Rivera: Newton 'probably' will start vs. Browns

The Panthers' Cam Newton will "probably" start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns barring any physical setbacks this week, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said after the quarterback practiced on Thursday.

The team increased Newton's workload and Rivera said the fourth-year QB seemed to handle it well. However, the coach was hesitant on naming Newton the starter in case he begins to experience soreness in his back.

"I would say he is on target" to start, Rivera said. "He had a good day and took the reps he was supposed to."

Newton was a full participant in practice Thursday, nine days after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash that left him hospitalized for one night with two fractures in his lower back.

He declared himself pain-free after the workout.

"If I can play, we all know I want to play," Newton said. "But at the end of the day I won't jeopardize what we have the opportunity to do just because of my selfishness to say, "Oooh, I'm a tough man."'

Unlike in past weeks when Newton was bothered by injuries and came right out and said definitely he wanted to play, the two-time Pro Bowler was more reserved about his playing status.

He repeatedly said he didn't want to be a distraction.

Derek Anderson started last week against Tampa Bay and led the Panthers to a 19-17 win. Anderson is 2-0 as the starter, but both wins have come against the 2-11 Buccaneers.

"I'm fine either way it goes," Newton said of Rivera's impending decision on the starting quarterback. "I don't want this to be a distraction. We have our hands full getting prepared for a great team in Cleveland. We aren't worried about who will start at quarterback. I think we're both ready."

Manning limited at practice with thigh injury

Peyton Manning is over his illness but not his injury.

Denver's quarterback was limited Thursday when the Broncos reconvened for their first practice since their win at San Diego on Sunday. Manning fought through the flu in that game and strained his right thigh late in the first half.

Manning participated in the walkthrough but retreated to the Broncos' facility after the team stretch while backup Brock Osweiler took over the offense.

He didn't appear in any discomfort afterward, saying, "I feel OK," and, when asked if he'll be ready to play Monday night, added, "I certainly hope so."

Save for the season he missed following spinal fusion surgery, Manning has never missed a start in his 17-year NFL career.

He was clearly feeling better Thursday. He had his coloring back in his face and even jokingly referenced Bill Belichick three times when he answered reporters' questions with a "We're on to Cincinnati" mantra.

That's something the Patriots coach did five times a day after their 41-14 drubbing at Kansas City on Sept. 29. New England turned around and walloped the Bengals 43-17 the following week, the start of a stretch of 10 wins in 11 games.

The Broncos (11-3) will try to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs and keep the heat on the Patriots for the AFC's top seed when they play the Bengals (9-4-1) in Cincinnati on Monday night.

49ers' Harbaugh mum on reported offer

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is declining to respond to reports that he is weighing an offer from Michigan to become the new football coach at his alma mater.

Harbaugh has one season remaining on the $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011. Several media outlets, including ESPN and the NFL Network, have reported Harbaugh has a six-year offer on the table from the Wolverines to return to Ann Arbor.

"As you know, I'll only talk about the job that I have. We've been together a long time and it's a longstanding policy," Harbaugh said Thursday.

All season long, he has said he won't let outside issues affect him. His name has emerged as a possible candidate for what should be several NFL vacancies after the season if Harbaugh and the 49ers part ways, including to fill the job across the bay in Oakland.

San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said this week that a decision on Harbaugh's future would come after the season.

The Niners (7-7) were eliminated from playoff contention in last Sunday's 17-7 loss at Seattle, giving them their first three-game losing streak under Harbaugh. San Francisco had reached three straight NFC championship games, losing the Super Bowl after the 2012 season.

"Trent and I have discussions every day," Harbaugh said, noting he still intends to coach out his contract. "I have said that I'm going to finish this "til the end. My focus is the same as the players' focus, the same as the coaches' focus, focused on the practice field, focused in meetings, by our players, by our coaches and by me."

Harbaugh said the 49ers still have plenty to play for in their final two games, Saturday at home against San Diego and next week hosting Arizona - like ending with a winning record.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who worked on Harbaugh's staff at Stanford before joining him in the jump to the NFL, said everybody wants to end this season on a positive note despite all the outside chatter about the coach's future.

"We don't talk about that stuff at all. We're focused on the Chargers, all that water cooler talk is just that," Roman said.

When asked whether he still has a special affinity for the Michigan program and university, Harbaugh again wouldn't bite.

"Again, I really don't want to talk about any other job than the one I have or talk about anybody else's process," Harbaugh said.

Raiders place Sio Moore on injured reserve

The Oakland Raiders placed linebacker Sio Moore, the former UConn standout, on season-ending injured reserve with a hip injury.

Oakland signed cornerback Chance Casey off the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers to take Moore's place on the active roster Tuesday.

Moore started 11 games in his second season. He had 79 solo tackles, three sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. He is considered to be a building block on the Raiders defense.

Seahawks sign Wright to four-year extension

The Seattle Seahawks signed linebacker K.J. Wright to a four-year contract extension on Thursday, keeping one of their key defensive players from reaching free agency.

"The timing of this signing gives us the ability to keep as many of our core players together as we possibly can," Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "Since day one, K.J. has been a true professional in his daily approach."

Wright has been a versatile component of Seattle's linebacker corps since his arrival as a fourth-round pick in 2011. Wright has started at multiple linebacker positions, but Seattle has found he's at his best as the weakside linebacker.

Wright is leading Seattle with 96 tackles this season, already a career-high, has two sacks and forced three fumbles. He's started all 14 games, including three at middle linebacker when Bobby Wagner was out with a foot injury.

No financial terms were immediately available. Wright made $1.4 million in base salary for the 2014 season, the final year of his rookie contract.

"K.J. is the epitome of a team guy," coach Pete Carroll said. "We are excited to reward a player of his caliber for all the hard work he has put in over the years to become an important piece of our defense."

Andre Johnson expects to return Sunday for Texans

Houston receiver Andre Johnson expects to play on Sunday against the Ravens after missing last week's game because of a concussion.

Johnson says he finished the league's concussion protocol and has been cleared to return. He was injured after being hit in the head by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith on Dec. 7.

Johnson thinks he may have lost consciousness for a few seconds after the hit, but says that the helmet-to-helmet blow didn't scare him.

He says: "I think it was more scary for other people than it was for me. I talked about it like nothing happened. Everybody else who saw it said it was a scary moment for them. I watched the play. Even after it happened, I didn't feel nervous or anything."