NFL roundup: Bucs run afoul of NFLPA

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face scrutiny from the NFL Players Association on two fronts.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFLPA, said the union plans to join with the NFL in an investigation of the leak that led to the public learning about Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's inclusion in the NFL's substance-abuse program.

The union also filed a grievance Tuesday against the Buccaneers relating to kicker Lawrence Tynes, who was sidelined for the season after a staph infection in August.

Freeman responded issued a statement saying his positive drug test resulted from taking the wrong prescribed medication.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano said he was not the source of the information leak.

Freeman was benched in favor of Mike Glennon last week and then not allowed to watch the game from the sideline. According to FoxSports.com, Freeman was asked to stay away from a team meeting Tuesday.

Smith said the Tynes grievance addresses "significant concerns about the manner in which that player and perhaps other players' safety was handled by the team."

Tynes was not placed on injured reserve, but rather the league's non-football injury list, but the Bucs are paying his salary for this season as if he were on injured reserve.

The Buccaneers, off to an 0-4 start, also promoted wide receiver Chris Owusu from the practice squad and released veteran wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. Safety Ahmad Black was waived.

--Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker was diagnosed with a sprained right hip, and will "miss a few weeks, but we are encouraged by the news," the team announced Tuesday.

"We received reassuring reports from the second MRI today and they confirmed that there was no major damage to Jake Locker's hip joint -- it is classified as a sprained hip," a team statement read. "The area will need time to heal and strengthen, but he won't require surgery and he has already begun a rehab routine for both his hip and knee."

Locker likely will miss the team's next three games. That would put him on target to return after Tennessee's bye, a Week 9 matchup against the St. Louis Rams.

--The San Diego Chargers placed wide receiver Malcom Floyd and outside linebacker Dwight Freeney on season-ending injured reserve.

Floyd was injured in Week 2 and was carted off the field, but Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo reported Floyd would not require surgery and could play in 2014.

Freeney, signed in the offseason from the Indianapolis Colts, suffered a torn quadriceps against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

The Chargers signed free agent wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins on Tuesday. San Diego also promoted outside linebacker Thomas Keiser from the practice squad and replaced him with offensive tackle Andrew Tiller.

--Linebacker Jermaine Cunningham signed with the San Francisco 49ers, who waived quarterback B.J. Daniels and fullback Owen Marecic.

Cunningham was a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2010 and has 67 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 36 career games. He played in 12 games last season but was released by the Patriots on Aug. 31.

Daniels is a rookie seventh-round pick who made the season-opening roster as the third quarterback behind Colin Kaepernick and Colt McCoy. He is likely to join the practice squad if he clears waivers.

--Wide receiver David Nelson agreed to a contract with the New York Jets.

Santonio Holmes could miss two games with a hamstring injury and Stephen Hill must pass concussion tests to suit up, leading the Jets to look for veteran help at the position.

Nelson wasn't re-signed by the Buffalo Bills in 2013. He suffered a torn ACL in the 2012 regular-season opener. He spent part of the 2013 preseason with the Cleveland Browns. Nelson caught 61 passes in 2011 and 31 in 2010 with the Bills.

--The Washington Redskins released defensive end Phillip Merling and kicker John Potter.

Merling, 28, appeared in three of the team's first four games.

Potter, 23, converted three of four field-goal attempts with Kai Forbath missing the past three games with a groin injury. Forbath is expected to be ready to kick in time for the Redskins' next game.

--The Cincinnati Bengals signed veteran free agent linebacker Michael Boley to add depth to their roster.

Boley (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) is a ninth-year NFL player. He played four seasons for the New York Giants (2008-12) after spending four years with the Atlanta Falcons (2005-08). He started 102 of 121 career NFL games, and he started five postseason games.

--The New York Giants waived running back Da'Rel Scott to create a roster spot for offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds.

Reynolds, a 14-game starter for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, fortifies a Giants offensive line that has been ravaged by injuries through an 0-4 start. Giants starting center David Baas missed last week's game with a neck injury and right guard Chris Snee has a hip injury that reportedly could sideline him for the remainder of the season. Offensive lineman David Diehl has not played this season due to a thumb injury.

--Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, told ESPN that commissioner Roger Goodell "most definitely had a hand" in the 34-minute partial power outage at this year's Super Bowl. It occurred in the third quarter with the Ravens leading the 49ers 28-6.

"I thought he had a hand in it," Suggs told E:60.

San Francisco rallied with 17 consecutive points and had a chance to go ahead with a touchdown in the final minute before stalling inside the 5-yard line.

--Former NFL linebacker Rolando McClain, who retired at age 24 just three years into his pro career after multiple off-the-field problems, wants to resume his NFL career, his agent said.

McClain was drafted No. 8 overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2010, signing a five-year, $40 million rookie contract. He was arrested multiple times, and he was suspended by the Raiders near the end of his third season.