Another Fine Mess for Jaguars’ Brackens

The NFL fined Jacksonville defensive end Tony Brackens $15,000 Friday for a hit that knocked Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman out of Sunday’s game.

There was no helmet-to-helmet contact and no flag was thrown on the play, but the NFL told Brackens he was fined for violating a rule that bans picking up a player and slamming them to the turf, then falling on top of them with all their weight.

Aikman, who has been hurting with a sore back, will not start Sunday against Philadelphia.

The fine was the second for Brackens in two weeks. Last week, he received a $10,000 fine for kicking Washington lineman Jay Leeuwenburg as he exited the pile after a fumble recovery.

The Jaguars were off Friday and Brackens was unavailable for comment.

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Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid denied reports that he’s the top target to replace retiring Brigham Young University Coach LaVell Edwards at the end of this season.

“No, nothing is going to happen unless they get rid of me here,” Reid said. “There’s nothing there. . . . I’m into this season. I’m into the Dallas Cowboys right now and that’s where I’m at.”

Reid is in the second season of a five-year deal with the Eagles. He played at BYU.

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Denver is taking a wait-and-see approach with offensive guard Mark Schlereth, who has been slow to recover from a 14th surgery on his left knee.

Schlereth had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Oct. 16. The knee remains sore and Schlereth is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

The October surgery was Schlereth’s 28th operation overall.

Running back Terrell Davis and fullback Howard Griffith are expected to play, and receiver Robert Brooks might be available. Brooks has missed the last five games because of a hamstring injury.

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Running back Ricky Watters practiced with his Seattle teammates and appears healthy enough to make his 107th consecutive start.

“He practiced well, and I think he will play,” Coach Mike Holmgren said. “There were no restrictions at all.”

Watters missed two days of practice this week because of a turf toe, but is expected to play Sunday against San Diego. He holds the NFL’s longest current starting streak for running backs.

Quarterback Brock Huard did some aerobic work for the first time since suffering a concussion in the Oct. 22 loss to Oakland. Holmgren said Huard is expected to begin practicing next week and could be available for the Jacksonville game on Nov. 12.

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Willing to try anything in pursuit of their first victory, the San Diego Chargers bused to Grossmont College in El Cajon to practice on an artificial turf field identical to the one at Seattle’s Husky Stadium, where the Chargers will play the Seahawks.

“I think it’s good. I’m going to get some for my backyard,” quarterback Jim Harbaugh joked after the two-hour practice on the Field Turf surface, which looks and feels like real grass. “You don’t have to mow it, don’t have to water it. It’s perfect.”

Coach Mike Riley agreed. “Anything to cut down on mowing the grass is a good deal,” he said.