NFL roundup: Falcons' Jones might be out for season

Wide receiver Julio Jones, the Atlanta Falcons' most consistent deep threat who was emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL, has a right foot injury that may end his season, coach Mike Smith said Tuesday.

Jones, who was hurt Monday in Atlanta's loss to the New York Jets, will be evaluated Wednesday by noted foot specialist Robert Anderson in Charlotte. The team is holding out hope for a more optimistic diagnosis.

"The first reports were not encouraging," Smith said, "but we will wait to see what the second opinion comes back as."

Smith stopped just short of ruling Jones out for the season.

--Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was encouraged by how he felt after going through limited practice drills, and he is not yet ruled out of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Vick's status is in question because he is still dealing with a pulled hamstring suffered in last Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

Vick did not participate in team drills Tuesday. Vick said he felt better than he did Sunday and was surprised at how well he was able to move and throw with velocity during practice.

--New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is likely to be cleared for Sunday's game after missing the first five weeks of the season, according to multiple reports.

Gronkowski, who is recovering from multiple back and forearm injuries, has not played this season. He would make his season debut against the undefeated New Orleans Saints.

Gronkowski, 24, underwent surgery June 18 to correct a spinal issue that nagged him last season. He has 187 catches for 2,663 yards and 38 touchdowns in three seasons.

--Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Indianapolis Colts and is expected to undergo surgery.

Bradshaw was injured against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 22 and visited multiple specialists to determine if he would elect to have surgery or try to play again this season. Bradshaw, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, also dealt with a neck injury while with the Giants last season.

The Colts also waived fullback Robert Hughes from the active roster and released running back Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad. Hughes could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

--Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will miss the entire season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.

Dr. James Andrews performed the operation, the team announced.

The surgery came one day after Sanchez's replacement at quarterback, rookie Geno Smith, enjoyed his finest moment, leading the Jets to a 30-28 road win over the Falcons.

"After over seven weeks of hard work and intense rehab, I've been advised by Dr. Andrews and other doctors that my shoulder injury clearly needs to be addressed surgically," Sanchez said in a statement.

--Tight end Owen Daniels is out for at least one month with a fractured fibula, but might miss just three games as the Houston Texans' bye week falls on Oct. 27.

Daniels is the team's second-leading receiver with 24 receptions and is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns.

--Kelvin Beachum, not newly acquired Levi Brown or Mike Adams, will start at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's game against the Jets.

Adams, a second-round pick struggling to consistently wall off defensive linemen, will still get his chances, but he's practicing behind Brown and Beachum, coach Mike Tomlin said.

--The Giants' league-worst running game will be without starter David Wilson for Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears.

Wilson was removed from the Giants' loss to the Eagles last week with neck soreness but said he expected to be ready for the Thursday night game.

Without him, veteran Brandon Jacobs, re-signed before Week 2 after Wilson mishandled two handoffs at Dallas, is responsible for putting a charge into the Giants' flat-lining running game.

--Wide receiver Armanti Edwards, the 89th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2010, was released by the team.

Wide receiver Toney Clemons was signed to the practice squad to replace wide receiver Cordell Roberson, who had his contract terminated.

--The Jacksonville Jaguars beefed up their offensive line depth by claiming tackle Sam Young off waivers from the Buffalo Bills.

Young has played in 22 games with four starts since entering the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2010. He played in two games with the Cowboys as a rookie before he was waived and claimed by Buffalo prior to the 2011 season. In three seasons (2011-13) with the Bills, he played in 20 games with four starts including four games in 2013.

--The Bills signed quarterback Dennis Dixon to their practice squad to add depth because of the injury to rookie EJ Manual last week.

Manuel is expected to miss at least a month with a right knee injury. Coach Doug Marrone will give Thad Lewis a shot to start at quarterback Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

--The right to host Super Bowl LII in 2018 is down to three.

Minneapolis, Indianapolis and New Orleans all offer domed stadiums but different downtown atmospheres for football-loving fans to take in before and after the NFL's marquee event.

The host site for Super Bowl LII will not be put to a vote until the NFL's spring meetings in Atlanta in May, well after any backlash from the open-air experience at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium is tabulated.

--The NFL will play three regular-season games at London's Wembley Stadium next year, hosted by the Jaguars, Falcons and Oakland Raiders -- the most games the league has played abroad in one year.

This season, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Steelers in September. Jacksonville will host the 49ers on Oct. 27 as part of the Jaguars' four-year commitment to move a home game to Wembley.

Dates and times of the games will be announced when the schedule is compiled next year.

--A meeting between NFL executives and the Oneida Indian Nation is expected this month to discuss the use of the name Redskins by the Washington football franchise.

The initial meeting was scheduled for Nov. 22, but the NFL plans to move up the discussion as the matter picks up attention outside of sports.

The league set up the initial meeting for New York City, but plans are subject to change. The NFL said it is willing to meet in central New York, where Oneida Nation is based.