Sanchez returning as Jets starter

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mark Sanchez will start for the New York Jets against the Atlanta Falcons after missing one game with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Coach Rex Ryan said the rookie quarterback was cleared by team doctors after practicing three straight days. Sanchez took all of the snaps with the first-team offense Friday after taking 75 percent of them Thursday.

"We went into practice thinking he would be fine, so he was going to get 100 percent of the reps," Ryan said. "After talking with the doctors, they felt great. ... Mark feels strong. I asked him again, 'Do you feel strong?' and he said, 'Yeah, absolutely.' "

Sanchez missed the Jets' 26-3 victory last Sunday at Tampa Bay after injuring the knee against Buffalo on Dec. 3 and was replaced by Kellen Clemens. He returned to practice Wednesday and experienced no setbacks during the week.

"It feels good," Sanchez said of the knee. "There is no swelling."

Sanchez will wear custom-fitted braces on both knees; he had already been wearing one on the left from a previous injury.

Incognito fined $50,000

NEW YORK — Richie Incognito was fined $50,000 by the NFL for two unnecessary roughness fouls, punctuating a rough week for the guard.

Playing for the Rams last Sunday in a 47-7 loss at Tennessee, Incognito head-butted Sen'Derrick Marks in the first half. He did the same thing to Vincent Fuller later in the half, then was benched by coach Steve Spagnuolo.

The Rams released him Tuesday and he signed with Buffalo on Thursday.

Notes

• The Philadelphia Eagles will be without running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (torn plantar fascia) against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

• St. Louis Rams quarterback Kyle Boller and running back Steven Jackson missed practice with flu-like symptoms, raising the possibility that neither will play Sunday against the Houston Texans.

• New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross has reinjured his troublesome left hamstring, opening the door for veteran Kevin Dockery to get an unexpected start.

• The Dallas Cowboys listed linebacker DeMarcus Ware as questionable for tonight's game against New Orleans. Ware is recovering from a strained neck.

• Buffalo Bills right guard Kendall Simmons was placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury.

• Receiver Devin Hester will likely miss his second straight game with a left-calf injury when the Chicago Bears visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

• Green Bay nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.

• Denver Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Oakland after missing all of this week's practices with a sprained ankle.

• Matt Moore will make his third consecutive start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday against Minnesota. Jake Delhomme was ruled out with a broken finger.

• Minnesota Vikings rookie Percy Harvin (migraine headaches) returned to practice and the team gives him a 50-50 chance to play in Sunday's game at Carolina.

• Ex-NFL running back Lawrence Phillips, 34, was sentenced in San Diego to more than 31 years in prison for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teenagers.

• Adrian Gilliam, 33, a convicted murderer who pleaded guilty to selling the gun used to kill ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair, was sentenced in Nashville, Tenn., to 2 ½ years in prison.

• Greg Skrepenak, a former NFL lineman who became a county commissioner in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has resigned and agreed to plead guilty to accepting a $5,000 bribe from a developer.