Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson has reclaimed the starting job he had last year in what's suddenly a much less crowded backfield. Jackson revealed the new rotation before practice on Wednesday, a day after the team traded Marshawn Lynch to Seattle. Jackson says he was informed by coaches that he will get the bulk of the carries as the Bills (0-4) prepare to host Jacksonville (2-2) on...

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is practicing with the New York Jets for the first time since being suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Holmes, acquired from Pittsburgh in April, is expected to make his regular-season debut for the Jets on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Cleveland Browns have acquired defensive end Jayme Mitchell in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns sent an undisclosed 2012 draft pick to the Vikings for Mitchell, a 6-foot-6, 285-pounder, who will bring depth to Cleveland's banged-up defensive line. Mitchell played in 29 regular-season games for Minnesota, which signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2006.

The Colts have lost safety Melvin Bullitt for the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury. He is scheduled to have surgery and will be placed on injured reserve. Team officials made the announcement in a release Tuesday. It's another blow to the Colts' beleaguered defense, which has given up more than 400 yards rushing in its two losses.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith sees new signs that owners are preparing for a football-free 2011. With support from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he asked fans to take the players' side. Speaking at a tailgate-style fan luncheon a few blocks from Lambeau Field on Tuesday, Smith referred to a recent Sports Business Journal report that said the NFL is requiring...

The Carolina Panthers released receiver Dwayne Jarrett on Tuesday, hours after his second arrest on a charge of driving while impaired in less than three years. The Panthers replaced him with David Clowney, who was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets to help a depleted receiving corps Jarrett did little to boost before his latest legal trouble.

The prime-time meltdown by the Miami Dolphins' special teams cost an assistant coach his job. Only 12 hours after a calamitous performance against the New England Patriots, the Dolphins fired special teams coordinator John Bonamego on Tuesday. Special teams cost Miami 21 points in a 41-14 loss Monday night.

When the New England Patriots scored the last in a series of quick-strike touchdowns, stoic Bill Belichick allowed himself a slight smile and traded high-fives along a jubilant sideline. Tom Brady and Randy Moss joined in the celebration as spectators, too. The offense watched while the Patriots' special teams and defense came up with one big play after another to beat the Miami Dolphins 41-14...

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith sounded optimistic that quarterback Jay Cutler will be back soon from his concussion, although he would not say just how severe the injury is. Smith said Cutler was back at the practice facility Monday and was "feeling OK" after sitting out the second half of a 17-3 loss the previous night against the New York Giants.

The NFL fined Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil $40,000 Monday for his obscene gesture at game officials. The league said Cecil violated a rule that prohibits use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to game officials. Television cameras caught Cecil using his right hand to make the gesture when officials flagged his defense for a neutral zone infraction during...

The Houston Texans are off to the best start in franchise history, and they've done it without some of their top players. Now, they're getting back linebacker Brian Cushing, who rejoined the team Monday after serving a four-game drug suspension. Coach Gary Kubiak says last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year will play for Houston (3-1) in Sunday's game against New York (2-2).

Ben Roethlisberger learned this during his four-week suspension: He's a lousy spectator. The Steelers discovered something themselves while playing a month without their franchise quarterback: They're 3-1, but they're a lot better team with him. Roethlisberger returned to the Steelers on Monday, exchanging hugs and smiles with his teammates and team employees.

Tennessee rookie defensive end Derrick Morgan tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season. Coach Jeff Fisher announced the injury to the Titans' top draft pick out of Georgia Tech on Monday. Morgan was hurt running through traffic in the first half of Sunday's 26-20 loss to Denver when he landed awkwardly and twisted his knee.

San Diego Chargers strong safety Steve Gregory was suspended by the NFL for four games without pay on Monday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The suspension begins with Sunday's game at Oakland. Neither the NFL nor Gregory said what substance the player tested positive for.

If things aren't bad enough for the NFL's lowest scoring team, now the winless Carolina Panthers are likely without top receiver Steve Smith for at least one game. Smith was limping noticeably Monday and wearing a protective boot because of a high ankle sprain. Smith's agent, Derrick Fox, said the four-time Pro Bowl pick "most likely" will sit out Sunday's game against...

Michael Vick got a warning from teammate DeSean Jackson right before he was injured. "I told him: 'Don't take no hits like that. We can't afford you taking hits,"' Jackson said. "He's just trying to make things happen." Vick didn't listen, and he ended up with a rib cartilage injury that may force him to miss at least Philadelphia's next game at San...

Green Bay rookie safety Morgan Burnett will miss the rest of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in the victory over Detroit, leaving the Packers scrambling for a backup. The third-round pick out of Georgia Tech started the Packers' first four games after veteran Atari Bigby had surgery on his left ankle at the beginning of training camp and began the season on the...

New York Giants defensive lineman Mathias Kiwanuka is going to be sidelined indefinitely with a bulging disc in his neck. While Kiwanuka did not miss a practice this week in preparation for Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bears, he complained about stiffness in his neck on Thursday and Friday.

Steelers right guard Trai Essex will miss a second successive game due to an ankle injury and will be replaced again by Doug Legursky, a former undrafted free agent. Neither Essex (sprained left ankle) nor backup nose tackle Chris Hoke (sprained right knee) practiced for the third day in a row Friday and were ruled out of Sunday's AFC North game against Baltimore.

Jake Delhomme's ankle still looks a little shaky. His playing status for Sunday's game is uncertain, too. Cleveland's starting quarterback, who missed the past two games with a badly sprained right ankle, practiced for the second straight day on Friday, but it's still not certain if he'll play when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals this week.