National Football League roundup

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[September 19, 2015]  Sept 18 (The Sports Xchange) - Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine announced Friday that Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback in Sunday's home opener against the Tennessee Titans and rookie Marcus Mariota.

Starter Josh McCown suffered a concussion in the season-opening 31-10 loss to the New York Jets and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. McCown was injured last Sunday when he went airborne trying to vault over the goal line on a third-and-goal scramble from the 14-yard line.

Manziel, who will get the third start of his NFL career, practiced with the first team this week.

Manziel will face off against Mariota, who stunned the entire NFL with four touchdown passes to four different receivers in a Week 1 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 42-14.

Mariota completed 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards and the four scores as he outplayed former fellow Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of the Bucs.

The Week 2 game will highlight another matchup of former Heisman Trophy winners, this time between Mariota and Manziel, who is seeking his first NFL win as a starter.

In relief of McCown against the Jets, Manziel threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin on his first possession but turned it over on three of four possessions in the second half. He threw one interceptions and fumbled twice.

Manziel finished 13 of 24 for 182 yards for the Browns.

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Victor Cruz is not yet ready to return to the New York Giants.

Cruz was ruled out for the Week 2 game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, when the Giants try to recover from a late-game breakdown at Dallas. The Atlanta Falcons, winners over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, are in town to oppose the Giants.

Without Cruz, who is dealing with a calf strain, Rueben Randle and slot receiver Preston Parker are the other starters with Dwayne Harris No. 4. It means more of the Falcons' secondary attention will be on Odell Beckham.

The Giants also listed linebacker Jon Beason (knee) as doubtful.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington will miss Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears due to a knee injury.

Ellington sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the season-opening victory over the New Orleans Saints.

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San Francisco running back Reggie Bush will miss Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a calf injury.

Bush suffered the injury in San Francisco's season-opening victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

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Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga will not play Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a knee injury in practice.

Bulaga departed Thursday's practice after hurting his left knee. The team initially feared that Bulaga had torn his ACL, but the six-year veteran was later diagnosed with a strained MCL.

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Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol.

Kuechly sustained a concussion late in the first half of Week 1's 20-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kuechly, who signed a $62 million contract extension last week, hasn't been cleared by team doctors and the independent neurologist.

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Houston Texans running back Arian Foster participated in practice again Friday but as expected was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Texans also declared safety Lonnie Ballentine (knee), linebacker Mike Mohamed (calf) and guard Xavier Su'a-Filo (calf) out for Week 2.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery did not practice Friday and his status for Sunday's game is uncertain.
 


Jeffery, the team's No. 1 receiver entering the season with Brandon Marshall dealt to the New York Jets, was hobbled by a calf strain most of the preseason and said the injury limited him in Week 1.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, dealing with hamstring soreness, was back at practice Friday and will be in the starting lineup against the New York Giants.

- - - (Editing by Andrew Both)

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