NFL notes

— NFL Officiating error flagged

The NFL acknowledged this week that the Carolina Panthers were erroneously awarded a first-quarter touchdown during their 21-13 victory Sunday over the Washington Redskins when an official inadvertently blew his whistle.

The play should have been ruled dead at the Redskins’ 17, according to a written statement by the league Monday.

“By rule, Carolina should have been given a choice of putting the ball in play where [running back DeAngelo] Williams was ruled to have stepped out of bounds - first-and-10 from the Washington 17 yard-line - or replaying the down - first-and-10 from the Washington 30,” the league’s written statement said.

The inadvertent whistle came on a 30-yard touchdown run by Williams (Wynne).

Williams was near the sideline but never stepped out of bounds. Line judge Thomas Symonette blew his whistle inadvertently and signaled for the clock to stop, but Williams continued to the end zone. Redskins linebacker Perry Riley said after the game that he could have pushed Williams out of bounds if he hadn’t heard the whistle.

CARDINALS Schofield out for season

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals have lost starting outside linebacker O’Brien Schofield for the season with an injured left ankle.

Schofield was injured in Sunday’s 31-17 loss at Green Bay. Initially, it was thought it probably was only a sprain but further examination uncovered ligament damage that requires surgery.

Schofield, a fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2010, has 34 tackles and four sacks this season.

STEELERS Brown likely out

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers will likely be without receiver Antonio Brown when they host reeling Kansas City next Monday night.

Brown sprained his right ankle early in a 24-20 victory over the New York Giants last Sunday and Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t anticipate Brown being available.

“We’ll see where the week takes us, we’ll leave the door ajar but usually [sprained ankles] aren’t positive things, particularly for someone who earns a living the way he earns a living,” Tomlin said.

Brown leads the Steelers (5-3) with 42 receptions and is second on the team with 499 yards receiving. If he can’t go, third-year wideout Emmanuel Sanders will likely take Brown’s place in the starting lineup.

BILLS McGee goes on IR

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Veteran cornerback Terrence McGee was placed on season-ending injured reserve and receiver Marcus Easley was promoted off the practice squad Tuesday after the Buffalo Bills made a series of moves to address their banged-up roster.

The Bills also placed starting right tackle Erik Pears (hip/groin) on injured reserve and released rookie kicker John Potter. That leaves Buffalo (3-5) with two roster spots left to fill as the team prepares to play at AFC East rival New England (5-3) on Sunday.

Easley’s promotion means theBills’ 2010 fourth-round draft pick out of Connecticut will finally have a chance to make his NFL debut. Easley missed his entire rookie season because of a knee injury, and then missed all of last season because of a heart condition that has since been corrected.

For McGee, it’s the latest setback for the 10-year veteran who landed on IR for the third time in four years. McGee’s been hampered by a left knee injury that had not fully healed since he had surgery this past offseason.

McGee’s agent, Ron Raccuia, said his client will likely require a second operation, but expects him to be fully healthy to play next year.

FALCONS Guard put on IR

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons have placed offensive guard Garrett Reynolds on injured reserve with a lower back injury.

Reynolds started six games this season before missing the last two games. Rookie Peter Konz moved up as the starter as the Falcons (8-0) remained the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

Reynolds has played in 28 games with 14 starts in four seasons with the Falcons.

RAIDERS Curry activated

ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Oakland Raiders have added linebacker Aaron Curry to the team’s active roster.

Curry was taken off the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. Linebacker Vic So’oto was waived to make room on the 53-man roster.

Curry was placed on the list at the start of training camp because of injured knees. He resumed practice Oct. 17 and needed to be activated this week or he would have been unable to play for the Raiders this season.

Curry, the fourth overall pick by Seattle in 2009, was acquired in a midseason trade last year for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2013. He played in 11 games, starting nine, for the Raiders and had 32 unassisted tackles, 3 passes defensed and 2THURSDAY’S GAME San Diego 31, Kansas City 13 SUNDAY’S GAMES Green Bay 31, Arizona 17 Chicago 51, Tennessee 20 Houston 21, Buffalo 9 Carolina 21, Washington 13 Detroit 31, Jacksonville 14 Denver 31, Cincinnati 23 Baltimore 25, Cleveland 15 Indianapolis 23, Miami 20 Seattle 30, Minnesota 20 Tampa Bay 42, Oakland 32 Pittsburgh 24, N.Y. Giants 20 Atlanta 19, Dallas 13 OPEN NY Jets, New England, San Francisco, St. Louis MONDAY’S GAME New Orleans 28, Philadelphia 13THURSDAY, NOV. 8 All times Central Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOV. 11 Atlanta at New Orleans, noon Detroit at Minnesota, noon Denver at Carolina, noon San Diego at Tampa Bay, noon Tennessee at Miami, noon Buffalo at New England, noon Oakland at Baltimore, noon NY Giants at Cincinnati, noon NY Jets at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

St. Louis at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

Dallas at Philadelphia, 4:25 p.m.

Houston at Chicago, 8:20 p.m.

OPEN Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington MONDAY, NOV. 12 Kansas City at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 32 on 11/07/2012

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