Olivier Vernon and Eli Apple to miss game against Saints

Wide receiver A.J. Green practiced Friday and declared himself healthy as the Cincinnati Bengals head to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Sunday.

Green left last week's loss to the Carolina Panthers with what the team labeled a pelvis injury.

He downplayed a matchup against the Falcons and Julio Jones that has been hyped in Atlanta. But Green, who said he's thankful the injury wasn't as severe as it could have been, described Week 4 as just another game.

Running back Joe Mixon (knee) was ruled out but expects to practice next week.

--Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the New York Jets due to his troublesome right hamstring injury.

Fournette was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report. He is in danger of missing his third straight game as he battles the Week 1 injury suffered against the New York Giants.

Right guard A.J. Cann (triceps) also was listed as questionable while cornerback D.J. Hayden (toe) was ruled out. Hayden will miss his second straight game.

--Outside linebacker Olivier Vernon, cornerback Eli Apple and tight end Evan Engram are among the Giants who will miss Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Giants officially ruled out the trio on Friday, along with running back Jonathan Stewart (foot) and wide receiver Cody Latimer (knee). Vernon is dealing with a high ankle sprain, Apple has a groin injury and Engram has an ailing knee.

Vernon has missed all three of New York's previous games. Apple is missing his second straight contest. Also, cornerback Antonio Hamilton (groin) and kick returner Stacy Coley (hamstring) are listed as questionable.

--Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb was added to the injury report with an ailing hamstring injury and his status for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills is in doubt.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy sounded less than optimistic in his Friday comments on Cobb's status, offering only, "We'll see what today brings."

Cobb did not have a major impact on the offense at Washington last week -- one lost a fumble, two drops -- but there was no disclosure of an injury until Thursday.

--Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is out for a third consecutive game with a knee injury.

Freeman was injured Week 1 at Philadelphia and the initial time frame for his return was two to three weeks.

Freeman participated on a limited basis this week and was ruled out of Sunday's game against Cincinnati along with cornerback Justin Bethel (knee) and defensive lineman Derrick Shelby (groin). Defensive end Takkarist McKinley, who missed last week's game with a groin injury, will play Sunday.

--Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was set to return this week, but an illness throws his comeback from shoulder surgery into doubt.

Jeffery was cleared for contact on Wednesday and impressed coach Doug Pederson enough that he was upgraded to questionable for Week 4 at Tennessee. But he didn't practice Thursday and was out again Friday.

Pederson also said that running back Darren Sproles (hamstring) isn't ready to go this week.

--New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon could be inactive for a second straight game.

New England head coach Bill Belichick said that Gordon is "doing everything he can" to get ready for his first game with the team. But there is no guarantee that will come Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots acquired Gordon from the Cleveland Browns prior to last week's game at Detroit.

--Minnesota long snapper Kevin McDermott lost the tip of his pinky finger but returned to the field in Thursday's 38-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

On the FOX broadcast, a bloodied McDermott was seen wrapping his hand. Initially, the TV report was McDermott had only a fingernail ripped off.

McDermott's pinky was caught in a player's face mask. The finger was stitched up, wrapped and he returned to the game having missed only one deep snap on a punt. Tight end David Morgan took over and launched a snap that floated, causing Matt Wile's punt to be nearly blocked.

--Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich announced that five players, including left tackle Anthony Castonzo, have been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.

Castonzo has been battling a hamstring injury since prior to the start of training camp. On Sunday, Le'Raven Clark is expected to replace Castonzo for a third straight week.

Additionally, tight end Jack Doyle (hip) and tackle/guard Joe Haeg (ankle) will not play. Missing from the Colts' defensive lineup will be tackle Hassan Ridgeway (calf) and cornerback Quincy Wilson (concussion).

--Eagles defensive end Chris Long is giving back in a big way again.

Long, who donated his entire 2017 regular-season salary to charity, pledged $400,000 of his $2.5 million salaries for 2018 to literacy programs.

"Kids don't have a choice. Kids don't pick their parents, they don't pick their economic background, they don't pick the neighborhood they grew up in, they don't pick any of the factors that can hold them back, they don't pick their school system," Long said. "So [investing in them], it just feels like you're doing something productive. ... I just feel like this is something where you're going to see results."