Ryan Mallett expected to replace Brian Hoyer at quarterback for Texans

Ryan Mallett will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Sunday at Carolina, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Brian Hoyer started the season opener, but had two turnovers early and was benched in the fourth quarter. Mallett took over and led the Texans on two scoring drives in the last six minutes of the 27-20 loss to Kansas City. He will start against the Panthers, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team is not expected to disclose its starting quarterback until game day. The NFL Network first reported the Mallett decision.

Hoyer was signed in the off-season after starting for the Browns last year and beat Mallett for the job in training camp.

Coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday that he knew who the quarterback would be, but that he wouldn’t share that information before the game. He repeated the sentiment on Wednesday.

Adam Jones fined $35,000 for play against

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was fined $35,000 by the NFL for his personal foul against Raiders receiver Amari Cooper during their opener on Sunday.

Jones got on top of Cooper, knocked off his helmet and slammed his head against it at the end of a play during the second quarter, drawing a penalty for unnecessary roughness. He wasn’t ejected, and a scrum resulted after the play ended.

Jones said Wednesday that he would appeal the fine.

Patriots reinstate ‘the deflator’ and equipment aide

The NFL said the New England Patriots can reinstate the two employees at the center of what a league investigation found was a scheme to use improperly inflated footballs in the AFC championship game.

Equipment assistant John Jastremski and officials locker room attendant Jim McNally were reinstated Wednesday after the team requested they be allowed to return.

“The Patriots have satisfied the league’s requirements for reinstatement and the league has granted permission for the employees to return,” the league said in a statement.

The NFL launched a months-long, multimillion-dollar investigation after finding the footballs supplied by the Patriots for the AFC title game against Indianapolis were inflated below the league minimum. In one of the more damning pieces of evidence, McNally referred to himself as “the deflator.”

In its report, the league said it was more probable than not that McNally and Jastremski “participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee.” The report also found that Brady “was at least generally aware” of the scheme.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James would not elaborate on what role McNally and Jastremski would have for the team.

Raiders’ Derek Carr expects to play despite sore thumb

Following some initial concern after Derek Carr was knocked out of Oakland’s season opener with a hand injury, the Raiders are expecting to have their starting quarterback back on the field Sunday against Baltimore.

Carr took part in his first practice Wednesday since bruising his thumb on his throwing hand in the first half of the 33-13 loss to Cincinnati. He said he took about 99% of the snaps in practice and was encouraged by how he felt.

Johnny Manziel might start in place of Josh McCown

The Cleveland Browns are heading into their home opener with another quarterback conundrum.

Josh McCown, who sustained a concussion on Cleveland’s opening drive of the season on Sunday against the Jets, is following the NFL’s protocol on head injuries and won’t be medically cleared to practice until Friday — at the earliest.

In the interim, Coach Mike Pettine said backup Johnny Manziel will take snaps with Cleveland’s starters, but the team will carefully monitor him because of lingering elbow tendinitis.

Even if McCown is cleared and can practice, there is no guarantee he will play against Tennessee.

If Manziel does start, he’ll be matched up against rookie Marcus Mariota, another Heisman Trophy winner.

Jets to take look at Terrelle Pryor

The New York Jets want to see Terrelle Pryor’s progress as a wide receiver for themselves.

A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jets will work out the former quarterback as a receiver next week.

Pryor was waived by Cleveland last week after making the Browns’ roster as a wide receiver despite not catching a pass in the preseason.

Tom Brady says he backs Donald Trump

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw his support behind presidential candidate Donald Trump Wednesday, hours before the second Republican debate.

The Super Bowl MVP, whose four-game suspension for using deflated footballs was recently overturned by a judge, said he thinks his golf partner can win.

“I hope so,” he said. “It would be great. There would be a putting green on the White House lawn, I can tell you that.”