Eagles excuse Cooper from all team activities

The Philadelphia Eagles excused Riley Cooper from all team activities on Friday as the wide receiver deals with repercussions of being caught on video making a racial slur.

Cooper has been sent away to get help with his issues, something the player and the team agreed upon. Coach Chip Kelly made it clear after Friday's practice, however, that Cooper would be back with the team when he's ready.

"There has never been any question of cutting Riley," Kelly said. "His status with us is not in question."

Cooper said the last few days have been incredibly difficult and he will step away to seek counseling.

"My actions were inexcusable," he said. "The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. I keep trying to figure out how I could have said something so repulsive, and what I can do to make things better."

Cooper apologized profusely Wednesday after a video of him using a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert last month surfaced on the Internet. The Eagles immediately fined him.

The Eagles did not set a timetable for Cooper's return.

The team is off today. They will return Sunday and then will host the New England Patriots on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before playing the Patriots, Friday night in the preseason opener.

Rice returns to Seattle

Sidney Rice has returned to Seattle seeking treatment for a sore knee in Switzerland.

The wide receiver was mostly a spectator on Friday as the Seahawks held a scrimmage while preparing for their preseason opener next Thursday at San Diego. Rice caught a few passes on the side and coach Pete Carroll said he is expected to return to practice on Sunday.

Rice flew about 10,000 miles round trip to Switzerland to have a plasma injection into his knee to help with patella tendinitis. Rice spent two nights in Europe and said the procedure took only about 20 minutes. He arrived back in Seattle on Thursday.

49ers' Culliver lost for season with torn ACL

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver will miss the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Culliver was injured Thursday during a non-contact drill. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said that the loss of the third-year veteran "puts stress" on a cornerback group that faltered late last season and in the playoffs during San Francisco's run to the Super Bowl.

The 49ers brought in four-time All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha in April to augment the position behind starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown. The team returned its top five cornerbacks from last season.

Culliver was San Francisco's third cornerback the past two seasons and played a key role in the team's coverage packages, often taking over at left cornerback when the 49ers went to their nickel defense.

Ravens' Jackson suspended for PED use

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Asa Jackson has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the regular season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

"My reaction to that is that you've got to follow the rules," coach John Harbaugh said. "If you don't follow the rules, you get suspended. That's a fair rule, there's no place for that, and he's getting what he deserves."

Jackson received a four-game suspension as a rookie last season for the same reason. This suspension is for eight games because it's his second violation.

Raiders sign Janikowski to 4-year extension

The Oakland Raiders signed kicker Sebastian Janikowski to a four-year extension, ensuring the franchise's leading scorer will remain with the team through at least 2017.

Janikowski is coming off the best season of his career. He converted a career-best 91.2 percent (31 of 34) of his field goal attempts in 2012. The only misses came from 51, 61 and 64 yards.

The 35-year-old kicker has made 42 field goals from 50 yards or longer and needs only 11 more to break Jason Hanson's NFL record of 52. He is tied with former Seattle kicker John Kasay for second on the list.

Bills' Johnson injures hamstring

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson left practice after injuring his left hamstring.

Johnson, Buffalo's top receiver, pulled up on a route during a red zone drill two hours into practice. He was evaluated by Buffalo's training staff and walked slowly to the locker room assisted by two people.

Bills coach Doug Marrone said after practice that he did not know the severity of the injury and that Johnson will be evaluated by Buffalo's doctors.