Friday around the nfl

Buffalo Bills: The club has released receiver Brad Smith off of its injured-reserve list. The move, announced Friday, comes 10 weeks after Smith hurt his ribs in Buffalo’s preseason-finale against Detroit. Smith was entering his eighth NFL season, and third with Buffalo. He’s a versatile dual-threat on offense, known for his ability to play receiver and quarterback in wildcat formations. He became expendable because the Bills have essentially abandoned running the wildcat under new coach Doug Marrone. The Bills also spent the offseason retooling the receiver position by drafting Robert Woods in the second round and Marquise Goodwin in the third. Smith had one year left on a four-year, $15 million contract he signed with Buffalo. He spent his first five seasons with the New York Jets.

Denver Broncos: Denver Broncos coach John Fox has been released from the hospital four days after undergoing heart surgery in Charlotte, N.C. Fox was resting at his offseason home in Charlotte, interim head coach Jack Del Rio said after Friday’s practice. Fox had his aortic value replaced at the Carolinas HealthCare System’s Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte on Monday. In a statement released by the team, Fox thanked his doctors, family, friends and fans. He said his recovery is progressing well: “I’m feeling better and stronger each day.” He’ll stay in Charlotte to begin his cardiovascular rehabilitation. He said it’ll be difficult to be away from the Broncos (7-1) when they play the Chargers (4-4) Sunday but he’ll be cheering them on from home.

Houston Texans: Houston running back Arian Foster will miss Sunday’s game against Arizona with an injured back. The Pro Bowler didn’t practice all week after injuring his back on Houston’s first series against Indianapolis last week. He also missed most of Houston’s previous game with a hamstring problem. The team hasn’t disclosed exactly what’s wrong with Foster’s back. Interim coach Wade Phillips said Friday that Foster had visited specialists about the problem and will likely seek more opinions. Ben Tate, who is still recovering from four broken ribs, is expected to start in his place.

Washington Redskins: Coach Mike Shanahan is trying to put a positive spin on his 3-6 team. At his news conference Friday, Shanahan says his offense is “doing some good things” in the running game. He says “at times, we’ve been very effective” when passing. He says his defense “played some good halves over the last three or four games.” He says his special teams “made some strides” and “coverage teams are much better.” A year ago, the Redskins also were 3-6, before winning seven consecutive games to win the NFC East.

Players fined: Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey were fined $15,750 apiece by the NFL for horse-collar tackles last weekend. Casey’s teammate, safety Bernard Pollard, lost $10,000 for what the NFL said Friday was “striking an opponent late” for a hit on St. Louis quarterback Kellen Clemens in the Titans’ 28-21 victory over the Rams. There was no penalty called. Casey was fined for the way he brought down running back Zac Stacy on a tackle that drew a flag for unnecessary roughness. The NFL docked Fletcher for his horse-collar tackle of running back Danny Woodhead during the fourth quarter of Washington’s 30-24 overtime victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Associated Press