COWBOYS
McClain likely out
IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys will likely be without middle linebacker and leading tackler Rolando McClain for Sunday’s game at St. Louis.
McClain hasn’t practiced since coming out of last week’s game at Tennessee with a groin injury. He was listed as doubtful for the Rams when Dallas (1-1) released its practice report Friday.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on a weekly radio appearance Friday that McClain, who has 22 tackles, wants to play and thinks he might play. But Jones also called the linebacker “doubtful.”
When talking to reporters Friday, even McClain sounded unsure of his status.
“I don’t know. I’ve been able to do what they’ve asked me to do,” McClain said. “I’m getting better. I’ll do whatever they ask me to do.”
Linebacker Justin Durant will miss his second game in a row with a groin injury.
Receiver Dez Bryant was listed as questionable after limited participation in practice for the second day in a row. He hurt his shoulder against the Titans last week.
Coach Jason Garrett said he believes in players being at practice in some way to determine if they can play in the game.
DOLPHINS
Jordan suspended again
DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan was suspended Friday for the second time this year for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and he must sit out the next four games without pay.
As a result of the two violations, Jordan will miss the year’s first six games. He’s undergoing treatment, the Dolphins said.
Jordan was first suspended July 3 after testing positive for a prohibited stimulant. That suspension, originally for four games, was lifted under terms of the league’s new policy on performance-enhancing substances that took effect Wednesday.
As the Dolphins were notified Friday that the suspension was lifted, they were advised of the second suspension, Coach Joe Philbin said.
“While we were disappointed to learn of this result, we support Dion for proactively taking steps to voluntarily seek treatment to better himself,” Philbin said in a statement. “We will continue to support and work with him as he takes advantage of all available resources during this time.”
Jordan, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, will be eligible to rejoin practice and return to the Dolphins’ active roster Oct. 20.
BROWNS
WR Gordon reinstated
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated into the NFL and had his one-year suspension reduced to 10 games after the league announced changes to its drug policy.
The league and NFL Players Association reached an agreement Friday on revisions to the substance-abuse program. Earlier this week, they announced changes on performance-enhancing drugs.
Gordon, who has at least four drug violations, has already served two games of the suspension. He will be eligible to play Nov. 23 when the Browns visit Atlanta.
Gordon’s appeal of a season-long ban was upheld Aug. 22. Under the new provisions, Gordon will be allowed to work out and attend team meetings. Before the changes, Gordon was only permitted to meet with his clinician at the team’s facility.
Despite being suspended for two games last season, Gordon led the league with 1,646 yards receiving.
CARDINALS
QB Arians to start
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Coach Bruce Arians said Drew Stanton will start at quarterback when the Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Arians said if Carson Palmer is in good enough condition, he will be the backup quarterback. But he said Palmer, out with a nerve problem in his shoulder, still is unable to throw a pass.
Stanton was the quarterback in Arizona’s 25-14 victory at the New York Giants last Sunday. It was the first time he had played in a regular-season game in four years.
After this week, Palmer will have some time to heal because the Cardinals have a bye next week.
Rookie Logan Thomas will be the backup if Palmer can’t fill that role.
Abraham on IR
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona has placed 15-year veteran John Abraham on injured reserve, ending his season with the Cardinals.
The 36-year-old outside linebacker sustained a concussion in the season opener against San Diego. He left the team briefly after that, reportedly contemplating retirement, before making an attempt to return this week.
He had not been able to practice, however.
Abraham is the NFL’s active career sacks leader with 133½, ranking him ninth on the league’s all-time list. He had 11½ sacks with the Cardinals last season and is in the second year of a two-year contract with Arizona.
The Cardinals also re-signed punter Drew Butler because regular punter Dave Zastudil still is nursing a sore groin.
Butler punted in both of Arizona’s games but was cut Tuesday.
CHIEFS
Charles doubtful Sunday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who is on the injury report with a sprained ankle, practiced with the starters on Friday, but Coach Andy Reid wasn’t certain how much, if any, Charles will be able to play Sunday against Miami.
Charles is listed as questionable for the game.
“We’re going to see how he feels after this practice,” Reid said. “He moved around and did a decent job. He looked a little sore, but he did OK. Jamaal wanted to try it [Wednesday], we limited him … and he did some work [Friday] with the ones, and he did some with the scout team, too.”
Second-year back Knile Davis (Arkansas Razorbacks) took the first snap in practice that was open to members of the media Friday, but Charles received snaps after that. Charles, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of last Sunday’s game at Denver, declined interview requests on Friday.
BILLS
WR Woods to play
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods expects to play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers after suffering a right ankle injury earlier in the week.
Woods is listed as probable. He suffered the injury late in practice on Wednesday while making a cut on the field. Woods missed practice Thursday, but returned on a limited basis Friday. After practice Friday, Woods was optimistic about his chances.
“I feel pretty good,” Woods said. “I had the ankle injury before, this is a slight one and I just want to go out there and play. I feel good and I’m happy it didn’t take long.”
Woods had surgery on the same ankle in the offseason.
NFL
Fines levied
NEW YORK — New York Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson was fined $20,000 by the NFL on Friday for unnecessary roughness — throwing punches — in a fight that resulted in him being ejected of the game against the Green Bay Packers.
Wilkerson was tossed when he got into it with Packers players in the third quarter of Green Bay’s 31-24 victory last Sunday. Wilkerson was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct, as was teammate Sheldon Richardson.
The penalty on Richardson was declined, but the defensive lineman was fined $8,268 on Friday for unnecessary roughness: grabbing an opponent’s facemask after the play.
Packers tight end Andrew Quarless was also docked $8,268 for unnecessary roughness after he ripped off Richardson’s helmet during the shoving match.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was fined $11,025 for using “inappropriate language” after a play against the Chicago Bears last Sunday night.
Kaepernick, who has said he will appeal the fine, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after he threw an interception in the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ 28-20 loss to the Bears. He and Chicago defensive end Lamarr Houston went at it, but Houston acknowledged that Kaepernick didn’t say anything offensive or out of line.
St. Louis Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar was fined $16,537 for a hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown. New York Giants linebacker Jameel McClain was docked $8,268 for a late hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton.