BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is out indefinitely after revealing he had a setback with his hamstring injury last week.
McCoy spoke about the setback for the first time on Friday. He said he was making progress in his recovery from the left hamstring injury before Buffalo's Week 3 game against the Miami Dolphins, but hurt it again on Sept. 24. McCoy attempted to play through the injury in Buffalo's 41-14 win over the Dolphins but ran for just 16 yards on 11 carries.
McCoy originally injured his hamstring at a training camp practice on Aug. 18.
Receiver Sammy Watkins (calf), guard John Miller (groin), safety Aaron Williams (neck) and receiver Marquise Goodwin (ribs) have also been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants (see full story).
-Associated Press
Saints: Payton expects Brees to play Sunday
METAIRIE, La. -- Saints coach Sean Payton says he expects quarterback Drew Brees to return as starter against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night in the Superdome.
Brees missed the Saints' loss in Carolina last Sunday because of a bruised rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder.
NFL
Brees, who is the Saints' career passing leader, has been taking first-team snaps during practices since Wednesday and making an array of throws while working on his rehabilitation.
If Brees does start as planned, he'll return to a club that is 0-3 and in desperate need of a victory (see full story).
-Associated Press
Colts: Luck questionable vs. Jaguars
INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will likely be a game-time decision to play against Jacksonville on Sunday.
He was listed as questionable Friday after he was limited in practice for the third straight day with a sore right shoulder. Coach Chuck Pagano gave no indication to the extent of Luck's participation or how much Luck has thrown this week.
Still, Pagano is hopeful Luck will start against the Jaguars.
If Luck doesn't play, backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is expected to start. And on Friday, the Colts signed quarterback Josh Johnson, who most recently spent time with Cincinnati and the New York Jets this preseason.
Luck, who suffered the shoulder injury in last week's 35-33 win at Tennessee, hasn't missed a start since he joined the league in 2012 (see full story).
-Associated Press
Panthers: Kuechly to miss 3rd straight game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly will miss his third straight game Sunday against Tampa Bay with a concussion.
Coach Ron Rivera listed Kuechly as out Friday on the team's injury report, along with wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (ankle) and offensive linemen Amini Silatolu (ankle) and Daryl Williams (knee).
Running back Jonathan Stewart (tibia) and fullback Mike Tolbert (groin) practiced Friday and are listed as probable.
Kuechly was injured in the second quarter of Carolina's season opener at Jacksonville when he collided with Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon on a tackle. He hasn't practiced or played since.
Still, the Panthers (3-0) are managing OK so far without the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Carolina has a bye next week, so Kuechly will have had four weeks off to rest (see full story).
-Associated Press
Ravens: Smith puts ex-teammate on 'lifetime hit list'
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith was not pleased with a hit he received from a former teammate.
In the fourth quarter of Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh, Smith was hit by Steelers safety Mike Mitchell. The hit caused Smith to leave the game and not return during the Ravens' 23-20 overtime win.
"For the first time in my career, I feel like I'm 36," Smith told CSN Mid-Atlantic. "I got speared in the back by an ex-teammate and I kind of know his character and who he is.
"After he hit me, he said, 'How do you like that?' So, I mean, the best thing I can do without threatening him and saying that I will assault him when I see him is I will say I look forward to playing him again and he's on my lifetime hit list."
Smith and Mitchell were teammates with the Panthers in 2013, Smith's last season in Carolina.
-CSNPhilly.com Staff
Cowboys: Michael could be close to joining backfield
IRVING, Texas -- Christine Michael is getting work with the first team out of the Dallas backfield, an indication the third-year running back could be close to his debut with the Cowboys.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday that Michael was taking snaps with the regulars after working mostly on the scout team since coming over in a trade with Seattle a little more than three weeks ago. Linehan didn't say whether Michael would be active for the Cowboys (2-1) on Sunday night at New Orleans (0-3).
"He's making a lot of progress," Linehan said. "We're excited to see in the future here, I don't know how near that is. We make those decisions in the upcoming days of when he can get his first action."
Joseph Randle has started all three games after NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray signed with Philadelphia in free agency. Michael came in a trade with Seattle three weeks ago (see full story).
-Associated Press
NFL: Sapp takes plea deal in domestic battery case
LAS VEGAS -- Hall of Famer Warren Sapp took a plea deal Thursday that spares him jail time in a Las Vegas criminal case involving a scuffle with his former girlfriend that began after margaritas at a casino hotel swimming pool.
The 42-year-old former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle pleaded no contest in Las Vegas Justice Court to one misdemeanor domestic violence charge, court officials said.
A judge fined Sapp $345 and ordered him to pay $2,555 in restitution, log 48 hours of community service and six months of counseling, and stay out of trouble for six months. Two other misdemeanor domestic violence charges were dismissed.
Sapp also has to stay away from the victim, prosecutor Lisa Luzaich said. He faces six months in jail if he violates terms of the deal (see full story).
-Associated Press