Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen returned to practice Thursday despite a fractured foot.
Head coach Ron Rivera said Allen, 33, would be given the opportunity to prove his effectiveness in two days of practice if he avoids setbacks. Allen is officially listed as doubtful on the injury report released Wednesday but could be upgraded.
Allen is the NFL’s active leader in sacks and had three quarterback hurries last week against the Seattle Seahawks. He has only two sacks for the Panthers since arriving in Carolina in October via trade from the Chicago Bears.
Allen visited foot specialist James Anderson in Charlotte on Monday.
“I’ve got a group of guys I’ve got to get ready to play with or without him,” Rivera said. “I don’t want to give any false indications either way because I want these guys focused in on preparing for themselves.”
—Cleveland Browns vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said the team won’t make a “panic” decision on the future of embattled quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Brown said the team will sit down with Manziel before making a decision.
“I know a lot’s been written about him,” Brown said during a press conference. “What we expect is Johnny to have a good offseason and be ready to go. We’re not in any panic to make any decision one way or another on him.
“He understands what’s ahead of him and what he needs to do to have a career in this league and with the Browns.”
Manziel has been a constant distraction for the team during his two seasons in Cleveland. A recent published report claims new coach Hue Jackson would prefer to part ways with Manziel.
—New Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter aggressively denied a coup led to Lovie Smith losing his job in Tampa Bay.
Koetter was elevated from offensive coordinator to replace Smith after two seasons. Because the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins also showed interest, rumors began that Koetter forced the Buccaneers’ hand to let go of Smith and make Koetter head coach.
Koetter was the choice of the Glazer Family because of his resume with quarterbacks. That includes 2015 No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston, who will benefit from the continuity of working under Koetter in the same system in 2016.
—The kicking footballs for last Saturday’s AFC playoff contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots were initially forgotten at a Boston hotel and had to be escorted by police to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, according to published reports.
The air-pressure gauges used to properly measure the inflation were also left behind.
When game officials released the mistake, the NFL contacted the Hyatt Hotel at Logan Airport. The hotel got in touch with the Massachusetts State police and Detective Lieutenant Thomas Coffey drove the balls to the stadium, along with a hotel employee.
—The Kansas City Chiefs have selected Brad Childress and Matt Nagy to serve as co-offensive coordinators as they fill the void created when Doug Pederson departed to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Childress has been an offensive assistant on the Kansas City staff the past three seasons, while Nagy served as quarterbacks coach the past three seasons.
Coach Andy Reid said that he will continue to call the team’s offensive plays. Childress will work from the press box during games and Nagy will be on the sideline.
—The Jacksonville Jaguars elevated defensive line coach Todd Wash to defensive coordinator, according to published reports.
Wash, 47, replaces Bob Babich, who was fired after the 2015 season.
Wash has been part of the Jacksonville staff since Gus Bradley took over as coach in 2013. He was the defensive line coach prior to Thursday’s promotion.
—Oakland Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper is going to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement, the NFL announced.
Cooper will replace New York Jets wideout Brandon Marshall in the Jan. 31 game in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. He joins four other Raiders — quarterback Derek Carr, safety Charles Woodson, pass rusher Khalil Mack and fullback Marcel Reece — on the roster.
Cooper’s 72 catches for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns this season led all NFL rookies.
—The San Francisco 49ers turned to the Canadian Football League to sign wide receiver Eric Rogers to a two-year contract.
Rogers will receive a signing bonus of $125,000 from the 49ers, according to multiple reports.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Rogers originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Cal Lutheran in 2013 but was released before the season and hooked on in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders.
—Former Arizona Cardinals personnel executive George Boone died Sunday at age 77, the team announced.
Boone spent 28 season with the Cardinals, serving as assistant player personnel director from 1968-72, director of player personnel from 1973-91 and later as a scout from 2001-05.
Boone’s time with the organization began when the franchise was located in St. Louis.
In between his stints with the Cardinals, Boone spent six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He was director of player personnel from 1994-97 and director of college scouting in 1998-99.
—The Cincinnati Bengals re-assigned Robert Livingston as one of three minor moves to the coaching staff announced by the club on Thursday.
Livingston will be an assistant defensive backs coach after spending his first season on the staff as defensive quality control/special teams assistant.
Dan Pilcher was hired as an offensive assistant after spending the last four seasons in a scouting position for the Indianapolis Colts.
Robert Couch was hired as offensive quality control coach after working in private business in recent years.