NFL NOTES

Johnson day to day with lung injury

HOUSTON --Receiver Andre Johnson has a bruised lung and will be listed as day to day this week as the Houston Texans prepare for the Buffalo Bills.

He was injured when he took a hit in the lower back in the second quarter of Houston's 24-21 win over the 49ers. He remained in the game, but began coughing up blood after landing on the ball following a 44-yard catch early in the fourth quarter.

He returned for one play after that and wanted to play more but Houston's medical staff escorted him off the field during the Texans' last drive.

49ers name Smith the starting QB

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Alex Smith is the San Francisco 49ers' new starting quarterback.

Shaun Hill was benched at halftime of the Niners' 24-21 loss at Houston on Sunday. Smith, who hadn't played in nearly two years, completed his first six passes and finished 15 of 22 for 206 yards and three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis.

Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah in 2005, missed last season after reinjuring his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

Dolphins lose Allen; cornerback slot thin

DAVIE, Fla. -- Will Allen's season-ending knee injury will force the Miami Dolphins to go with two rookie cornerbacks Sunday against the New York Jets.

Allen hurt the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the Miami's loss to New Orleans and will require surgery.

He'll be replaced in the lineup by 2009 first-round draft pick Vontae Davis. Second-round pick Sean Smith has been starting opposite Allen.

Fitzpatrick will start at QB for Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the Buffalo Bills starter for one more week, and maybe longer. In announcing Trent Edwards will miss his second straight game since suffering a concussion, coach Dick Jauron opened the door for a midseason quarterback shuffle by refusing to commit to who'll start once Edwards is healthy enough to play.

Washington's season ends with broken leg

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets running back Leon Washington has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after having surgery in which a rod was inserted into his broken right leg. Washington suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula when an Oakland Raiders defender rolled up on his leg.

Cowboys, Ware agree on extension

IRVING, Texas -- Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas Cowboys have finally agreed on a contract extension, a six-year deal through the 2015 season. Ware, who was in the final season of the contract, has 57½ sacks in his 70 regular-season games. A report on the Cowboys' Web site said Ware's deal was for $78 million.

Elsewhere

• Authorities say New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards has been charged with misdemeanor assault over accusations he punched a man outside a Cleveland nightclub. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Edwards is accused of punching promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James.

• Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark isn't injured, yet he isn't sure if he can play in the team's next game Nov. 9 at Denver. Clark didn't play the rest of the 2007 season after becoming ill following an Oct. 21 game in Denver. Clark's spleen and gall bladder eventually were removed, and he lost more than 30 pounds.

• There is still a chance nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones will play for the Seahawks this season, though that chance is dwindling, coach Jim Mora said. Jones, 35, is trying to return from two surgeries on his left knee since December.

• Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has no plans to bench Derek Anderson, the NFL's lowest-rated quarterback, for Brady Quinn or anyone else. Anderson has completed just 23 of 70 passes in the past three games. His 40.6 passer rating is nearly seven points behind the second-lowest QB, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell.

• St. Louis Rams rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher will miss the rest of the season with two torn ligaments in his right knee. Fletcher, a third-round pick, started for the third straight game and was injured Sunday against Indianapolis. Long snapper Chris Massey (knee surgery) also is lost for the season.

• Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson used a gay slur for the second time in as many days, the Kansas City Star reported on its Web site. Johnson refused to speak with reporters a day after the Chiefs' 37-7 home loss to the Chargers. Sitting in front of his locker, he turned away and muttered the slur in telling reporters to get "out of here."

-- From Wire Reports