NFL Roundup: Vikings say block on Williams a low blow

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams appears to have escaped major injury from a low block against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, but his Minnesota Vikings teammates remain upset with 49ers guard Joe Looney.

The NFL reviewed the play and deemed the block legal, which further upset Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.

"He had a perfect opportunity to hit him in the chest, but he intentionally went to his knee," Allen said, per ESPN. " ... You talk about player safety and wanting to protect us; how is Kevin not a defenseless player? It's just not what you do."

Williams suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and postular capsular strain for Williams, although an MRI did not show ligament damage.

---Running back DuJuan Harris was placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Green Bay Packers.

Harris, who started both of the team's playoff games last season, aggravated a knee injury in last Friday's game against Seattle. Rookie Eddie Lacy is now expected to open the season as the Packers' starting running back.

Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, wide receiver Kevin Dorsey and linebacker Jarvis Reed were also placed on IR. Safety Sean Richardson, offensive tackles Derek Sherrod and JC Tretter and defensive end Jerel Worthy were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season.

---New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said his injured heel is feeling better and he thinks he will be able to play when the Giants open the regular season against the Cowboys on Sept. 8.

Cruz was diagnosed with a heel contusion against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 18. He had been wearing a walking boot and was on crutches until Monday.

---After missing a fourth court hearing, former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young was issued an arrest warrant by a California judge on Tuesday.

Young's attorney, Altus Hudson, met with Orange County Superior Court Judge Andre Manssourian and later said no arrest is expected. The judge issued a $100,000 bench warrant after the meeting with Hudson and the district attorney's office, according to reports. Hudson said previously that Young is receiving treatment for an undisclosed condition and added that the court knows his whereabouts.

Young, 24, pleaded not guilty to four felonies and seven misdemeanor charges after he was arrested May 10 in San Clemente, Calif. He missed a hearing on Aug. 6 and again Tuesday.

---Quarterback Ricky Stanzi and linebacker Kyle Knox were claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stanzi, a fifth-round pick in 2011, spent the past two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs but has not appeared in a regular-season game. Knox was waived by the Seahawks on Tuesday.

Rookie running back De'Leon Eskridge and fourth-year tight end Isaiah Stanback were waived.

---Fullback Jarvorskie Lane was waived and guard Lance Louis had his contract terminated as the Miami Dolphins trimmed their roster to Tuesday's 75-player limit.

Also released were: linebackers Michael Clay, Nathan Williams and David Hinds, wide receivers Jeff Fuller, Julius Pruitt and Andrell Smith and defensive end Emeka Onyenekwu.

---Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff was moved to the physically unable to perform list to begin the regular season and will miss at least the first six weeks for the Dallas Cowboys.

Center Ryan Cook and defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford were placed on injured reserve. Receiver Anthony Amos, tight end Colin Cochart, guard Dennis Godfrey, receiver Jared Green, linebacker Deon Lacey, kicker Brett Maher, receiver Eric Rogers, quarterback Nick Stephens and cornerback Brandon Underwood were released.

---Robert Griffin III could be cleared to play in the Washington Redskins' regular-season opener when he meets with Dr. James Andrews on Thursday.

Griffin is scheduled to meet with the surgeon when the Redskins are in Tampa to face the Buccaneers in their preseason finale.

The Redskins waived linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy and cornerback Ryan Mouton with injury designations, and the team can negotiate injury settlements or place them on injured reserve should they clear waivers. Jacolby Ashworth was waived with an injury settlement and fellow offensive lineman Jeremy Trueblood had his contract terminated. The Redskins also moved Adam Carriker from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list to the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list.

---The Seattle Seahawks reduced their roster to 75 players by releasing veteran cornerback Will Blackmon and placing wide receiver Percy Harvin on the physically unable to perform list.

The team also placed rookie cornerback Tharold Simon (foot) and defensive end Greg Scruggs (knee) on PUP and linebacker Korey Toomer on the reserve non-football injury list.

---Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.

McClain is still recovering from a bruised spinal cord suffered in December, but the team hasn't ruled out the possibility of him playing this season. A starter the past three seasons, McClain had 79 tackles in 13 games in 2012.

---Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone said rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel is "100 miles an hour" as he diligently works to recover from minor knee surgery in hopes of playing against New England on Sept. 8.

Those comments came a day after Marrone said the team is preparing as though undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel will start against the Patriots. Matt Leinart and Thad Lewis, who were acquired Sunday, are expected to see time in the Bills' preseason finale Thursday.

---Rookie Eric Reid was named the San Fransisco 49ers' starting free safety for the team's Sept. 8 regular-season opener by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Meanwhile, wide receivers Michael Crabtree (Achilles) and Mario Manningham (knee) will officially miss at least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list. The team also waived/injured Lawrence Okoye (right knee) and Lamar Divens.

Cornerback Eric Wright, defensive linemen Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial, offensive tackle Luke Marquardt and running back Marcus Lattimore were placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

---The Oakland Raiders expect Sebastian Janikowski to recover from a groin injury in time for the regular-season opener but signed Justin Medlock on Tuesday as insurance.

Medlock is a Bay Area native from Fremont, Calif. and was a fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007.

The Raiders also placed linebacker Miles Burris (knee) was placed on the physically unable to perform list.

---Running back Jonathan Stewart will miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season after the Carolina Panthers placed him on the physically unable to perform list.

Stewart underwent offseason ankle surgery and has not played during the preseason.

---Tim Tebow was still on the New England Patriots' roster as the team completed its first wave of mandatory cuts, and he has a big supporter in owner Robert Kraft.

"I'm rooting for him big-time. He's been real joy to have around. I see why he has such a strong national following," Kraft told reporters while adding that the final decision is ultimately up to coach Bill Belichick. "He has a pretty good record doing it."

Rookie tight end Evan Landi and defensive lineman Anthony Rashad White were waived as the Patriots reached Tuesday's 75-man limit.

---The New York Jets signed kicker Dan Carpenter and cut Billy Cundiff.

Cundiff was signed in July to compete with incumbent Nick Foles and hit all three of his field-goal attempts through the first three preseason games. Carpenter is a former Pro Bowl kicker who has been released by the Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals in the past two weeks.

---Riddled with injuries to their linebacking corps, the New Orleans Saints agreed to a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for eight-year veteran Parys Haralson.

The 49ers will receive a conditional 2014 NFL Draft pick.

The Saints lost Will Smith, who was transitioning to the Jack linebacker position, to a season-ending knee injury. \

---The Denver Broncos placed center J.D. Walton on the physically unable to perform list and safety Quinton Carter on season-ending injured reserve.

---The Cincinnati Bengals placed fullback Chris Pressley (knee) and quarterback Zac Robinson (shoulder) on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season.

The Bengals also placed rookie linebacker Sean Porter (shoulder) on injured reserve, waived/injured linebacker Brandon Joiner and waived guard Otis Hudson and offensive tackle Jason Weaver.

---The Cleveland Browns were awarded outside linebacker Paul Hazel and punter Colton Schmidt on waivers.

Hazel, 6-5, 227 pounds, was waived by Jacksonville on Saturday after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie. Schmidt was waived by San Francisco earlier this week.

The Browns waived linebacker Kendrick Adams, offensive lineman Dominic Alford, wide receiver Dominique Croom, defensive lineman Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, fullback Owen Marecic, offensive lineman Ryan Miller and tight end Travis Tannahill.

---Linebacker Jabara Williams was waived and guard Ryan Lee was placed on injured reserve by the St. Louis Rams.

---The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got down to Tuesday's 75-player roster limit by waiving of wide receiver Terriun Crump, linebacker Jacob Cutrera (injured), wide receiver Chris Denton, tight end Mike Shanahan, guard Adam Smith and defensive back Branden Smith, along with the release of tight end Zach Miller.