NFL roundup: Quinn to start for Chiefs on Sunday

Brady Quinn will make his first NFL start since 2009 on Sunday, replacing injured starter Matt Cassel for the Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay.

"He hasn't started a game in a while, but he's played in the league, he understands what it takes to run an offense and run a team," Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. "And I think he's been preparing his whole time in the league and many times, as he always says, he's always been one play away. And so if it's determined that he gets the next play as he did on Sunday ... I think he's going to operate the offense efficiently."

Cassel suffered a concussion Sunday in a 9-6 loss to the Ravens and isn't yet cleared to return.

Quinn, a 2007 first-round pick out of Notre Dame, hasn't started a game since Week 14 of the 2009 season, when Crennel was Quinn's coach in Cleveland.

Quinn, in his sixth season, has modest career numbers from his first three seasons in the league with Cleveland -- 14 games, 12 starts, a completion percentage of 52 percent, 10 TD passes, nine interceptions and a 66.8 passer rating.

-- Saints quarterback Drew Brees said Thursday the reissued suspensions were "a sham." He disagrees with the basis for the punishment handed down to players and coaches for the pay-for-performance plot under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and believes the courts will have the next say in the matter.

"This could go on for a while, because, certainly, our players are not satisfied with some of the things that Commissioner Goodell has claimed or said," Brees told NFL Network. "It seems like so much of his suspensions have been based upon speculation and rhetoric and maybe the testimony of some pretty unreliable sources."

---The Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers were announced as the participants in the 2013 international series game at Wembley Stadium in London.

The game is scheduled to be played Sunday, Oct. 27, and will be televised in the 1 p.m. ET timeslot, 5 p.m. in the United Kingdom.

---The New York Jets will be without defensive end Kenrick Ellis for 4-6 weeks with what coach Rex Ryan labeled a "significant" knee injury.

The MCL injury suffered Monday against the Houston Texans is likely a small tear.

Ryan also announced that safety Eric Smith was hurt in Wednesday's practice and won't play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

---San Diego running back Ryan Mathews could return to the starting lineup for the Monday night game against Denver.

Mathews' role has expanded the past two weeks while coming off the bench behind Jackie Battle. Mathews was out six weeks with a broken clavicle before coming back as the starter three weeks ago when the Chargers lost to the Atlanta Falcons.

---Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo will join ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show.

Caliendo's role as a contributor begins this week, the network announced.

---Detroit Lions running back Javhid Best expects to learn Friday whether he'll be cleared to resume playing.

Best underwent a battery of tests administered by a neurologist on Monday after suffering his second concussion of the season when he was injured in the Lions' loss to San Francisco. If the news is positive, he could be removed from the physically unable to perform list on Monday.

---Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis will miss two to three weeks with a sprained left knee.

The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday that Mathis might be sidelined for several weeks and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky acknowledged the unfortunate news Thursday.

---The New York Giants are hopeful that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will be able to play Sunday against San Francisco after he practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Nicks has missed the past three games because of knee and foot injuries.

---New York Jets offensive lineman Matt Slauson has fined $10,000 by the NFL for his illegal block on Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, FOXSports' Jay Glazer reported Thursday.

Cushing tore his anterior-cruciate ligament on the illegal hit, ending his season.

--- Eagles quarterback Michael Vick admitted he owned a dog, and issued a statement on the matter Thursday:"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God's creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change."