NFL roundup: Patriots' Brady cleared to play
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been medically cleared and was scheduled to play in Friday night's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to NFL.com.
Brady went down with a left knee injury in practice Wednesday when the Patriots and Buccaneers were scrimmaging. Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn pushed Patriots left tackle Nate Solder into Brady after he threw a pass.
The injury was treated as a sprain.
Brady wore a brace over the knee during another joint practice Thursday. He was reportedly moving around without a limp.
Backup Ryan Mallet and third-stringer Tim Tebow should also get playing time.
--Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said that there is no rift between coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Robert Griffin III.
"We have a very competitive player who's dying to play football and we have an experienced coach who is doing the right thing," Allen said in a press conference. "I know somewhere Billy (Kilmer) and Sonny (Jurgensen) are laughing that we created a quarterback controversy with Robert Griffin."
Kilmer and Jurgensen are former Redskins quarterbacks.
Earlier this week, Griffin publicly questioned Shanahan's plan for him as he is coming back from knee surgery. However, he later clarified that he has no problem with Shanahan and will do as instructed.
--- Cleveland Browns rookie outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo will spend a second night in the hospital on Friday because of bruised lung, but he is expected to return to action in about a week.
However, Browns running back Dion Lewis will undergo surgery on his fractured left fibula, and may be out for the season, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
Both were was injured during Thursday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
Right guard Jason Pinkston, who suffered a high ankle sprain, may be out four weeks, according to the Plain Dealer.
---Wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu was scheduled to visit with the San Diego Chargers on Friday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Ajirotutu has had two previous stints with the Chargers, so he hopes to stick this time.
San Diego is looking for a wideout after losing Danario Alexander for the season and Malcolm Floyd at least until the start of the regular season with injuries.
---The Miami Dolphins signed long snapper John Denney to a contract extension through the 2016 season.
The ninth-year veteran has played in 128 consecutive games, the second longest streak in franchise history.
---Veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis is scheduled to visit the Detroit Lions this weekend.
Mathis, a former Pro Bowl defensive back, suffered a torn ACL in 2011 and started a combined 13 games in 2011 and 2012.
---The Chicago Bears will sign quarterback Jordan Palmer, according to multiple media reports on Friday.
The signing is pending a physical.
The Bears are looking for a third quarterback after Matt Blanchard fractured a knuckle on his non-throwing hand during Thursday's preseason win over the San Diego Chargers.
--- Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard was fined $10,000 by the NFL for a late hit out of bounds in an Aug. 8 preseason game against the Washington Redskins, NFL.com reported.
Also Detroit Lions linebacker Travis Lewis was fined $15,750 for a horse-collar tackle, and Redskins defensive end Chris Baker was fined $15,750 for hitting a Tennessee Titans quarterback below the knees.
