Cowboys Release Michael Sam – NFL Roundup

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have released defensive end Michael Sam from the practice squad, causing the NFL's first openly gay player to find a third team since being drafted by St. Louis this year.

Sam spent seven weeks with the Cowboys after joining their practice squad Sept. 3. He went to Dallas four days after being released by the Rams, who selected him in the seventh round of the draft.

In other NFL news on Tuesday:

— Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller has been placed on the reserve injured/designated to return list, a day after having surgery to repair a collarbone injury. That means Spiller will have a chance to return by Week 16. Spiller and co-starting running back Fred Jackson were hurt in a 17-16 win over Minnesota on Sunday. Jackson is expected to miss four weeks with a groin injury. The Bills filled Spiller's roster spot by signing Phillip Tanner, who spent the previous three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

— The Tennessee Titans have traded linebacker Akeem Ayers and a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round selection, pending a physical on Ayers. Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt (WIH'-zehn-hunt) said on his radio show Tuesday night the trade probably was the best for both Ayers and the team. Ayers had been scratched five of seven games this season.

— The Washington Redskins have signed linebacker Everette Brown and placed linebacker Brian Orakpo on injured reserve. Brown has appeared in 38 NFL games with three starts with the Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys.

— The New York Jets locked up reliable wide receiver Jeremy Kerley with a four-year contract extension. Kerley was due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

— The Carolina Panthers announced they've released longtime defensive back Charles Godfrey and signed guard Chris Scott. The 28-year-old Godfrey joined the Panthers as a third-round draft pick in 2008 and played in 82 games with 75 starts.

— Running back Darren Sproles and linebacker Mychal Kendricks were among the injured players who practiced for Philadelphia, though their status is uncertain for Sunday's game at Arizona. Sproles sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a 27-0 win over the New York Giants on Oct. 12. Kendricks hasn't played since he injured his calf in a win at Indianapolis in Week 2.

— The NFL has suspended Tampa Bay defensive end Da'Quan Bowers for two games without pay for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

UNDATED (AP) — People familiar with the situation say a hearing on Ray Rice's appeal of his indefinite suspension will be held Nov. 5 and 6. The people spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the hearing have not been made public.

Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after a video of Rice hitting his then-fiancee in an elevator was released publicly. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell originally had suspended Rice for two games.