Saints quarterback Drew Brees will not play against the Panthers

Drew Brees will be sidelined for New Orleans’ game at Carolina on Sunday, when the Saints will try to avoid falling to 0-3.

Brees, who is recovering from a bruised rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder, will be replaced in the lineup by 12-year veteran Luke McCown, Saints Coach Sean Payton said Friday.

Payton said resting Brees this weekend was not a difficult decision. Payton also declined to forecast whether Brees would return the following week against Dallas.

“Just where he’s at in the rehab and his strength, I think he felt — I think we all felt — like it would be too early, him playing this weekend,” Payton said. “He felt like he made progress throughout the week and yet it’s still not where it needs to be, or where we would feel comfortable with the strength that he needs.

“This morning, as he was throwing, he just felt like the velocity still wasn’t there,” Payton added.

Sunday’s game will mark the first start Brees has missed because of an injury since joining New Orleans in 2006. Brees briefly was in the locker room while it was open to media, but politely chose not to talk about the decision, allowing McCown to absorb the spotlight.

McCown has been with the Saints since 2013 but has yet to complete a regular-season pass with the club. His only attempt was an incompletion on a fake field goal. McCown has not thrown a touchdown pass in a game since he threw five in five games with Tampa Bay in 2007.

Cutler joins Jeffrey on Bears’ sideline

The Chicago Bears will be without injured quarterback Jay Cutler for Sunday’s game at Seattle, and he is not the only one hurting.

For the second straight week, top Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery will miss a game. Cutler and Jeffery are both nursing pulled hamstrings and both were ruled out Friday by Coach John Fox, who said he is counting on quarterback Jimmy Clausen to guide the Bears against Seattle, which has reached the last two Super Bowls. Both teams are 0-2.

“This is the first full week he’s gotten reps since I’ve been here,” Fox said. “I’ve been pretty impressed with how he’s gone about it. I thought he had a great week. I thought the whole football team was very focused this week as they well should be going to play a team and in a venue like Seattle.”

Cutler will accompany the team on the trip to Seattle. Fox said he wanted to call Cutler doubtful for the game, but decided against it.

Ware, Rashad Johnson hit with hefty fines

Denver Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware and Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson each have been fined $17,363 by the NFL for infractions during last week’s games.

The league said Friday that Ware was fined for roughing the passer, hitting Kansas City’s Alex Smith low on Sept. 17. Johnson was docked for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Arizona’s victory last Sunday at Chicago. Johnson was not penalized on the play.

Broncos defensive tackle Malik Jackson was fined $8,681 for unnecessary roughness against the Chiefs for his late hit on Jamaal Charles.

Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright was fined $10,000 for being ejected for the Seahawks’ loss to the Packers. Green Bay guard T.J. Lang, Buffalo safety Aaron Williams and Titans receiver Harry Douglas each were fined $8,681 for unnecessary roughness.

Etc.

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall is expected to miss at least three to four weeks with a sprained toe on his right foot. Coach Jay Gruden said Friday that the team doesn’t know yet whether Hall will need surgery. ... Coach Dan Quinn says it will be at least another week before linebacker Brooks Reed debuts with the Atlanta Falcons. Reed was the team’s top acquisition in free agency, signing a five-year contract guaranteeing $9 million, but a groin injury has sidelined him since the third preseason game. ... Browns starting nickel back K’Waun Williams sustained his third concussion in less than a year and will sit out Sunday against Oakland. ...

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, wide receiver Eric Decker, running back Chris Ivory and right guard Willie Colon are all questionable and expected to be game-time decisions against the Philadelphia Eagles because of injuries. Decker has a sprained left knee that kept him out of practice all week. Revis (strained groin), Ivory (quadriceps) and Colon (knee) were all limited Friday. ... Minnesota Vikings left guard Brandon Fusco is questionable for the game against San Diego on Sunday. Fusco missed practice Wednesday and returned on a limited basis Thursday after going through the league’s concussion protocol. ...

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was listed as probable for Sunday night’s game against Denver. Stafford’s injured ribs did not prevent him from being a full participant in practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. ... Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was listed as probable for Sunday’s game against Buffalo despite back and right ankle injuries. Tannehill was limited in practice, when his back ailment was included on the injury report for the first time. He practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday.