score.“Was it tough? I’m not sure how to answer that,” Vedvik said.Asked to assess Vedvik’s chances of making the team, Zimmer said: “It’s good. We’re going to evaluate everything these next two days and make our decisions and go with it.”MAKING THE CUT?Beane praised receiver Duke Williams’ preseason performance on the Bills’ telecast, but stopped short of saying the former CFL star has made the team.“He’s earned everything he’s got,” Beane said of Williams, a free agent addition. “When the ball’s in the air, I’ll take him over about anybody, he’s going to find a way to come down with it.”Beane would only say Williams is “definitely in the mix” for one of the team’s final few receiver spots.UP NEXTVikings: open season hosting Atlanta on Sept. 8.Bills: open season at New York Jets on Sept. 8. ATLANTA (AP) — NFL owners approved a new policy Wednesday aimed at quelling the firestorm over national anthem protests sparked by Colin Kaepernick and polarized by President Trump, permitting players to stay in the locker room during the “The Star-Spangled Banner” but requiring them to stand if they come to the field.Commissioner Roger Goodell said the change was approved unanimously by the owners at their spring meeting in Atlanta Anthony Nelson Jersey , but even that was up for debate.The head of the San Francisco 49ers — Kaepernick’s former team — said his franchise abstained from the vote. CEO Jed York said he wasn’t comfortable with a process that didn’t directly involve the players.“I want to work with my team to make sure everything we do is about promoting the right types of social justice reform and getting to a better America,” York said.The NFL Players Association said it wasn’t consulted about the new policy and would challenge any changes that violate the collective bargaining agreement.Clearly, Goodell and most owners just want to put the issue behind them.“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem. We want people to stand,” the commissioner said. “We’ve been very sensitive on making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on.”In the surest sign that players were not part of the discussions, any violations of the policy would result in fines against the team — not the players. That could be a way to avoid legal challenges from the players’ union, since fines against a team would not be subject to collective bargaining.The league did say teams could impose their own workplace rules for those who fail to show respect for the flag and anthem, but didn’t say what those policies might be. Because the new policy is a change in the terms and conditions of employment that was not collectively bargained, any attempts to fine individual players who continue to protest in public would surely be opposed by the union.The owners spent several hours addressing the contentious issue — which made it all the way to the White House.Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback, began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, a quiet but powerful protest against police brutality and racial inequities in the justice system.Other players took up the cause, and the gesture carried on during the 2017 season even after Kaepernick left the 49ers and failed to land a job with another team.Trump turned the debate into a campaign issue , saying the NFL should fire any player who takes a knee during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The NFL hasn’t gone that far, but Kaepernick has yet to land another job and one of his former teammates and fellow protesters, safety Eric Reid, is also out of work.Both have filed collusion grievances against the NFL.While the owners touted the change as a compromise that everyone should get behind, the union expressed immediate skepticism.“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new `policy Jeffery Simmons Jersey ,’” the NFLPA said in a statement. “NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”The statement added, “The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL’s Management Council John Mara (co-owner of the New York Giants) about the principles, values and patriotism of our League.”York said he intended to meet with his players to discuss the change.“They know I will stand up for them. I’ve stood up for them in past, I will stand up for them in the future,” York said. “I hope we can have a good, respectful conversation: Is it the best policy for us to write a check to the league (for further on-field protests) or can we find a better way to use this money.”The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009 — the year it signed a marketing deal with the military. But owners sent a bit of a convoluted message with the new policy, appeasing those who feel the national anthem must be treated with reverence, while allowing some sort of conduit for players to protest as long as they stay out of the public eye.York said other initiatives were in the works, including a suspension of all concessions sales during the national anthem .“If we want to be sacrosanct, if we want to honor the flag, we’ve got to make sure we go through a litany of things,” he said. “We’re not going to force people to stand in their seats, but we’re certainly going to make sure we’re not profiting during that two or three minutes of time during the game.”Steelers guard Ramon Foster shrugged his shoulders when asked about the new policy, saying the owners will always hold an upper hand over the players.“If the team says `this is what we’re doing,’ and ownership (does too) Nate Davis Jersey , you either deal with it or you’re probably going to get cut,” Foster said. “You can fight the resistance on that one, but same as we can’t smoke marijuana because it’s illegal in certain states, or it’s legal in certain states, it’s the same issue. You have to adhere to the rules and if not, they’ll find a way to get you up out of there.”Goodell took a more conciliatory path. He insisted the league met with countless players over the last year to get their input on the fractious anthem debate anthem, which some have even pointed to as a major reason for the NFL’s declining TV ratings.“We think that we’ve come up with a balanced process, procedure and policy that will allow those players who feel they can’t stand for the anthem to stay in the locker room,” the commissioner said. “There’s no penalty for that, but we’re going to encourage all of them to be on field. We’d like for all of them to be on the field and stand at attention.”Goodell was asked who would get to decide what actions would be considered disrespectful to the anthem or the U.S. flag.“Well, I think the general public has a very strong view of what respect for the flag is and that moment,” he said. “We have language in our policy that talks about that, standing attention, hats off and focused. And I think the general arbiter will the clubs and the league and we’ll work with our players to get their viewpoint also.”——