NFL Report: Greg Hardy to start for the Panthers

Greg Hardy will start the Carolina Panthers’ home opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions with no new developments in his domestic violence case.

Hardy missed practice Wednesday to meet with his attorney, but Coach Ron Rivera announced the decision to start Hardy on Friday after the defensive end practiced for a second straight day. Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats, but is appealing.

The team’s franchise player, Hardy has not been suspended by the NFL or the Panthers despite his conviction following an altercation with his ex-girlfriend at his apartment in March.

The league has stated it is waiting to see what happens in a jury trial set for Nov. 17 in Charlotte.

Fines

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been fined $8,268 by the NFL for his kick to the face of Cleveland Browns punter Spencer Lanning last Sunday. Brown was returning a punt when he tried to leap over Lanning, but instead smacked him in the facemask with his cleat. The move drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Brown.

Chicago safety Chris Conte was fined $22,050 for making helmet-to-helmet contact with Buffalo wide receiver Robert Woods. New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace was docked $16,537 for a roughing the passer hit on Oakland quarterback Derek Carr. New England’s Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower, and Washington’s Jarvis Jenkins received the same fine for similar infractions.

The Redskins’ Bashaud Breeland was fined $16,537 for a horse-collar tackle on Houston’s Andre Johnson.

Etc.

Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jeff Allen had surgery on his right elbow and will miss the rest of the season, the latest blow to a team already ravaged by injuries and suspensions. ... The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive front suffered a major loss when starting left end Adrian Clayborn was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a biceps injury. ...

The Green Packers won’t know until Saturday whether injured right tackle Bryan Bulaga will be available for their home opener against the Jets. ... The San Diego Chargers could face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday without key cornerback Brandon Flowers. Flowers didn’t practice on Friday with a groin injury, after being limited on Thursday. ...

The CBS debut broadcast of “Thursday Night Football” was seen by more than 20 million viewers, the network said. CBS earlier said its broadcast with the NFL Network of the Steelers and Ravens had an overnight household rating of 13.7, which more than doubled the first non-opener Thursday night game last season. Last year, Thursday night games were shown only on the NFL Network.