NFL roundup: CB Routt meets with Lions

Veteran cornerback Stanford Routt reportedly is meeting with the Detroit Lions on Friday after being waived this week by Kansas City.

Injuries have hit the Lions' secondary and Routt is available to possibly add depth. An NFL source confirmed the meeting, according to The Sideline View.

Routt, 29, was released by Oakland in February and then signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Chiefs. The 2005 second-round draft pick from the University of Houston has 60 career starts in the NFL.

---It's looking more like Jake Locker will start at quarterback Sunday for the Tennessee Titans against the Miami Dolphins.

Locker practiced with the first team this week and a source told ESPN on Friday that Locker was on track to start, though Titans coach Mike Munchak had yet to confirm Locker would replace Matt Hasselbeck.

Locker was sidelined Sept. 20 when he suffered a dislocated left shoulder in game against Houston.

---The Carolina Panthers have turned to longtime front-office executive Ernie Accorsi to assist in the team's pursuit of a new general manager.

Accorsi, 71, will begin serving immediately as a consultant to help the Panthers find a replacement for Marty Hurney, The Charlotte Observer reported Friday.

"I have a very high regard for Mr. Richardson and look forward to providing any help that I can to him and the organization in their search for a new general manager," Accorsi said.

The Observer reported that Accorsi has no plans to seek the job.

Accorsi is known around the league as a man with a keen eye for talent. His long career in the NFL includes stints with the Colts, Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants. He was with the Giants as general manager when they landed quarterback Eli Manning in 2004.

---Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and safety Haruki Nakamura were fined for separate hits against Washington Redskins offensive players during their game last week, NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk reported Friday.

Hardy was fined $15,750 for striking quarterback Robert Griffin III in the head. Nakamura received a $21,000 fine for hitting a defenseless receiver in the head on a play against wide receiver Josh Morgan.

Penalties were called on both plays. The Panthers won the game 21-13.

---The New Orleans Saints will be without running back Darren Sproles and starting offensive tackle Zach Strief for Sunday's home game against Atlanta.

Sproles is sidelined for a second straight week because of a broken hand and Strief has a groin injury. Both were listed as out for Sunday on the Saints' injury report along with defensive end Junior Galette (ankle) and wide receiver Courtney Roby (shoulder), The Times-Picayune reported Friday.

Saints interim coach Joe Vitt named Charles Brown as Strief's replacement on the offensive line.

---Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin was held out of practice for a third straight day and listed Friday as doubtful for Sunday's game against Detroit.

Harvin suffered an ankle injury last week and was on crutches afterward. But ESPN reported that coach Leslie Frazier is hoping Harvin could play against the Lions.

"He still has a little less than 48 hours to have a chance to continue to improve," Frazier said. "He'll continue to get treatment. If it comes to it, we would definitely work him out before the game and get him out there if it's possible.

"He'd have to make quite a bit of recovery for us to say, 'OK, we'll wait until Sunday to see what you can do. But it's possible."

Harvin has 62 receptions for 677 yards and three touchdowns in eight games this season.

---New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden was hit with a four-game suspension without pay Friday for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Bolden will begin serving his punishment immediately. He'll be eligible to return to the Patriots' active roster after their Dec. 2 game against Miami.

The undrafted rookie from Mississippi wasn't expected to play this week because of a knee injury.

His absence will force the Patriots to elevate Shane Vereen and Danny Woodhead to be the backups behind starter Stevan Ridley.

Bolden has rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries in six games this season, including 137 yards against Buffalo in week four.

---The NFL concluded that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders faked an injury during a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and both the team and the player will pay for it.

The Steelers were fined $35,000 and Sanders $15,000, ESPN reported Friday. The incident took place Oct. 21 in the Steelers' 24-17 victory over the Bengals.

Sanders has caught 24 passes for 302 yards and one touchdown this season.

---Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray will miss his fourth straight game Sunday against the host Philadelphia Eagles because of a sprained left foot, ESPN Dallas reported Friday.

Murray did not practice this week but was seen Thursday wearing a helmet and cleats for his rehab.

He spent much of Friday's portion of practice that was open to the media working out in the weight room.

The team has said Murray cannot return until he is 100 percent and practicing.

Felix Jones, who is listed as probable with a knee injury, is expected to start again in Murray's place after participating in practice this week.

---Oakland Raiders running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson and defensive lineman Richard Seymour were ruled out of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, NFL.com reported Friday.

McFadden and Goodson have high ankle sprains and Seymour has knee and hamstring injuries.

Running back Taiwan Jones and fullback Marcel Reece will carry the load for Oakland.

Desmond Bryant, who was hospitalized during last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an irregular heartbeat, will start in place of Seymour.

---The Seattle Seahawks ruled out linebacker K.J. Wright and guard James Carpenter for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, the Seattle Times reported Friday.

Wright sustained a concussion last week against the Minnesota Vikings while Carpenter's head injury occured more than a week ago. Both are starters.

"Both of those guys need a little bit more time, and so with the week coming up, we'll take great care of them and get them after the bye," coach Pete Carroll said.

Mike Morgan will start in place of Wright and John Moffitt will start for Carpenter for the second straight game.

Wright is Seattle's first defensive starter to miss a start this season because of an injury.

---Linebacker Ray Lewis, who has been spending time in Florida recovering from surgery to repair his torn triceps, visited his Baltimore Ravens teammates on Friday.

"It's truly great to be back with my teammates. I've really missed these guys and the feel of being around the team and in the locker room," Lewis said in a statement. "I am focused on rehabbing and getting my arm and body as strong as they can be.

I will speak in person when I know a little more about my progress. I'm working hard and looking forward to coming back and helping this team. But right now, the focus should be on the guys playing, and I'll be the biggest cheerleader I can be for them."

Lewis is on injured reserve, but with the designated for return label, meaning he could return to the field at some point this season.

The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been rehabilitating away from the Ravens' training complex and following his surgeon's advice as far as his recovery plan.

---Safety Mana Silva was signed by the Buffalo Bills off their practice squad. The Bills released rookie safety Delano Howell.

Silva joined the practice squad Oct. 2, a week after being waived by the Dallas Cowboys. He spent part of last season on Buffalo's practice squad before being signed by the Cowboys on Dec. 13, 2011.