NFL notes: Bowe questionable with groin injury

Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns after straining his groin in practice this week.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Bowe hurt the groin near the end of Thursday's practice. The former Pro Bowl receiver did not participate in Friday's workout.

"It's day to day. We'll just see how he does," Reid said. "He was feeling a little bit better today than yesterday, which is good. We'll just see how he is tomorrow and we'll go from there."

Bowe, who signed, a five-year, $56 million contract in the offseason, has struggled to get involved in the Chiefs' unbeaten start. He's second on the team with 25 catches, but he has just 295 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in his first seven games.

Reid and Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson have been quizzed for weeks about why that's the case, and both of them insist that Bowe has been doing other things to get involved.

On several occasions, he's delivered devastating blocks for running back Jamaal Charles.

If he's unable to go on Sunday, the Chiefs will have to rely even more on a bunch of untested players. Donnie Avery has 21 catches for 343 yards, and Dexter McCluster has 16 receptions for 186 yards, but no other wide receiver on the roster has more than four catches.

NFL levies fines

The St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers drew a total of $47,250 in fines from the NFL for their chippy game last Sunday.

Rams defensive lineman Chris Long received the biggest fine Friday, $15,750 for unnecessary roughness for throwing a punch during a skirmish in the third quarter of St. Louis' 30-15 loss. Long was penalized and ejected after he was caught swinging his right hand at Panthers guard Chris Scott as players from both sides were pushing and shoving.

A pair of receivers — Carolina's Steve Smith and St. Louis' Brian Quick — were fined $7,875 for striking an opponent in the face. Also docked $7,875 were Rams guard Harvey Dahl for a late hit and Panthers safety Mike Mitchell for taunting.

Four players were fined $15,750 for roughing the passer: Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo, Miami linebacker Jelani Jenkins, Houston defensive end Jared Crick and Tennessee linebacker Akeem Ayers. Crick had a hit below the left knee of Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith in the first quarter of Houston's 17-16 loss to the Chiefs.

Around the league

Falcons • Atlanta has listed running back Steven Jackson as probable for Sunday's game at Arizona. Jackson, the NFL's active career-leading rusher, missed the past four games with a hamstring injury, but he participated fully in practice Friday. Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White won't play for the second straight game because of ankle and hamstring injuries.

Vikings • Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Minnesota against Green Bay on Sunday night, while Josh Freeman will be inactive (concussion-like symptoms) after being cleared to practice.

Jets • Receiver Santonio Holmes will miss his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury.

Washington • Oneida Indian officials who oppose the Redskins nickname as a slur will meet with NFL officials next week in New York City, a tribe spokesman said. —

Week 8 schedule

Thursday

Carolina 31, Tampa Bay 13

Sunday

Cleveland at Kansas City,11 a.m.

Buffalo at New Orleans,11 a.m.

Miami at New England, 11 a.m., Ch. 2

Dallas at Detroit, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 11 a.m.

San Francisco vs. Jacksonville at London, 11 a.m., Ch. 13

Pittsburgh at Oakland,2:05 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati,2:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Arizona, 2:25 p.m.

Washington at Denver,2:25 p.m., Ch. 13

Green Bay at Minnesota,6:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Open: Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, San Diego, Tennessee

Monday

Seattle at St. Louis, 6:40 p.m., ESPN