BRONCOS Miller facing suspension

BRONCOS Miller facing suspension

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Von Miller is practicing with the Denver Broncos as a new report suggests the All-Pro linebacker could be facing an even longer suspension than originally thought.

Miller might have to sit out at least six games for violating the league’s drug abuse policy. In that case, Miller’s earliest possible game would be Oct. 20 at Indianapolis.

Previously, it was believed Miller was facing a month long suspension to start the 2013 season. Miller had repeatedly expressed confidence he was going to successfully win an appeal of that penalty, insisting he had “done nothing wrong.”

Miller now is unlikely to go forward with an appeal, which was expected to be heard today.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press “we have nothing to report” on the matter, and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, didn’t return a phone call from the AP.

Miller, who has 30 sacks in his first two NFL seasons, is the center piece of coordinator Jack Del Rio’s defense in Denver, consistently commanding double teams. He’s a major reason, along with Peyton Manning, that oddsmakers favor the Broncos to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

BUCS Revis works with first unit

TAMPA, Fla. - Darrelle Revis took a step forward Monday on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ injury front. Carl Nicks took a step back on his troublesome left foot.

Nicks, the starting guard who missed the second half of last season with a lingering injury on his left big toe, has developed a blister on the same foot. It is infected, and Nicks could not practice Monday.

“It’s not something you mess around with, but it’s not your common injury, either,” Coach Greg Schiano said. “The next question is how long will it be? I don’t know that. We’ve got to let the medicine run its course and see if we can get that thing straightened out.”

Revis, the $96 million cornerback acquired from the New York Jets and coming off October knee surgery, began practicing with the Bucs’ first defensive unit.

“It was a huge day for me, just getting my run fix, getting the calls, up-tempo type of stuff,” Revis said. “I was in there doing it so it was a huge day, just moving around and nothaving any problems. No soreness at the end of practice, no swelling. It’s a huge step for me.”

Revis, 28, played only in the first two games last season for the Jets. He had surgery on his left knee on Oct. 16 and was traded to the Bucs in April. So far he has worked mostly on his own and in one-on-one drills. But Revis said he expects to open the regular season - against the Jets - and his participation in the remaining preseason games has not been ruled out.

JAGUARS Gabbert named starting QB

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Blaine Gabbert has a starting job if he’s healthy.

Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley named Gabbert his starting quarterback Monday, the same day he announced the former Missouri standout will miss the rest of the preseason because of a broken thumb.

Gabbert has a hairline fracture in his right thumb, an injury sustained during Saturday night’s 37-13 exhibition loss to the New York Jets.

Gabbert completed 13 of 16 passes for 165 yards and 1 touchdown in three series, but he banged his hand on a defender’s helmet during his final throw.

Gabbert won’t need surgery, but he will wear a protective brace while the bone heals. The Jaguars said he should be able to return to practice in two weeks and be ready for the Sept. 8 opener against Kansas City.

“Normally a break would require surgery or six to eight weeks,” Bradley said. “It’s not the same with this injury. They feel like in two weeks he should have a chance to come back and begin his prep for Kansas City.”BILLS

Kicker Lindell released

PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Buffalo’s youth movement continued Monday when the Bills released longtime kicker Rian Lindell.

Lindell, the most accurate kicker in franchise history, was let go after 10 years in Buffalo. His release means that rookie Dustin Hopkins has won the team’s kicking competition.

“It’s always tough when you have to release a player like Rian Lindell,” Coach Doug Marrone said. “A true professional that’s obviously been with the organization for quite some time. And I have a lot of respect for him.”

Lindell leaves Buffalo with a field goal percentage of 83.3. He connected on 225 of 270 field-goal attempts.SAINTS QB Wallace cut

METAIRIE, La. - The New Orleans Saints have terminated the contracts of reserve quarterback Seneca Wallace and receivers Steve Breaston and Patrick Crayton, placed defensive end Kenyon Coleman on injured reserve and waive five others.

Wallace, who was competing with Luke McCown to back up Drew Brees, completed 3 of 6 passes for 32 yards in his five scoreless series of a preseason game against Oakland on Friday night. He also was intercepted and fumbled into the end zone, resulting in an Oakland touchdown.

