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Brian Westbrook signs with 49ers

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Running back Brian Westbrook, released by the Philadelphia Eagles during the off-season, signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday.

Westbrook, 30, spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Eagles. He suffered multiple concussions in 2009, playing in eight games and finishing with 274 yards rushing, 181 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He is the Eagles’ career leader in yards from scrimmage (9,785) and touches (1,734).

Westbrook, selected in the third round of the 2002 draft out of Villanova, has 5,995 yards rushing — second most in Eagles history — 3,790 yards receiving and 68 touchdowns. He ranks third in team history in receptions with 426 and holds the single-season marks for most yards from scrimmage with 2,104 and receptions with 90.

Harvin rejoins Vikings

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin rejoined the team after leaving practice July 31 to be with his family after the death of his grandmother.

He also has been battling the migraines that plagued him as a rookie, and Coach Brad Childress said he was not sure whether Harvin will ever be free of migraines.

Texans’ Tate out for season

Houston Texans rookie running back Ben Tate will be out for the season because of a broken ankle, Coach Gary Kubiak said.

Tate was carted off the field in the third quarter of the Texans’ 19-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The second-round pick will be put on injured reserve and is scheduled to have surgery this week.

The Texans also put defensive end Tim Bulman on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury.

ETC.

Jim Sorgi passed for 146 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Giants rallied to beat the New York Jets, 31-16, in a preseason game in East Rutherford, N.J.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning left early in the second quarter after he was cut on the forehead during a play. The Giants said Manning needed 12 stitches to close the three-inch cut on the left side of his head but showed no sign of a concussion.

Former Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel said he will retire.

Schobel, released by the Bills this month, told the team’s website he decided Friday that he will retire. He told the site he will file his retirement papers when he receives them from his agent, adding that he won’t listen if another team calls him about playing.

Schobel, 32, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and played for only Buffalo during his nine-year career, which began after the Bills selected him in the second round of the 2001 draft out of Texas Christian.

Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, a former first-round pick who left the San Francisco 49ers’ camp last week, was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco was believed to have received a sixth-round pick in return. Balmer, 23, has been involved in a recent NCAA investigation of recruiting practices at North Carolina, and he originally was excused from camp to deal with the matter. However, he did not return to camp as promised last week.

Tennessee Titans fullback Ahmard Hall says referee Ed Hochuli apologized to him for a holding call Jan. 3 in a game at Seattle that wiped out a 62-yard gain by Chris Johnson.

The running back still became the sixth NFL player to reach 2,000 yards, finishing with 2,006. But that 62-yard run in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale would have put Johnson within sight of Eric Dickerson’s NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards.

Hall said Monday that Hochuli apologized during the four days that the referee spent working the Titans’ training camp Aug. 4-7.

Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith was activated from the physically unable to perform list and caught balls in practice for the first time since breaking an arm during a flag football game in June.

Detroit Lions linebacker Jordon Dizon was put on injured reserve because of a knee injury suffered in Saturday’s preseason opener.

New England receiver Wes Welker said he wasn’t sure whether he would play, or even travel to, the Patriots’ game at the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. Welker is working his way back from January knee surgery.

Indianapolis Colts safety Jamie Silva is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament. He was injured in Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Fox Sports added former coach Jim Mora Jr. and former quarterback Kurt Warner to its NFL broadcast team. Mora will be part of a three-man booth with Dick Stockton and Charles Davis, and Warner will work a handful of games with Chris Myers or Chris Rose, replacing Trent Green.

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