NFL notes

COWBOYS Austin ruled out

IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys receiver Miles Austin has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at San Diego because of a hamstring injury.

Austin has been slowed by hamstring issues the past two years after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2009 and 2010.

Austin, 29, had just 579 yards in 10 games two years ago and played though hamstring problems last year to finish with 943 yards. He matched a career high with 10 catches in the opener this year against the Giants and has 15 catches for 125 yards.

Receiver and primary punt returner Dwayne Harris missed practice all week with a hip pointer and is listed as questionable.

Defensive end DeMarcus Ware (neck), cornerback Morris Claiborne (shoulder) and linebacker Ernie Sims are listed as probable.

CHARGERS Te’o ready to go

SAN DIEGO - Manti Te’o is poised to make his regular-season debut when the Chargers host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Te’o, who has been out with an injured right foot since Aug. 8, has been working with the starters this week and he’s hoping to help a defense that is ranked dead last against the pass and No. 31 overall.

Coach Mike McCoy said Te’o has looked good in practice and he expects the linebacker to do fine Sunday.

McCoy is hoping Te’o can help the Chargers force turnovers. The Chargers are minus-three in turnover ratio.

GIANTS 2 linemen out

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants will be without starting left guard Chris Snee and center David Baas for Sunday’s game against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

Coach Tom Coughlin ruled out Snee, a four-time Pro Bowler, and Baas for the game along with cornerback Corey Webster.

Snee has a hip problem, though not the same one he had surgically repaired in the off season. Baas, who missed the season opener with a knee injury, has a neck problem. He hurt it against Denver on Sept. 15 and aggravated it last week in a 38-0 loss to Carolina that dropped New York to 0-3.

TITANS

Britt, Walker uncertain

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Delanie Walker are questionable for Sunday’s game with the New York Jets after being limited again in practice.

Britt is nursing a cracked rib and a sore neck from a hit in last week’s victory against the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s something we’ll wait till and see tomorrow where he’s at,” Coach Mike Munchak said Friday. “Last year, he played a couple of times. We’ll see how sore he is. He’s still not quite where he needs to be, and he didn’t practice as much today.”

Walker said he took part in about 75 percent of the work Friday and expects to play with another day of rest, but he said his turf toe injury might be something he deals with throughout the season.

“I’m just going to have to monitor it and take care of it and make sure I get treatment on it,” Walker said.

Defensive tackle Sammie Hill (right ankle) will miss a second consecutive game, while running back Shonn Greene (right knee) has been declared out for his third consecutive game.

Linebacker Patrick Bailey (hamstring) did not practice and is questionable. Right tackle David Stewart (calf), linebacker Moise Fokou (neck), linebacker Zaviar Gooden (ankle) and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (hamstring) all practiced Friday and are probable.

COLTS 3 starters sidelined

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts will be missing three injured starters this weekend.

Coach Chuck Pagano said Friday that running back Ahmad Bradshaw, defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois and Pro Bowl safety LaRon Landry will miss Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

Bradshaw missed practice all week with a neck injury, and his absence means newly acquired Trent Richardson will inherit a heavier workload.

Landry is still recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of last week’s game at San Francisco, and Jean Francois has not been back to work since leaving Sunday’s game with a groin injury.

Indy (2-1) also listed safety Joe Lefeged as questionable with a knee injury, and receiver T.Y. Hilton as probable with a toe injury.

Sports, Pages 21 on 09/28/2013

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