New York Giants’ Steve Smith sidelined because of partially torn chest muscle

The New York Giants will have to get by for the foreseeable future without their top possession receiver, Steve Smith.

On Friday, Smith was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys because of what Coach Tom Coughlin described as a partially torn chest muscle.

Mario Manningham, sporting the Giants’ biggest per-catch average at 15.4 yards, will replace Smith at split end. Hakeem Nicks, the NFL’s top-scoring wide receiver, with nine touchdowns, will remain at flanker.

Second-year player Ramses Barden and undrafted rookie Duke Calhoun will get playing time in the multiple-receiver sets.

Coughlin said Smith will be on “week-to-week” status but indicated he won’t plot a definitive timetable for his return until he begins rehabilitation. Coughlin said no surgery will be necessary.

Lions’ Stafford to see doctor

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has an appointment with well-known sports physician James Andrews.

Lions Coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford will have his injured right shoulder evaluated Monday by Andrews in Alabama.

Schwartz said he doesn’t know whether a decision about Stafford’s status this season will be made at that time.

Stafford separated his throwing shoulder in Week 1 and sat out five games. He has played in only three games this season and aggravated the banged-up right shoulder Sunday against the New York Jets.

Shaun Hill is expected to start at Buffalo, where the Lions hope to avoid an NFL-record 25th straight setback on the road.

Stafford was out six games last year because of injuries after being drafted No. 1 overall.

Browns’ Benard sits out practice

Browns linebacker Marcus Benard sat out practice Friday and continues to be evaluated, one day after fainting in Cleveland’s locker room.

Benard collapsed in front of his cubicle Thursday during the 45-minute interview period open to reporters. He underwent tests at a hospital and continues to be evaluated, Coach Eric Mangini said Friday. Benard spent about eight hours at Southwest General Hospital.

“It was just really fainting,” Mangini said.

Titans’ Collins gets most of the reps in practice

Kerry Collins got the majority of the starter’s reps Friday, and the Tennessee Titans quarterback stayed after practice to throw to new receiver Randy Moss.

Vince Young continued to be limited by an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision Sunday against Miami.

“We’ll warm him up and see how he is,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.

Fisher said the Titans reduced Young’s work Friday after he took about half the starter’s snaps on Thursday.

“He did take some starter reps today,” Fisher said.

Collins said he is prepared to go if called upon. He has already made one start against Philadelphia and two relief appearances for Young this season.

“Any time you get to go out there and actually run the play, it definitely helps,” Collins said. “Whatever my role is going to be this weekend, I’ll be ready for it.”

Collins said he was working with Moss to help bring him up to speed.

“He came in here and he had so little time. We just needed some extra time to work on a couple of things that we didn’t really get to touch on as much as we would like during the week,” Collins said.

Harvin returns to practice

Wide receiver Percy Harvin returned to practice after absences the previous two days, but Minnesota Vikings Coach Brad Childress said his migraines haven’t “completely cleared.”

Childress even initially described Harvin as “doubtful” to play Sunday at Chicago, before deciding on questionable — or 50-50 — for the official injury report when it was released about an hour later.

Harvin has also been dealing with a sprained ankle, but Childress said that hasn’t been a problem for him this week.

As for receiver Sidney Rice?

“The decision is up to Sidney when he’s going to jump back in,” Childress said.

Rice remains on the physically unable to perform list — the Vikings must decide by Saturday afternoon whether to activate him for the Bears game — so he does not appear on the injury report. But Childress assessed him as questionable.

Palmer limited in practice

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was limited in practice by a sore passing shoulder but is expected to start against the Colts.

Palmer hurt the shoulder on a sack during a loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night. He sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday, then returned on a limited basis Friday. He was listed as probable for the game Sunday in Indianapolis.

Broncos’ Williams charged with DUI

The Denver Broncos face the loss of leading tackler D.J. Williams to an NFL suspension following his second drunk-driving arrest.

The linebacker and defensive co-captain was charged with driving under the influence after being arrested in Denver early Friday. It’s his second such arrest. He pleaded guilty in September 2005 to driving drunk and was ordered to perform 24 hours of community service. After that, he said he realized he needed to get a designated driver whenever he went out partying, and the team provides drivers to its players, but Williams didn’t use one Friday.

Jaguars’ Kampman out for season

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Aaron Kampman was put on injured reserve after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice, leaving the Jaguars without their best pass rusher and their defensive leader.

“It’s a shame because he’s a special young man in a lot of different ways, not only on the field but in the locker room, in the community,” Coach Jack Del Rio said.

Kreutz available for Bears

The Chicago Bears expect to have center Olin Kreutz available to face the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday’s game at Soldier Field.

Kreutz practiced Friday for the first time this week after missing Wednesday and Thursday workouts because of a pulled hamstring. He officially is listed as questionable for the game.

Ochocinco, Scott fined

Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott were each fined $20,000 by the NFL for violating the league’s uniform policy.

Ochocinco wore gold cleats during the Bengals’ 27-21 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday night. Scott was fined for playing without having his chin straps snapped at all times — a safety issue — during the Jets’ 23-20 overtime victory at Detroit last week.

Etc.

New York Jets backup defensive back Marquice Cole will miss the team’s game at Cleveland because of a strained left hamstring…. Buffalo Bills starting right tackle Cordaro Howard is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions because of a shoulder injury…. The Carolina Panthers are down to fourth-string running back Mike Goodson for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay. DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Tyrell Sutton all missed practice again Friday because of injuries and won’t play against the Buccaneers.