Coleman tore a pectoral muscle earlier this month. His season is over as he was not designated for possible return.

The Saints also waived defensive back A.J. Davis, receiver Jarred Fayson, guard Ricky Henry, linebacker Chase Thomas, and defensive back Dion Turner.

BROWNS

More tests for Mingo

BEREA, Ohio - Browns CEO Joe Banner said injured rookie linebacker Barkevious Mingo will undergo more tests on his bruised lung.

Mingo was hospitalized for two days after sustaining the unusual injury Thursday in an exhibition against Detroit. Mingo said he was spitting up blood on the sideline and experienced shortness of breath. Mingo said he believes the injury occurred on the opening kickoff.

Banner said there is no timetable on Mingo’s return and made it clear the Browns will be cautious before putting the first-round pick back on the field.

Banner also said running back Dion Lewis had surgery Monday after breaking his leg against the Lions. Banner said the team still does not know if Lewis can play this year.

The Browns also have acquired offensive lineman John Moffitt in a trade from Seattle for defensive lineman Brian Sanford.

Cleveland needed an experienced guard after losing Shawn Lauvao and Jason Pinkston to ankle injuries in the past week. Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said Moffitt is a “tough and versatile lineman who will be in the mix for us up front.”

Moffitt, 6-4, 319 pounds, made 15 starts over the past two seasons. He started the final six games - four at right guard, two at left - last season, helping Seattle earn a spot in the NFC playoffs.

ODDS & ENDS

Dallas Cowboys running back Lance Dunbar has a sprained left foot, putting his availability for the season opener in jeopardy. Dunbar had a protective boot on his foot Monday when the Cowboys returned to practice at Valley Ranch after the first month of training camp in California. Coach Jason Garrett said Dunbar is certainly out his week and will be day to day after that. … The Arizona Cardinals have released backup punter Will Batson, center Kyle Quinn and guard-center Scott Wedige,slicing their roster to 87. Batson, in his second season out of North Alabama, was in camp to provide back up to punter Dave Zastudil. Quinn is an undrafted rookie who played for the University of Arizona. Wedige has been mostly a practice squad player in his two NFL seasons. He appeared in two games last year for Arizona. … The Kansas City Chiefs traded wide receiver Jon Baldwin to the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver A.J. Jenkins on Monday in a swap of disappointing first-round picks. Baldwin was the 26th overall choice of the Chiefs in 2011, buthe’s had a tumultuous career right from the start. Baldwin broke his thumb his rookie season when he got into a fight with a teammate, and then struggled to adapt to three head coaches in his first three seasons. He’s also had trouble dropping passes throughout training camp, including one when he was wide open in last Friday night’s preseason loss to San Francisco. … The Jacksonville Jaguars have released receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and offensive linemen Jason Spitz. Massaquoi, a second-round pick by Cleveland in 2009, had 118 receptions for 1,745 yards and 7 touchdowns for his career. He signed with Jacksonville in April, getting a $65,000 bonus.Spitz, a third-round pick by Green Bay in 2006, has started 45 games over seven seasons. He missed all of last year with a foot injury. … The Minnesota Vikings have released cornerback Jacob Lacey a week after his arthroscopic knee surgery. After three seasons with Indianapolis and one with Detroit, Lacey signed with the Vikings. He had a legitimate chance to make the squad with veteran Antoine Winfield no longer on the team, but he was injured early in training camp and didn’t play in any exhibition games.

Exhibition glance SUNDAY’S GAME Indianapolis 20, NY Giants 12 MONDAY’S GAME Washington 24, Pittsburgh 13 THURSDAY’S GAMES All times Central New England at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Carolina at Baltimore, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES Seattle at Green Bay, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Oakland, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES Buffalo at Washington, 3:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Indianapolis, 6 p.m.

NY Jets at NY Giants, 6 p.m.

Kansas City at Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Jacksonville, 6:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Denver, 7 p.m.

Cincinnati at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES New Orleans at Houston, 3 p.m.

Minnesota at San Francisco, 7 p.m.