NFL roundup: Jets' Sanchez on IR, designated to return

The New York Jets placed quarterback Mark Sanchez on short-term injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.

Sanchez, who has a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, can be activated after the 10th game of the season. He must miss at least six weeks of practice and eight games. The Jets are 1-1 this season.

Sanchez was injured in the fourth quarter of the Jets' third preseason game against the New York Giants when he was hit by defensive tackle Marvin Austin. Sanchez was playing with the team's second unit.

General manager John Idzik said the Jets are "doing this in keeping with our primary goal of giving Mark every chance to return to practice and play this season, and paying attention to where he is in the rehab process and how he can best do that."

"Originally, his prognosis was pretty unpredictable and he's had a history of excellent rehab," Idzik said. "We've gone about three weeks now. We took a little time, Mark took a little time last week to get numerous medical opinions and, after weighing all those, the consensus was that this was the proper thing to do."

Idzik said surgery is not in the plans right now.

"I think right now the consensus is the conservative approach," he said. "The nonsurgical approach we're taking is the proper approach. It's the proper approach for Mark, both short term and long term. And I think we just have to see how ... Mark progresses and where he is, specifically six weeks, eight weeks down the line."

On Friday, coach Rex Ryan said it is "realistic" for Sanchez to play again this season.

Sanchez also told the NFL Network he was the clear winner of the quarterback competition. Ryan responded Friday by saying, "I never said he won the competition. That's his opinion. It's not about a company line. Apparently, if that's what he said then that's his opinion. Again there is that ongoing competition."

Ryan also said he had no problem with Sanchez thinking he won the job because he wants players to have confidence in their abilities.

On Saturday, Sanchez said, "The only thing I said about competing for the job or winning the competition is the same thing I've said since spring, that I'm going to compete and plan to win the job. I've said that from Day 1. I've planned to be the starter since I was a rookie. So, nothing's changed there. Now, I'm in a position where I have to wait a little time. I think we're making the decision that's best for the team (and) best for my medical health. We're all on the same page. I'll come back hopefully in eight weeks and be ready to play."

---A football team in Russia reportedly has offered Tim Tebow $1 million to play in two playoff games.

"We have offered him $1 million for two games," Moscow Black Storm owner Mikhail Zaltsman told RBTH. "I talked with him personally and he wanted to go."

Zaltsman wants Tebow to fly to Moscow for the Black Storm's semifinal against the Moscow Patriots in the American Football Championship of Russia on Sept. 28 and also play in the final if they advance.

Tebow's agents reportedly are urging him to not play.

"They're thinking of using him as a motivational speaker," Zaltsman said. "They don't want him to play football."

Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida and first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos, is a free agent after being released by the New England Patriots on Aug. 31.

---The Seattle Seahawks signed defensive tackle Clinton McDonald and released offensive tackle Mike Person on Saturday.

McDonald was acquired in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 after spending the 2009 season on the Bengals' practice squad and playing in eight games in 2010. He had four tackles and a pass breakup.

The Seahawks released McDonald on Aug. 31. He has played in 29 games for Seattle, with one start, and has 60 tackles (38 solo) with the team.

Person was signed to Seattle's practice squad in 2012 and was later added to the active roster. He appeared in last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

---San Francisco 49ers right guard Alex Boone said he has a different idea for punishing Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, who was fined $15,000 for his late hit on quarterback Colin Kaepernick last Sunday.

"Probably punch him in the face," Boone told CSNBayArea.com Friday. "I don't want his money."

Matthews was penalized 15 yards for hitting Kaepernick after he ran out of bounds with about 9:30 left in the first half of the game. The NFL announced Friday that it fined Matthews $15,000 for the late hit.

When 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about Matthews' fine, he was not as forthright as Boone.

"I have zero reaction to the fine," Harbaugh said. "At the direction of the league, I have nothing to say about that."

---The Arizona Cardinals released cornerback Jamell Fleming on Saturday and promoted wide receiver Kerry Taylor from the practice squad -- ostensible roster insurance in case wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald cannot play Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Fitzgerald tweaked his hamstring Wednesday and is questionable, the Arizona Republic reported.

Taylor, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State in 2011, has bounced around to five teams' practice squads in two years.

Fleming, a third-round pick in 2012, was inactive for the opener.

Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns last week in Arizona's 27-24 loss to St. Louis.

If Fitzgerald can't play, Andre Roberts is expected to start in his place.

Fitzgerald has missed just four games in his nine NFL seasons, and the Cardinals are 1-3 in those games.

---The Washington Redskins signed kicker John Potter on Saturday as insurance in case Kai Forbath is unable to play Sunday because of a right groin injury, the Washington Post reported.

Potter, a former seventh-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, spent the preseason with the Redskins.

Forbath is listed on the team's injury report as questionable and is considered a game-time decision.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he will not use both kickers in the game.

"Usually when it's a groin, it's a swing, so it doesn't matter if he's kicking a 50-yard field goal or an extra point, not a whole lot of difference," he said. "You've got to feel comfortable with his leg."

To make room for Potter, the Redskins waived quarterback Pat White.

White completed 28 of 50 passes for 330 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in four preseason games. He also rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries with three TDs.

NFL.com reported that Washington will likely re-sign White if no other team picks him up.

---Matt Russell, the Denver Broncos' director of player personnel, will be reinstated from his suspension on Monday, according to ESPN.

Russell was suspended indefinitely in July after he was arrested for DUI. Monday marks 60 days since he was disciplined.

Tom Heckert, Denver's director of pro personnel, is also on suspension for a DUI arrest.

The team never provided a timeline of when the two suspended executives would be brought back, only announcing they were banned indefinitely.

However, the Broncos are reportedly ready to bring back Russell.

Russell was arrested July 6 in Colorado. He was suspected of being involved in an automobile accident and then crashing into a police car a few minutes later while under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with DUI, having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, careless driving resulting in injury and failure to show proof of insurance.

Heckert was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or more and careless driving, stemming from a June 11 incident in Parker, Colo.

---The Pittsburgh Steelers ruled out tight end Heath Miller (knee), cornerback Cortez Allen (ankle) and running back Le'Veon Bell (foot) for Monday night's game at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Miller and Bell did not play in the season opener. Allen was injured during last Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

The team could also be without reserve cornerback Curtis Brown due to an illness. He is listed as doubtful. Ike Taylor, William Gay and Antwon Blake are the only healthy cornerbacks on the roster.

However, kicker Shaun Suisham (left hamstring) and nose tackle Steve McLendon (hamstring) are listed as probable.