NFL-National Football League roundup

Aug 28 (The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle R.J. Dill has been suspended for the first four games of the season due to a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Dill, 25, was undrafted out of Rutgers in 2013 and had short stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams. He had signed with the Cowboys in January. - - Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter, initially charged with felony malicious wounding for his involvement in a bar fight in July, has had the charge reduced to misdemeanor assault and battery. The charge stems from an incident in Virginia Beach's oceanfront resort area on July 3. Hunter initially was accused of "malicious intent, stabbing, cutting and wounding" in a brawl that hospitalized one person. - - Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has been fined $17,363 by the NFL for a high hit to Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith. The hit occurred in Kansas City's 14-13 win last Friday. Bennett was flagged for roughing the passer. After the game, coach Pete Carroll called the penalty "legit" -- although it was clear the contact was incidental. - - Ryan Mallett practiced with the Houston Texans' third-string offense on Friday, a day after the quarterback missed practice, but coach Bill O'Brien said Mallett will remain the backup to Brian Hoyer. - - The Denver Broncos waived wide receiver Solomon Patton and signed rookie tight end Dan Light. The 5-foot-9 Patton, picked up off waivers in May, had worked as a backup return specialist, but he muffed a punt in the preseason opener in Seattle and did not play last week against the Texans. - - The New England Patriots placed tight end Jake Bequette on injured reserve. The Patriots moved Bequette to tight end from defensive end this spring before he sustained an injury two weeks ago. - - Running back Chris Johnson reportedly returned from a hamstring injury and practiced with the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson had been out since shortly after signing Aug. 17 and missed the Cardinals' second preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. - - Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who fractured his left fibula in Sunday's preseason game, appears likely to miss the first 10 games of the season. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Pouncey may be able to return this season. - - St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, a member of NFL Competition Committee, doesn't see rules changing to project quarterbacks on zone-read plays. Fisher was responding to the most recent debate after Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs' hit to the knees of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford in last Saturday night's preseason game. - - The Miami Dolphins are making contingency plans in case the hurricane hits South Florida next week. The team said it could move practice to an undisclosed location on Monday and Tuesday with Tropical Storm Erika expected to turn into a hurricane and possibly hit South Florida on Monday. It's too early to tell whether South Florida will get a direct hit. - - New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been named the successor to Troy Polamalu as the new pitchman for the Head & Shoulders shampoo brand. Polamalu was the face -- or rather his famous hair was -- behind Procter & Gamble's marketing efforts for the past six years. He announced his retirement in April to end a stellar 12-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Editing by Frank Pingue)