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NFL roundup: Bucs' Goldson suspended for one game

The NFL on Monday suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson without pay for one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New Orleans' Darren Sproles during Sunday's win by the Saints.

NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks told Goldson of the suspension in a letter:

"You had an unobstructed path to your opponent," Hanks wrote. "It is clear that you lowered your head and unnecessarily rammed the left side of your helmet into the left side of your opponent's head. You delivered a forceful blow with your helmet and made no attempt whatsoever to wrap up your opponent or make a conventional tackle on the play. This illegal contact clearly could have been avoided."

The Pro Bowl safety already has been flagged twice this season for helmet-to-helmet hits. The league fined Goldson $30,000 for the helmet-to-helmet hit he laid on Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. He has been flagged five times since 2011 for unnecessary roughness.

The suspension means Goldson not only cannot play in Week 3, he cannot practice with the team this week. He can resume team activities on Sept. 23.

Goldson, who played for the San Francisco 49ers last year, has not indicated if he will appeal the suspension. He has three days to decide.

--Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman talks a big game and usually backs it up like he did in the Seahawks' 29-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. And after the game, Sherman wanted to keep talking, this time with his former coach, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.

But according to Sherman, Harbaugh did not acknowledge him and blew him off around midfield, despite Sherman patting his ex-coach on the rear and saying something.

"I told him good job, good game, but he didn't give me nothing back," Sherman told NFL Network. "I guess sportsmanship doesn't go both ways."

Also, Seattle most likely will not have the services of offensive tackle Russell Okung when the Seahawks play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Okung suffered a torn ligament in his toe in Sunday's victory over the 49ers and is unlikely to play, ESPN reported on Monday.

--Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush did not seriously injure his left knee when it collided with the helmet of Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson in the second quarter on Sunday.

ESPN reported Monday that Bush could be available to play this week against the Washington Redskins. Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Bush's knee is sore.

After the hit, Bush clutched the knee as he fell to the ground before leaving the game. He returned briefly in the third quarter but exited for good after he fumbled. He had nine rushes for 25 yards and three catches for 44 yards.

--The Atlanta Falcons lost defensive end Kroy Biermann and fullback Bradie Ewing to injured reserve.

Biermann tore his right Achilles tendon and Ewing separated his left shoulder during Sunday's 31-24 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Coach Mike Smith said Monday that both players are out for the season.

Also, Smith did not provide an injury update on running back Steven Jackson, who left the game with a thigh injury.

Wide receiver Roddy White has been dealing with an ankle sprain and his playing time is limited.

--Free safety Charles Godfrey suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Sunday's loss at Buffalo, the Carolina Panthers confirmed Monday.

Godfrey will require surgery. He will be placed on injured reserve and miss the remainder of the 2013 season.

Four other Carolina defensive backs were hurt Sunday. Quintin Mikell (foot), Josh Thomas (concussion), Josh Norman (thigh) and DJ Moore (knee) will be evaluated Wednesday.

--San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd will likely miss Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans because of a neck injury, ESPN reported.

The Chargers said Sunday night that Floyd was "doing fine" and joined the team on the return flight to San Diego after their 33-30 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Floyd was taken off the field on a stretcher and to a hospital after taking a hard hit from the Eagles' DeMeco Ryans and Nate Allen early in the third quarter.

--Oakland Raiders strong safety Tyvon Branch is out indefinitely with a fractured fibula, according to ESPN.

Branch was injured in the first quarter of the Raiders' 19-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He got hurt while rushing Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne on a third-and-7 play.

--New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola worked through drills gingerly at the start of practice Monday, according to ESPN.

Fox Sports reported Sunday that Amendola has torn adductor muscles in his hip and might need surgery.

Previous reports indicated that Amendola would miss two to six weeks with a sports hernia injury.

--The Denver Broncos signed offensive tackle Chris Clark to a two-year contract extension through 2015, the team announced.

Clark has played 42 games over the past four seasons with Denver, including every game since 2011.

--The Cincinnati Bengals promoted linebacker J.K. Schaffer from the practice squad and waived safety Jeromy Miles, the team announced.

Schaffer is a first-year player out of the University of Cincinnati. He played in all four of the Bengals' preseason games. He led the team with 20 tackles, and had one sack and one interception.

Miles, a fourth-year pro out of Massachusetts, had one special teams tackle against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.