PATRIOTS

WR Collie re-signed

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots have re-signed wide receiver Austin Collie.

Collie played four games this season before being released after hurting his knee in a 55-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 3. He had three catches after signing with the Patriots as a free agent Oct. 3. Two of those came on the winning drive in a 30-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Collie spent his other four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, catching 176 passes. He was a productive slot receiver but had at least three concussions since November 2010 and left another game with concussion-like symptoms. He missed three games early last season because of a concussion and played in just one game before rupturing his right patellar tendon.

CB’s probation extended

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - A Nebraska judge has extended cornerback Alfonzo Dennard’s probation to three years after he admitted drinking alcohol and driving last summer.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Stephanie Stacy on Thursday could have revoked Dennard’s probation and sent him to jail.

Stacy also ordered Dennard to serve 60 days in county jail starting March 1 and increased his community service hours.

The judge had placed the former Nebraska player on two years of probation and 30 days in jail for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest outside a Lincoln bar in 2012.

Dennard admitted in September that he violated his probation when he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Lincoln on July 11. A hearing in that case is scheduled today.

BEARS Cutler, Briggs out

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and linebacker Lance Briggs will miss Monday night’s home game against Dallas.

Cutler has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain Nov. 10 and practiced on a limited basis Thursday. He has been ruled out for the game by coach Marc Trestman.

Briggs suffered a shoulder fracture Oct. 20 and remains out. He did not practice Thursday, but did run on the sidelines.

Josh McCown will make his fifth start of the season in place of Cutler.

VIKINGS NFL fines Cook

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines.

Cook told reporters Wednesday his agent has filed an appeal with the league. He said he realizes he has to keep his composure in those situations and added a “guarantee” it will not happen again.

Cook was upset in the third quarter Sunday, accusing Chicago wide receiver Alshon Jeffery of offensive pass interference and complaining there was no call during the incompletion. Two plays later, Jeffery beat Cook for a 46-yard touchdown, and Cook confronted side judge Laird Hayes, inadvertently touching his arm. That drew a 15-yard penalty and an ejection from the game.

The Vikings rallied to beat the Bears 23-20 in overtime.

JETS WR Kerley to play

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley fully participated in practice for the first time since dislocating his left elbow last month and is expected to play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Kerley was injured Nov. 3 against New Orleans when he was on the ground and the Saints’ David Hawthorne slammed into his elbow. Coach Rex Ryan said Thursday that Kerley “looked outstanding” in practice. Kerley leads the Jets with 28 catches, despite missing four games this season.

Fellow receiver Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (knee) were limited, but Ryan expects them to play. The Jets haven’t had all three on the field together since Week 4.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie (hip) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (wrist) also were limited, but will play.

BROWNS Campbell back in practice

BEREA, Ohio - Browns quarterback Jason Campbell practiced for the first time since sustaining a concussion and could start Sunday at New England.

Campbell returned to the field on Thursday, the next step in his recovery from a head injury sustained on Nov. 24 when he was hurt on a blindside hit by Pittsburgh’s William Gay. Campbell must still be cleared by an independent neurologist -- per NFL rules -- before he is allowed to play against the Patriots.

Campbell took part in all drills and threw to his receivers during the portion of practice open to media.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said he was “very encouraged” by Campbell’s progress, and offensive coordinator Norv Turner said he was glad to have the veteran back. Campbell has started four games this season.

“Well, just getting him back in the walk-through, I think everyone felt a sense of relief in terms of continuity,” said Turner, who in all his seasons as a coach couldn’t recall many times when he didn’t know who would start this late in the week.

“There’s a lot of firsts this year for a lot of us,” Turner said. “When you really think about it, obviously, three guys have played, but we’ve had six different games where we’ve had a different starter. That’s a challenge.”

Campbell, Brandon Weeden and Brian Hoyer, who suffered a season-ending knee injury, have started for Cleveland in 2013.

THURSDAY’S GAME Houston at Jacksonville, (n)

SUNDAY’S GAMES - All times Central Atlanta at Green Bay, noon Minnesota at Baltimore, noon Kansas City at Washington, noon Buffalo at Tampa Bay, noon Miami at Pittsburgh, noon Detroit at Philadelphia, noon Indianapolis at Cincinnati, noon Cleveland at New England, noon Oakland at NY Jets, noon Tennessee at Denver, 3:05 p.m.

Seattle at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

NY Giants at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.

St. Louis at Arizona, 3:25 p.m.

Carolina at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES Dallas at Chicago, 7:40 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 12 San Diego at Denver, 7:25 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 15 Philadelphia at Minnesota, noon Washington at Atlanta, noon San Francisco at Tampa Bay, noon Seattle at NY Giants, noon Chicago at Cleveland, noon Houston at Indianapolis, noon Buffalo at Jacksonville, noon New England at Miami, noon Kansas City at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

NY Jets at Carolina, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona at Tennessee, 3:25 p.m.

New Orleans at St. Louis, 3:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Dallas, 3:25 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, DEC. 16 Baltimore at Detroit, 7:40 p.m.

Sports, Pages 22 on 12/06/2013